In a quiet tatami room in Kyoto, a thin trail of smoke curls into the air, vanishing before it can be grasped. A small group sits in stillness, not speaking. One person lifts a delicate incense cup, covers it with a hand, and gently inhales. They are not just smelling—they are listening . This is Kōdō: The Way of Incense in Japanese Culture . More than a sensory delight, Kōdō is a contemplative art, a bridge between the physical and the spiritual, where a fleeting fragrance b
