We wish to bring new value to a part of endangered Japanese traditional culture we have inherited
and introduce it to the world. We believe when this hand-made product , interwoven with the colors
of nature, enveloping a never-before enjoyed scent is delivered into your hands, it will bring new possibilities.
“Kuromogee” the highest -class perfume using the natural essential oil of Kuromogee tree grown in Japan.
One morning sun is plugged into a deep forest. There is one person shut by that light. The area is silent without sounds.
If you hear a sound ,you can hear small birds are singing from far away. Morning dew is shining on the leaves when you look away.You feel a fresh smell that you can get in from the ground.
There is a dignified mysterious women standing, there.
An intelligent and sophisticated man gently watches the surroundings in the forest.
“Kuromogee” is the noble fragrance that makes you such.
“Japan’s Perfume Kuromogee ” was created to become a fragrance which resonated with the clear heart when one’s soul is cleansed and approaches the mental state of anatta, deep in the forests of Mother Nature.
More than 1000 years ago, the noble men and women turned their attentions to the moon, the snow, the cool breeze,the calls of birds and insects , and many other parts of nature. They mixed fragrances to convey these aspects of nature, burnt to perfume their clothes and competed for elegance.
We have taken the fragrance of our predecessors and given them a modern arrangement, reproducing a fragrance of elegance, wondrous yet fresh and a feel of refreshment.
This high-quality fragrance uses natural Kuromogee essential oil of 25% concentration generously. This a gorgeous fragrance, particular on nature and which lasts a long time, is a fragrance of luxury.
The ingredients to create Japan’ Perfume is not from Japan, but all from overseas and extremely dear.
After searching throughout Japan, we discovered the Kuromogee tree in the misty Amagi Kogen.
The Koromogee tree (lindera umbellate) is native to Japan. On its black-green bark are black (kuro) spots which look like characters(mogee), giving the Kuromogee (black characters) tree its name.
Long ago, its roots and bark were useful in Chinese herbal medicine in treating food poisoning, stiff necks, back pain, etc.
In its bark and leaves is an aroma and can be extracted as essential oil, Just like in Rosewood oil, Kuromogee essential oil contains large amounts of linalool and geraniol.
Creation of Inro-styled lacquerware (Japan)
Glass was first made in Mesopotamia and Egypt a few thousand years BC, then developed in Europe. However, in Japan, ceramics and lacquerware were actively being made and glassware was not used.
70% of Japan’s land is forest and many things from building to furniture,tableware and accessories were made from timber.From 5500-4000 years ago the natural paint , lacquer ,became an adhesive. The wisdom of our predecessors who discovered lacquer to increase heat-resistance, moisture-resistance and antibacterial effects has been passed down and continued to develop.
Queen Maria Theresa had an “Old -Lacquer Room” in Schonbrunn Palace and was an avid lover of Japanese maki-e.
Japanese lacquerware (or then known as Japan, just as Chinese ceramic is now known as China) exported from Japan was so valuable not eve aristocrats could purchase it. It was a representation of the prestige, power and wealth of the Habsburg Monarchy.
Queen Maria Theresa’s daughter, Maria Antoinette was gifted part of her mother’s lacquerware collection.The maki-e cosmetic tools, incense container, and accessory case are being stored at the Palace of Versailles, now a museum, as a national property.
In France, there were many wonderful perfume bottles produced, beautiful enough to be collected, but not in Japan. We have brought back the lacquerware (Japan), which had been praised around the world from around 1600-1900, in a new form.The perfume bottle enclosed within and bring the breath of tradition and true warmth right to your side.
We have also reproduced the look of an inro, in which samurai use to place fragrance bags within and suspended from their armor or sash for appearance.
From the 17th Century to the mid-18th Century, lacquerware developed into black lacquerware decorated with gold leaf or sprinkled with gold or silver powder creating maki-e.
Inro, while used as medicine containers, were decorated with maki-e and was a piece of art displaying the designer’s skills. The shogun and wealthy merchants gave no care to expenses to have an original piece of work made for them and use it as a personal and fancy accessory.
The modern inro-styled container of the perfume was created inspired by the inro.
Hitch Planning Inc. initiatives
＊As the wood is a natural resource, we will plant the environmentally-friendly lacquer trees in various mountains, and contribute to further developing the cultural value of the regional traditional arts of lacquer painting without harming the local resources.
＊We will support the collaborations in restoring and preserving lacquerware which have spread overseas.
