A graceful fusion of tradition and aroma YOUYOUANG Co.,Ltd

Kanako Yoshida started her career as a product planner in the jewelry world, looking at what trends and products would do well in the Japanese market. She realized there was also a market overseas for goods from Japan. She wanted to create something that was quintessentially Japanese yet small and simple enough to be used regularly. That goal, paired with her personal affinity for perfumes and aromatherapy, inspired her to create incense.

She established her company, You You Ang, on the philosophies of wabi (simplicity), sabi (subdued refinement) and iki (elegance). This both determined the nature of the products themselves as well as the company's image.

The fragrances are crafted using distilled oils and samples manufactured from natural sources. Yoshida designs all the scents together with the six women who staff the company. Every detail is considered in the selection of the ingredients themselves, and great care is taken to ensure the incense burns at a measured pace; also, that the ashes the incense creates are just the right color and fall within 10 millimeters to make sure they cluster neatly and are easy to clean up afterward.

The image and design of each aspect of the packaging is meticulously crafted and finished by hand to make certain that before the customer even experiences the bouquets, the company's image and brand philosophy is communicated to them aesthetically.

You You Ang's incense is split into five categories:

Domestically, You You Ang's products can be found in Japan's most popular department stores as well as many high-end inns and hotels. They have also supplied orders to department stores in Europe and the US and are currently looking to expand further into China, Taiwan and other parts of Asia. More than growth and profit, however, Yoshida's main goal for looking abroad is to showcase Japanese culture, fragrances and aesthetics with customers around the world.