A trading company specializing in selected high-quality fragrances from worldwide.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Could you tell me about your business?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- DAIKO is a trading company specializing in fragrances. Ever since our establishment in 1965, we have imported incense and raw material for making joss sticks and exported products manufactured by NIPPON KODO, an affiliated company. We also import selected essential oils and home fragrances from all over the world, and we have recently launched a new private label.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I had always imagined that you specialized in Japanese incense, so it had never occurred to me that you also sold essential oils. What are some of the challenges you are faced with when you do business with overseas companies.<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- We import most of our raw material and joss sticks from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Chinese people lay great importance on relationships of mutual trust, so it is very important to foster good friendships with them. Also, because the Japanese market is very demanding in terms of high quality, it is also important for us to have our counterparts understand the Japanese love for high quality. Some products that would not be considered defective in other countries do not sell in Japan.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_43_01.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_43_02.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_43_03.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe efficacy of fragrance is closely linked to memory. Fragrances recommended for the rainy season are\u2026<\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- As the rainy season approaches, do your have any recommendations for humidity?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- I would recommend the white birch. The soft and elegant scent will wash away the gloominess of the rainy weather. Burning incense when it is humid will let you feel cooler even if the humidity level is not actually lowered.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- It is true that white birch has a somewhat nostalgic scent that is soothing. It reminds me of tatami (straw mats) \u2013 dryness. I know an artist who enjoys aroma before going on stage Fragrances have the effect of working on a person\u2019s feelings.<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Fragrance can recall memories and move emotions, so your friend must use fragrances to stimulate himself. Fragrances are said to have diverse effects, such as helping a person relax or sleep soundly, depending on what is used. Different people have different responses, so I think it is best to use what you like when you want to. For example, orange and other citrus scents are generally supposed to make people feel refreshed, but some people may be able to sleep well by smelling it before going to bed.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Very true! Music is similar in some ways. Preferences should not be forced upon people.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_43_04.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_43_05.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nA symbol of prayer? Fragrance is used differently in Europe and Japan.<\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Please tell me how fragrance was used in ancient Japan?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Fragrance has been an important part of people\u2019s lives since ancient times. For example, aristocrats in the Heian era would impregnate their clothing with fragrances in a fusego (a basket used upside-down to cover incense burners or braziers). It was not customary for them to take a bath every day like today, and since they seldom soaked in the bathtub, I would suppose that it was also a means to deodorize themselves.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I see. I have heard that in Medieval Europe, too, the sanitary conditions were terrible, and since there were few toilets in the Palace of Versailles, people used perfume as deodorants. I guess that is why many foreign perfumes have strong scents.\n<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- That is true. Perfume is used very different in Europe. In Japan, even in modern times, people tend to prefer to use fragrance indirectly. The Japanese enjoy using scented softeners when washing their clothes or burning incense.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- The Europeans and the Japanese do have different approaches to fragrance. Did fragrance have any special meaning to people in Europe?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Like in Japan, fragrance was used for prayers in Europe as well. The English word \u201cperfume\u201d originates in a Latin word meaning \u201cthrough smoke\u201d, and as this work implies, people used to let their prayers be carried by the scented smoke. In the Christian belief, the three wise men from the East offered gold (symbol of the throne), frankincense and myrrh (symbol of death; used as antiseptics for corpses) to baby Jesus. Frankincense is resin obtained from trees of the Boswellia genus and an expensive fragrance used for worship. It is a symbol of prayer.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So it was sacred.<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- People used scents to purify themselves. When the plague broke out in Medieval Europe, people blended spices to make perfume, which they would use as an antiseptic. They believed that the scent would keep the plague away.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So that is how perfume came to be widely used in Europe.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
Assuming the position of President of Ginmikai, I would like to\u3000break out of my shell.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Before we close, please tell me your thoughts about Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Ginza is full of inspiring people. Many people in Ginza are proud of their town. I believe that is why we have been able to preserve our unique culture to hand down to future generations. This strong sense of unity is what creates Ginza.
