incense

Springfield lights incense as the friends banter casually.

POJ, or Pieces of Japan, launched in 2020 with a mission to showcase artisanal and handmade Japanese products including tableware, decor, incense and tea while creating a sustainable way for these skilled artisans to continue their work.

For the first time, POJ Studio will host a pop-up in L.A. where guests can shop items like Hinoki leaf incense, Indigo River noren and Shigaraki dinnerware.

And, so, Lauren Allison, the owner of the studio, launches into the first steps on how to make incense holders.

“When he died, I had the rug pulled out from under me,” she says in a soft-spoken tone as she gently molds a ball holder for an incense stick.