(The following is the English translation of the e-mail sent to our Japanese customers.)

This is Kanako Yoshida from YOUYOUANG.
I hope you have been well.

It was 32°C here in Maebashi, at the foot of Mt. Akagi, today—a hot afternoon for the first time in a while.

But small signs of autumn are beginning to appear. Red spider lilies have started to bloom along the paths between the rice fields, and here and there around town, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus (fragrant olive) tickles my nose. Little signs of autumn are beginning to show themselves.

During the first week of September, we exhibited at Tokyo International Gift Show Autumn 2026.

Once again, it was a wonderful three days filled with special encounters. We were delighted to see customers we had not seen for some time, as well as many new people who discovered YOUYOUANG for the first time. I am very grateful for all the new connections and reunions

Among the highlights was our new product, “ZEN SEASONS,” which we introduced at the exhibition. We received a very positive response from so many visitors.

To be honest, I had quietly considered this one of my personal favorites, so I was actually even more nervous than usual about showing it to everyone!

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

ZEN SEASONS is a collection of incense inspired by the four seasons of Japan, with each seasonal scent paired with a waka poem that evokes the beauty of the Japanese seasons.

Using fragrant woods such as agarwood and sandalwood as a base, we layered scents reminiscent of seasonal flowers and plants to create aromas with depth and character.

For me, exhibitions are a very special opportunity. Being able to meet people face-to-face, while they actually hold our products in their hands and experience the scents and textures of the packaging, is something I truly value.

We will continue to bring you scents that can be enjoyed throughout the changing seasons.　Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Now, changing the subject a little, just before the exhibition, on Sunday, August 30, I took part in the 20th Tour de Tsumari, held in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, not far from Gunma.

The rain was unbelievably heavy when we went to register the day before. Fortunately, the rain stopped on the day of the event.

So there was no excuse left—I had to start!

As you can see in the photos, this is an event where cyclists ride through beautiful rural landscapes and satoyama, the traditional countryside of Japan. Wearing the official event jersey is not mandatory, but most participants wear it while riding. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the event, and the commemorative jersey had a stylish, sophisticated dark design.

The most beautiful part, without a doubt, was the terraced rice fields just before the harvest, changing from green to brilliant golden hues.

Beautiful as they are, the course is quite a challenge, with lots of ups and downs and around 2,500 meters of total elevation gain.

This was my first time participating in 12 years, and I was completely exhausted on the climbs. During the many uphill sections, I found myself thinking, “Was it really this hard?”

But once you make it to the top, flying downhill at around 45 km/h with the wind rushing past is an incredible feeling.

I managed to finish the 80 km course without taking a tumble. Thankfully, the muscle soreness was not too bad either, so I was able to dive straight into the exhibition and give it my full attention.

I am very grateful to the friends who came along and rode with me.

Although it is a little sad to see summer come to an end, this is also the time of year when so many delicious foods start appearing. Chestnuts, grapes, pears, mushrooms, and so much more... The local roadside station near my home was filled with them, and everything looked so delicious.

I hope that the abundant harvest of this autumn will make its way to many of you and bring you plenty of delicious moments.

Warmest wishes for a beautiful autumn.