Baieido Miyoshi Japanese Incense Charcoal for Kōdō

Baieido Miyoshi Incense Charcoal is a traditional Japanese bamboo charcoal for the Kōdō incense ceremony. It is made without sulphur, saltpetre or other quick-light additives and produces very little odour while glowing – an important quality when used with fine incense woods whose subtle fragrance nuances should be appreciated as purely as possible.

Unlike quick-light charcoal, Miyoshi charcoal requires a little more time to become fully glowing. In return, it contains none of the combustion additives typically found in quick-light charcoal tablets. Each piece of charcoal glows for approximately 45 minutes.

Incense charcoal for the Kōdō ceremony

In traditional Kōdō, the glowing charcoal is embedded in fine white incense ash. A small mica plate known as Gin-yo is then placed above it. Small pieces of agarwood, or Jinkō, sandalwood or other Japanese incense compositions are gently heated on the mica rather than being burned directly on the charcoal.

This indirect method distributes the heat and allows precious incense woods to be heated in a controlled manner. This is particularly important with high-quality agarwoods, as the wood should release its fragrance without charring directly on the glowing charcoal.

Also suitable for other incense materials

The low-odour bamboo charcoal can also be used outside a formal Kōdō ceremony for burning loose incense blends, pieces of aromatic wood, natural resins and aromatic plants. Depending on the incense material, it can be heated directly or over a suitable intermediate layer.

For traditional Japanese use, Miyoshi incense charcoal, white incense ash and a Gin-yo mica plate form a coordinated system for the controlled heating of incense wood.

Baieido and Japanese incense culture

Baieido was founded in Sakai in 1657 and is one of Japan’s long-established incense houses. Miyoshi incense charcoal is designed as a functional accessory for traditional Japanese incense culture and Kōdō in particular.

Product information

• Brand: Baieido
• Product: Miyoshi Japanese incense charcoal
• Material: bamboo charcoal
• Without sulphur or saltpetre
• Low odour while glowing
• Size: approx. 2 × 2 cm
• Burning time: approx. 45 minutes per piece
• Contents: 2 × 10 pieces
• Origin: Japan
• For Kōdō, incense wood and other incense materials