MAY 23-25 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
EXPERIENCE KŌDŌ
The Way of Japanese Incense
Symposium & Public Incense Ceremonies
Presented by The Dōjin Japanese Art Society
In partnership with UBC Department of Asian Studies, Nitobe Memorial Garden, & UBC Asian Library








“If you can suspend any preconceptions about incense to fully experience the ceremony of koh, the happy result will be the ability to appreciate ‘incense’ time as you would ‘tea time’ for relaxation, refreshment, and communion with others.”
— From The Book of Incense by Kiyoko Morita
FRIDAY, MAY 23
SYMPOSIUM
Kōdō: The Art & Culture of the Japanese Way of Incense
We begin the weekend by welcoming special guests from Japan who will share their deep knowledge and expertise in this centuries-old cultural practice. Join us in the beautiful Peña Room at the I.K. Barber Learning Centre for this lecture series offering a rare opportunity to engage with the historical, aesthetic, and cultural contexts of Japanese incense.
Time: 1:00-5:00 pm
Location: Peña Room, I. K. Barber Learning Centre, UBC
Keynote Lecture by:
NISHIGIWA Jhōyo, Headmaster Designate, Senzan Goryū School of Kōdō, Kyoto
Additional Lectures by:
YANO Tamaki, Professor Emeritus, Dōshisha University, Kyoto
YOTSUTSUJI Hideki, Curator Emeritus, The Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya
Viewing of Special Collections
Ahead of the symposium, attendees will be treated to a special viewing of recent acquisitions of Edo-period poem cards, calligraphic works, and narrative illustrations from the UBC Library Rare Books and Special Collections.
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
Location: Dodson Room, I. K. Barber Learning Centre, UBC
Admission is free and open to the public; however, seating is limited to 60 attendees. We kindly ask that you register in advance to secure your place.
To register for the incense ceremony program on Saturday May 24th or Sunday May 25th, please see below.
SATURDAY, MAY 24 & SUNDAY, MAY 25
PUBLIC INCENSE CEREMONIES
(participants will attend one of the two days)
We are excited to offer guests the opportunity for an immersive experience of Japanese incense traditions set at the beautiful Nitobe Memorial Garden and UBC Asian Centre.
Program includes:
1 Incense session set in the traditional tearoom* in Nitobe Memorial Garden featuring a single special incense (meikōgiki 名香聞)
1 Incense session held ryūrei 立礼 style (seated at long tables) in the Asian Centre consisting of an exercise in discerning among several different woods in a seasonally themed scent-matching game (kumikō 組香)
Guided tours of Nitobe Memorial Garden
Matcha tea service
Educational exhibits and demonstrations
Time: Session start times available for either 10:00am or 1:00pm.
Program length approximately 3 hours. Upon arrival, participants will register in the auditorium of UBC Asian Centre where they will receive a personalized itinerary for the day’s activities.
Location: Asian Centre & Nitobe Memorial Garden, UBC
*Please note that shoes will be removed and socks required for the session in the tea house. Low stools can be provided for those with limited mobility who may have difficulty being seated on the floor. We regret that the tea house is not wheelchair accessible.
Fee: $95
To register for the free public lecture series on Friday May 23rd, please use the separate registration link in the symposium description above.
Location and Transportation
The symposium and public incense ceremonies will take place at the University of British Columbia Point Grey Campus located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People.
FRIDAY MAY 23
I.K. Barber Learning Centre
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The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre UBC Library is located at:
1961 East Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Enter the Learning Centre through the main doors off of East Mall. Friday’s symposium will take place on level 3 in the Peña room (301).
The Learning centre is an accessible building. There are two elevators on the lobby level (east mall entrance) that access all levels of the Learning Centre.
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The UBC bus loop is approximately a 5-7 minute walk to I.K.Barber Learning Centre.
There are many routes to UBC along with the R4, 44, 84 and 99 express buses which run directly to the Vancouver campus.
You can use the Translink Trip Planner to plan your best route to campus.
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The closest parking lot will be the North Parkade located at 6115 Student Union Boulevard.
It is approximately a 3 minute walk to I.K Barber Learning Centre.
Another option is the Rose Garden Parkade located off of North West Marine Drive near the Chan Centre for Performing Arts. It is approximately a 7 minute walk to the I.K. Barber Learning Centre.
Weekday Parking 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Rates including tax: $4.69 / 1 hr. | Max $22.12 all day (until 11:59pm)Designated Parking is available on East Mall, behind Buchanan E.
SATURDAY MAY 24 & SUNDAY MAY 25
UBC Asian Centre & Nitobe Memorial Garden
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UBC Asian Centre and the Asian Library are located at:
1871 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
Directly across from Nitobe Memorial Garden
The Asian Centre is a sunken building surrounded by gravel paths and gardens. To get there in a wheelchair, take the concrete path from West Mall (behind the Institute of Asian Research). Enter the Asian Centre through the heavy double doors. Push button swing door openers are available for these doors, but not via the back doors of the building.
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From the UBC bus loop, Nitobe Memorial Garden can be accessed via the #68 UBC Exchange bus northbound (Stop #59125) on NW Marine Drive, or southbound (Stop #61424) on West Mall.
Alternatively, the UBC bus loop is approximately a 15-20 minute walk to the Asian Centre and Nitobe Memorial Garden.
There are many routes to UBC along with the R4, 44, 84 and 99 express buses which run directly to the Vancouver campus.
You can use the Translink Trip Planner to plan your best route to campus.
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The closest parking lot is the Fraser River Parkade located at 6440 Memorial Road.
This is an accessible parkade located in direct proximity to the venues.
Weekend Parking 6:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Rates including tax: $4.69 / 1 hr. | Max $11.06 all day (until 11:59pm)