\nI have been granted the honor of being President of Ginmikai from this April and I hope to communicate the charm of Ginza by making new friends.<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Congratulations on your becoming President? How large is the membership of Ginmikai?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- It is composed of young entrepreneurs aged under 40 and current has 70 members.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Seventy members! That is a large number of people to manage? You must be looking forward to a busy year!<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Yes. There will be much to be gained. I believe it will a good opportunity for me to have new experiences. First of all, I would like to break out of my own shell.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_43_06.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_43_07.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\nChisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Takashima started taking violin lessons from the age of 6. After a successful career abroad, she moved her home base to Japan, where she currently performs in concerts across the country. Highly noted for her character in TV and radio appearances, she has currently opened up her career to more diverse fields with an unchanged focus on her profession.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Could you tell me about your business?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- DAIKO is a trading company specializing in fragrances. Ever since our establishment in 1965, we have imported incense and raw material for making joss sticks and exported products manufactured by NIPPON KODO, an affiliated company. We also import selected essential oils and home fragrances from all over the world, and we have recently launched a new private label.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I had always imagined that you specialized in Japanese incense, so it had never occurred to me that you also sold essential oils. What are some of the challenges you are faced with when you do business with overseas companies.<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- We import most of our raw material and joss sticks from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Chinese people lay great importance on relationships of mutual trust, so it is very important to foster good friendships with them. Also, because the Japanese market is very demanding in terms of high quality, it is also important for us to have our counterparts understand the Japanese love for high quality. Some products that would not be considered defective in other countries do not sell in Japan.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
The efficacy of fragrance is closely linked to memory. Fragrances recommended for the rainy season are\u2026<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- As the rainy season approaches, do your have any recommendations for humidity?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- I would recommend the white birch. The soft and elegant scent will wash away the gloominess of the rainy weather. Burning incense when it is humid will let you feel cooler even if the humidity level is not actually lowered.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- It is true that white birch has a somewhat nostalgic scent that is soothing. It reminds me of tatami (straw mats) \u2013 dryness. I know an artist who enjoys aroma before going on stage Fragrances have the effect of working on a person\u2019s feelings.<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Fragrance can recall memories and move emotions, so your friend must use fragrances to stimulate himself. Fragrances are said to have diverse effects, such as helping a person relax or sleep soundly, depending on what is used. Different people have different responses, so I think it is best to use what you like when you want to. For example, orange and other citrus scents are generally supposed to make people feel refreshed, but some people may be able to sleep well by smelling it before going to bed.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Very true! Music is similar in some ways. Preferences should not be forced upon people.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\nA symbol of prayer? Fragrance is used differently in Europe and Japan.<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Please tell me how fragrance was used in ancient Japan?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Fragrance has been an important part of people\u2019s lives since ancient times. For example, aristocrats in the Heian era would impregnate their clothing with fragrances in a fusego (a basket used upside-down to cover incense burners or braziers). It was not customary for them to take a bath every day like today, and since they seldom soaked in the bathtub, I would suppose that it was also a means to deodorize themselves.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I see. I have heard that in Medieval Europe, too, the sanitary conditions were terrible, and since there were few toilets in the Palace of Versailles, people used perfume as deodorants. I guess that is why many foreign perfumes have strong scents.\n<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- That is true. Perfume is used very different in Europe. In Japan, even in modern times, people tend to prefer to use fragrance indirectly. The Japanese enjoy using scented softeners when washing their clothes or burning incense.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- The Europeans and the Japanese do have different approaches to fragrance. Did fragrance have any special meaning to people in Europe?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Like in Japan, fragrance was used for prayers in Europe as well. The English word \u201cperfume\u201d originates in a Latin word meaning \u201cthrough smoke\u201d, and as this work implies, people used to let their prayers be carried by the scented smoke. In the Christian belief, the three wise men from the East offered gold (symbol of the throne), frankincense and myrrh (symbol of death; used as antiseptics for corpses) to baby Jesus. Frankincense is resin obtained from trees of the Boswellia genus and an expensive fragrance used for worship. It is a symbol of prayer.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So it was sacred.<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- People used scents to purify themselves. When the plague broke out in Medieval Europe, people blended spices to make perfume, which they would use as an antiseptic. They believed that the scent would keep the plague away.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So that is how perfume came to be widely used in Europe.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
Assuming the position of President of Ginmikai, I would like to\u3000break out of my shell.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Before we close, please tell me your thoughts about Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Ginza is full of inspiring people. Many people in Ginza are proud of their town. I believe that is why we have been able to preserve our unique culture to hand down to future generations. This strong sense of unity is what creates Ginza.
\nI have been granted the honor of being President of Ginmikai from this April and I hope to communicate the charm of Ginza by making new friends.<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Congratulations on your becoming President? How large is the membership of Ginmikai?<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- It is composed of young entrepreneurs aged under 40 and current has 70 members.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Seventy members! That is a large number of people to manage? You must be looking forward to a busy year!<\/dd>\n
- Konaka<\/dt>\n
- Yes. There will be much to be gained. I believe it will a good opportunity for me to have new experiences. First of all, I would like to break out of my own shell.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Chisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Takashima started taking violin lessons from the age of 6. After a successful career abroad, she moved her home base to Japan, where she currently performs in concerts across the country. Highly noted for her character in TV and radio appearances, she has currently opened up her career to more diverse fields with an unchanged focus on her profession.<\/p>\n