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Brand

A Two-Century Tale of Prayer, Spun from the City of Water

Yokota Buddhist Altar Shop

• 1832
• Buddhist altar
• Isashi Yokota

History

Preserving tradition and staying close to daily life

Yokota Buddhist Altar Shop was founded in 1832 in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, a historic castle town known as the "City of Water."

It is said that the founder, a lacquer artisan, began this work with the belief that "protecting a place of prayer is protecting the hearts of families."

A Buddhist altar is not merely an object; it is a sacred space where families connect with their ancestors and witness life's milestones.

Even after installation, the shop continued to provide maintenance and repairs, accompanying customers through life's journey.

This sincere approach fostered deep trust within the community.

That commitment has been passed down through generations, solidifying the shop's role in supporting the culture of prayer.

Occasionally, altars installed over a century ago return to the shop for restoration.

Each time we restore them after so many years and return them to their owners, we are reminded how these altars connect generations through shared memories.

Lifestyles and homes have changed with the times, but the preciousness of the heart that joins hands in prayer remains unchanged.

That is precisely why, alongside altar restoration and consultation, I am also challenging myself with new initiatives to incorporate prayer into daily life through fragrance.

Nearly two hundred years since our founding.

Carrying the inherited spirit in my heart, my mission as the seventh-generation owner is to pass the culture of prayer on to the next generation.

Characteristic

Bringing Prayer into the Modern Form

At the core of Yokota Buddhist Altar Shop's craftsmanship lies an attitude of confronting the "essence of prayer."

Building upon techniques cultivated through altar production—such as wood preparation and lacquer finishing—we have safeguarded reliable quality that endures over time.

The fragrance brand "Fragrance Labo sidefield" extends this experience into contemporary living.

The horizontal incense burner "SYLANIS" was born from the everyday desire to "enjoy incense with greater peace of mind."

Addressing small concerns like ash scattering, tipping over, or worries about the flame source, we adopted a structure that lays the incense horizontally.

Through repeated prototyping and refined internal design, we pursued a form that minimizes ash scattering and allows the fragrance to burn beautifully until the end.

Made from domestic Japanese cypress, it features a genuine lacquer wipe finish that enhances durability and highlights the wood's natural character.

Rather than flaunting traditional techniques, it aims for a form that naturally integrates into daily life.

It is a quiet proposal connecting the culture of prayer to the modern era.

For Customers

A time to return to yourself, along with the fragrance

We believe prayer is not confined to special occasions, but rather a quiet moment to center oneself within daily life.

While preserving and passing down Buddhist altars is an important role, we also feel it is our mission to propose an "entry point to prayer" suited to modern living.

"Fragrance Lab sidefield" champions the idea of "heal your side with fragrance."

Fragrance reaches the depths of the heart more gently yet surely than words.

We hope the gentle smoke and moments of quiet space created by the horizontal incense burner "SYLANIS" become a time for you to return to yourself amidst your busy daily life.

The essence of the time spent in prayer and the time spent enjoying fragrance is the same.

May a quiet, reassuring form of prayer be close to your life.

We will continue creating things that stay close to the heart.

Award

2025 OMOTENASHI Selection Award – SYLANIS