From February 3 to 17, 2026, the tatami area of the Jugetsudō tea room in Paris will host "Scented Lines," an exhibition where Japanese calligraphy meets the art of incense. Seisetsu Murata, the sole inheritor of a practice fusing ancient kana calligraphy and the art of incense, perpetuates the aesthetics of the Oie-ryū school. Her waka, tanzaku, and scented screens compose a universe where writing and fragrance form a single poetic gesture.
Kumiko's Exceptional Workshop: The Art of "Listening" to Incense
To coincide with the exhibition, Jugetsudō invites you to discover Kumikō, the poetic aspect of Kōdō (the Way of Incense). Under the guidance of Seisetsu Murata, master of the Oie-ryū school originating from the imperial court, you will learn to "listen" (mon-kō) to precious woods. Far from ordinary use, minute shavings of agarwood are heated on a mica plate to release a pure essence, inviting a meditative experience where you perceive the message of the wood with your heart.
This workshop is dedicated to Genji-kō, a ritual inspired by the literary masterpiece The Tale of Genji. The exercise involves identifying identical fragrances by smell among five sets of incense. The answers are recorded in the form of Genji-mon, traditional geometric symbols corresponding to the chapters of the novel. Seisetsu Murata will guide you through this ancient practice, from the ritual handling of the incense burner (kōro) to the union of calligraphic strokes and fragrance.
To prolong this moment, Jugetsudō tea will be served at the end of the session. The winner of this olfactory puzzle will have the honor of receiving the Kōki, the official register of the session hand-calligraphed by Seisetsu Murata herself, a precious memento of this poetic encounter.
Practical information and reservations
Four exceptional sessions, each lasting one and a half hours, are offered:
Wednesday, February 4: at 11:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 7: at 11:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m.
Price: 80 euros per session.
Location: Espace Chazen, Jugetsudō Paris, 95 rue de Seine.
Seats: The number of seats is very limited to guarantee the quality of listening and the intimacy of the experience.