Nippon Kodo

Overview

Nippon Kodo is a Japanese manufacturer of fragrance incense, joss sticks, and related products, tracing origins to 1575 with roots in imperial court incense making. The company operates globally through subsidiaries in the US, Europe, Asia, and Vietnam, producing incense for spiritual and room fragrance uses alongside diversification into food & beverage and real estate. It maintains traditional Japanese scent formulas while incorporating modern perfumery.¹²³⁷

History

Founded in 1575 as Koju by Yasuda Matauemon Minamoto no Mitsuhiro in Kyoto, serving as purveyor to the Imperial Court during the Tensho era. The modern Nippon Kodo Group formed in 1965 through mergers including Tokyo Kokando, with Nippon Kodo Co., Ltd. established that year and renamed in 1966. Key expansions include US offices in 1965-1971, acquisitions of French Esteban (1996) and US Genieco (1999), Vietnam factory (2003), and formation of Nippon Kodo Holdings in 2011.²⁴⁶

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Factories located in Tokyo, Nikko, Ushiku, Saitama, Awaji, Fukuoka in Japan, and Vietnam. Production combines traditional incense crafting skills inherited over 400 years with modern methods, primarily in-house by group companies.¹⁴⁷

Notable Products

• Mainichi-Koh - Best-selling incense introduced in 1912 for daily use and meditation.
• Kayuragi - Elegant incense series blending traditional and modern fragrances.
• Morning Star - Popular US-market incense line with diverse scents.
• Koju Imperial Incense - Heritage blends originally for Japanese Emperor.
• Gonesh - Long-standing US incense brand produced since 1923.

Reputation

Enthusiasts and professionals regard Nippon Kodo for preserving 400-year-old Japanese incense traditions and high-quality natural fragrances used in meditation and kodo ceremonies. Strengths include authentic heritage blends and global accessibility through subsidiaries. Some note higher pricing compared to mass-market alternatives, though quality justifies it for connoisseurs.²⁷⁸