The Book of Incense [ 香を楽しむ]

Tokyo, Japan: Kodansha International, 1992. First Edition (presumed; no prior editions or printings cited). Octavo with purple boards; dust jacket; 134 pp: illustrations; 19 cm Fine in Fine dust jacket; pages crisp; jacket clean. Hardcover. ISBN: 9784770015570

A graceful introduction to the ancient Japanese art of kōdō—the Way of Incense. Morita, both scholar and practitioner, traces the history of incense in Japan from its Buddhist and Heian court origins through its refinement into a subtle aesthetic discipline akin to the tea ceremony and flower arrangement. The book explains the materials, ritual implements, and codified games of scent appreciation, while also revealing the cultural and spiritual sensibility underlying Japan’s use of fragrance as a vehicle for contemplation and harmony. Elegantly illustrated and meticulously researched, it serves as both a cultural history and a meditative manual on how to perceive and enjoy scent as an art form.