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In Japan it's common to see the traditional 'katori senkō' (蚊取り線香) outside homes and in gardens during the summer.
To combat mosquitoes Ueyama Ei'ichirō (上山英一郎) developed incense sticks in the late 1800s mixed from starch, orange skin, and pyrethrum powder.
It was Ei'ichirō's wife Yuki, in 1895, that suggested he shape the incense into coils.
It took 7 years to perfect!
Nowadays katori senkō has become synonymous with a pig-shaped holder called 'kayari buta' (蚊遣り豚 the 'mosquito repelling pig').
It is deeply evocative of summer.
But why a pig?
There is no definitive answer, but the connection between pigs (in reality boars) and mosquitoes may have solidified in Edo times.
It is likely the pottery pig-shaped coil holders appeared from the Meiji period in Aichi prefecture.
🌫️SMOKE TO PIG🐷
In the Edo period it was common to use smoke as a simple mosquito repellant, but as most buildings were made of paper and wood many people in built up areas were concerned about naked flames.
Boars, as familiars of the fire deity, became linked to fire protection.
In addition to this connection between boars and fire, it was believed that the thick, hairy skin of the animals helped protect them from mosquitoes, and so these ideas maybe inspired potters when they came to create a holder for incense coils...
🐖PIG TO POT🍯
Some time from the Meiji period livestock farmers in what is now Aichi Prefecture were using incense to keep mosquitoes away from their animals.
They placed the incense in old pots, readily available as the local town of Tokoname (常滑) produced pottery.
#Japan
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