Encountering Igusa Farmers

I still clearly remember the day I first visited the farmers. About ten farmers gathered and talked about the future. They all said the same thing: “We want to take on new challenges, but right now we are doing our best just to protect our businesses.” Everyone shared the same feelings of anxiety and conflict.

Each person had their own farming methods and philosophy. However, these were not shared or spread. In that closed atmosphere, I felt both frustration and a strong sense of urgency.

Seeing the discarded rush grass

I recalled an experience I had at the “Fermentation Hotel for Living,” which I frequently visited at the time. Surrounded by the scent of aromatic mist, I felt deeply relaxed and experienced a sense of “rediscovering myself.”

“Scent evokes memories.” This realization greatly expanded the potential of rush grass. Not just as a material for tatami mats, but as a scent that could comfort people's hearts. When I realized this, I envisioned a future where discarded rush grass scraps could be reborn in a “new form.”

Craftsmanship born from a sense of wastefulness

The frustration and sadness felt by farmers. The idea for the product “Igrass Aroma Mist” was born from the desire to give shape to their voices. Turning igrass, which was treated as waste, into a product with new life.

Connecting the farmers' aspirations to the future and transforming the word “wasteful” into hope. Without the encounter with the igrass farmers, this idea would never have been born.

The scent that brings you back to your true self

Many people living in modern times wear masks and live their lives based on appearances. Some may feel that they have no choice but to do so, suffering from their circumstances.

That is why I want the scent of rush grass to bring you back to your true self. I want you to remember the nostalgic scenery of Japan and the times when your heart was at peace. The scent of rush grass can be the catalyst for that. That is what I believe.

Weaving the future together with farmers

Igrass is not just a material. I feel that it embodies the “spirit” of the Japanese people that has been passed down through generations. Meeting farmers was also an opportunity to experience that spirit.

By reviving discarded igrass as a “fragrance,” the philosophy and passion of farmers take shape. Connecting that spirit to the future is what we feel is our role.

The story of igusa continues

It would not be an exaggeration to say that if I had not met the igusa farmer that day, this determination would never have been born. The product, which began with the thought of “wastefulness,” is now taking its first steps as a “scent that returns people to their natural state.”

Through rush grass, we aim to deliver moments when someone can return to their true self. And we strive to connect the values cherished by the Japanese people to the future.

With these aspirations in mind, IGUSABI continues to develop products every day.