hito/toki

Why did a Buddhist altar company make senko (incense sticks) and fragrances?

We’ve always worked closely with those who pray. When we sit at the Buddhist altar at home, we think of someone who we feel a connection with and talk to them about our daily life, friends and family, work, and worries – It’s a very personal and peaceful time. The aroma of senko goes hand in hand with prayer time. It envelops people and time, and opens up the door to our hearts.

Prayer time is often the most relaxing time of the day. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we wish for you to have a moment of peace. HITO/TOKI was created with the hope that through fragrance, people and time can be enriched.

We wanted everyone to be able to freely use fragrances in their everyday life. That’s why HITO/TOKI has been redesigned with the modern user in mind.

There are many environments where we cannot use or do not want to use fire, for example in homes with small children. To ease your mind, we developed a senko diffuser that is safe for the whole family, including the elderly, and provides peace of mind to all.

We believe that the presence of our fragrance anytime, anywhere, will make people’s lives a little richer. The peaceful experience of prayer doesn’t have to happen when you clasp your hands together. We’d like you to use HITO/TOKI when you want to calm your mind or feel safe without worry, when you want to focus or while you’re drifting off to sleep.

Time and fragrance, and the subtle movements connecting the two have been carried out in Japanese culture for a long time. We wish to preserve it both freely and securely in modern day life.

Shibukusa Ryuzo Pottery was established in the 12th year of the Tempo era in 1841, when one of the local governors of Hida, which was under the direct control of the Edo Shogunate, established a semi-govermental kiln. Business activities ranged from making artworks and daily commodities to coordinating artisans from various industries. The three main pillars of the business; “art pieces,” “products,” and “direction” have passed through 7 generations to the current head of the family at Shibukasa Pottery. With a family motto of “Passing tradition is decline, creating tradition is innovation”, Shibukusa Pottery Inc. has been working widely throughout Japan and abroad, integrating traditional techniques and materials with the spirit of the modern era.