Japanese Takazawa Candle Blessing of Rice 12-Piece Pack

WA-ROUSOKU became popular with the spread of Buddhism, and in light of this historical background, one common use of these candles is as a tool for offering up prayer in places of worship. Examples of where they are used include temples, BUTSUDAN (Buddhist altars) in homes, and grave sites.

They have also come to be used as a way of making time for ourselves in the midst of busy, modern life. Candles can be lit as a way to make time for meditation or yoga, both of which restore calm to the body and mind, to ease tension after returning home from work, or to promote enjoyable conversation with family at dinner time. They are used to make lasting, quality time until the flame extinguishes itself.

Established in 1892 in the port city of Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, Takazawa Candle’s products stand out not only in their quality, but also in their unique candle designs and shapes, calling to mind various scenes of nature, particularly those of plants found in the city of Nanao. The special wick, from a unique recipe that dates back to the 16th century, is made by winding dried rushes around a hollow cord of wa-shi (Japanese paper). By having a hollow core, oxygen is able to be drawn up from the bottom so that the flame consumes more melted wax, thus making their candles’ flames burn bigger and brighter. Their candles call to mind ancestral wisdom, symbolizing the relationship between their ancestors and nature, and are all made from plant-based materials such as sumac wax, rice bran, and rapeseed flower oil.