[A Story About Mosquito Coils]
Do you use mosquito coils to keep mosquitoes away in the summer? Nowadays, there are many convenient options such as insect repellent sprays and electric bug repellents, but the scent of mosquito coils remains an iconic seasonal feature that evokes the feeling of a Japanese summer.
When smelling the aroma of a mosquito coil, many people might recall summer events such as enjoying the cool evening breeze on an engawa (veranda), watching fireworks, or participating in Bon Odori dances. For me, it brings back memories of weeding the garden, something I often did. This is believed to be related to what psychology calls the "Proust effect"—the phenomenon where scents trigger vivid memories. Because of this, in recent years, mosquito coils have been used not only as an insect repellent, but also to enjoy their soothing fragrance and atmosphere.
Japan is a humid country with many rice paddies, and mosquitoes have been abundant since ancient times. During the Nara and Heian periods, people burned mugwort leaves, kaya (Torreya nucifera) wood, cedar, and pine needles to drive mosquitoes away with the smoke. This was known as "kayaribi" (smudge fires). From the Heian period until the invention of mosquito coils in the Meiji period, people spent their summers relying on kayaribi.
At times, smoke was also something that fueled people's imaginations. During the Edo period, the artist Toriyama Sekien depicted a yōkai born from smoke named "En'enra" in his work "Konjaku Hyakki Shūi" (Gleanings from Past and Present Illustrations of a Hundred Demons). It was precisely because smoke from kayaribi, incense, and irori (hearths) was so close to everyday life that such imagination was born.
Kayari also appears in a haiku by Natsume Sōseki:
憂き人の顔そむけたる蚊遣りかな
(A coldhearted person turns their face away, amidst the drifting smoke of the kayari)
The phrase "uki hito" refers to someone who does not act as one hopes, or a coldhearted person. Overlapping the scene of a coldhearted person turning their face away with the drifting smoke of the kayari in a summer room conveys a subtle sense of awkwardness and poignancy.
Along with the introduction of Buddhism, the culture of burning incense was nurtured, developing into the refined culture of "takimono" (blended incense) during the Heian period. Meanwhile, in the everyday lives of common people, "kayaribi"—burning mugwort and pine needles to chase away mosquitoes—existed side by side. Although their purposes differed, both incorporated smoke and fragrance into daily life, fostering a sense of seasonality and aesthetic sensibility unique to Japan.
Today's traditional mosquito coils are made from pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium). Pyrethrum was introduced to Japan in the early Meiji period, and its active ingredient, pyrethrin, became known for its insecticidal effects. Through a manufacturing method that molded pyrethrum powder into a shape similar to incense sticks, stick-type mosquito coils were produced around 1890 by Eiichiro Ueyama, an entrepreneur from Wakayama. Later, based on an idea from his wife, Yuki Ueyama, the current spiral shape—which burns for an extended period—was developed. By combining insect-repelling wisdom with time-honored incense-making techniques, mosquito coils became both a practical tool and a cherished scent symbolizing summer in Japan.
Japanese summers offer a sense of coolness through scents, sounds, and visual scenery. Mosquito coils, wind chimes, and paper fans remain seasonal traditions unique to Japan, allowing people to experience the season with all five senses. May you enjoy such refined elegance this summer as well.
Kuwana Imono's Mosquito-Repelling Vessel
https://www.shokunin.com/en/kuwana/kayariki.html
Iwamoto Kiyoshi Shoten's Mame Hibachi
https://www.shokunin.com/en/iwamoto/hibachi.html
Kurikawa Shoten's Shibu Uchiwa
https://www.shokunin.com/en/kurikawa/
Touch Classic's Wind Bell
https://www.shokunin.com/en/touchclassic/furin.html
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smudge_stick
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En%27enra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_coil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum_cinerariifolium
https://www.kincho.co.jp/factory/shiryou/index.html
https://tsurezuregusa.com/019dan/
https://www.kincho.co.jp/factory/listen/detail.html
