Japanese Charcoal for Incense Ceremony

Japanese charcoal is commonly used in the incense ceremony, known as Kōdō (香道), which is the traditional Japanese art of fragrance appreciation. Charcoal is essential for gently heating incense pellets or pieces without burning them directly, in order to gradually release the aromas. The charcoal used for these ceremonies is often called bamboo charcoal or white charcoal (binchōtan), because it burns for a long time and at a constant temperature, without smoke or odor.