Scentmatic Launches Innovative Scent Education Program in Aomori, Japan
On August 26, 2026, Scentmatic, led by President Toshiharu Kurisu, introduced its innovative educational program, "Scent Classes," at Higashidoori Elementary School in Higashidoori Village, Aomori Prefecture. This program aims to create a new sensory experience through the sense of smell, allowing students to weave their own stories based on aromas.
Set within a stunning wooden school building constructed entirely from locally sourced timber, the program has the poignant goal of enhancing children’s awareness of their surroundings while fostering a connection to their community.
The objective of the Scent Classes program is to explore the potential of the olfactory domain—an area often overlooked in conventional education. By collaborating with schools across Japan since 2021, Scentmatic has successfully opened avenues for students to connect with their roots through the scents of local products.
In this first session held in Aomori, the focus was on the local specialty—blueberries. Although these fruits are commonly transformed into jams and juices, this program marked the first instance for local children to experience the fruit’s natural scent intimately. The initial concern about the subtlety of the fragrance quickly faded as the children enthusiastically rolled and poked the blueberries, drawing delight from the evolving aromas. Commenting on their experiences, one child remarked, "I heard the sounds of the piano’s 'sol' and 'la' notes."
1. Concentrate on the scent with eyes closed.
2. Write freely about the images and scenes that come to mind.
3. Select favorite words from notes to create stories.
4. Share the original stories developed by the children.
Especially designed to focus on olfactory education, the Scent Classes integrate insights gained through collaborative research with the prestigious University of Tokyo since 2020. This research explores the relationship between olfaction and neuroactivity, allowing Scentmatic to create a distinctive program tailored for educational purposes.
You can read more about the joint research between Scentmatic and the University of Tokyo here: University of Tokyo Collaboration.
Children who participated in the program shared their thoughts, highlighting their unique experiences and emotional connections to the blueberry fragrance. One child said, "The first thing that came to mind when I smelled blueberries was my grandmother because she grows them in her farm. I found everyone’s stories to be interesting and completely different from my own."
Another child recounted, "When the teacher asked what weather the scent made me think of, I imagined raindrops turning into sausages falling from the sky!" The freedom to express their thoughts without judgment encouraged their creativity and made writing enjoyable.
Saori Takada, the vice-principal of Higashidoori Elementary School, expressed gratitude: "Thank you for providing such a wonderful experience. It was the first time for the children to create stories from scents, and I believe they participated with excitement and some anxiety. Many delightful creations emerged, showcasing the children's vivid imaginations and feelings. We deeply appreciate this unique experience."
Scentmatic is dedicated to transforming scent into language through its AI, KAORIUM, which creates new "scent experiences". Our initiative in "digitalizing the sense of smell" engages emotions and is applicable in diverse business scenarios. Notably, KAORIUM received a Silver Award at the prestigious A' Design Award and continues to innovate through collaborative research exploring how language influences our perception of scent with the University of Tokyo.
For more information, visit our official website: Scentmatic.
Set within a stunning wooden school building constructed entirely from locally sourced timber, the program has the poignant goal of enhancing children’s awareness of their surroundings while fostering a connection to their community.
The objective of the Scent Classes program is to explore the potential of the olfactory domain—an area often overlooked in conventional education. By collaborating with schools across Japan since 2021, Scentmatic has successfully opened avenues for students to connect with their roots through the scents of local products.
In this first session held in Aomori, the focus was on the local specialty—blueberries. Although these fruits are commonly transformed into jams and juices, this program marked the first instance for local children to experience the fruit’s natural scent intimately. The initial concern about the subtlety of the fragrance quickly faded as the children enthusiastically rolled and poked the blueberries, drawing delight from the evolving aromas. Commenting on their experiences, one child remarked, "I heard the sounds of the piano’s 'sol' and 'la' notes."
Program Flow of Scent Classes
1. Concentrate on the scent with eyes closed.
2. Write freely about the images and scenes that come to mind.
3. Select favorite words from notes to create stories.
4. Share the original stories developed by the children.
Especially designed to focus on olfactory education, the Scent Classes integrate insights gained through collaborative research with the prestigious University of Tokyo since 2020. This research explores the relationship between olfaction and neuroactivity, allowing Scentmatic to create a distinctive program tailored for educational purposes.
Collaborative Research with the University of Tokyo
You can read more about the joint research between Scentmatic and the University of Tokyo here: University of Tokyo Collaboration.
Impressions from Participants
Children who participated in the program shared their thoughts, highlighting their unique experiences and emotional connections to the blueberry fragrance. One child said, "The first thing that came to mind when I smelled blueberries was my grandmother because she grows them in her farm. I found everyone’s stories to be interesting and completely different from my own."
Another child recounted, "When the teacher asked what weather the scent made me think of, I imagined raindrops turning into sausages falling from the sky!" The freedom to express their thoughts without judgment encouraged their creativity and made writing enjoyable.
Feedback from the School
Saori Takada, the vice-principal of Higashidoori Elementary School, expressed gratitude: "Thank you for providing such a wonderful experience. It was the first time for the children to create stories from scents, and I believe they participated with excitement and some anxiety. Many delightful creations emerged, showcasing the children's vivid imaginations and feelings. We deeply appreciate this unique experience."
About Scentmatic
Scentmatic is dedicated to transforming scent into language through its AI, KAORIUM, which creates new "scent experiences". Our initiative in "digitalizing the sense of smell" engages emotions and is applicable in diverse business scenarios. Notably, KAORIUM received a Silver Award at the prestigious A' Design Award and continues to innovate through collaborative research exploring how language influences our perception of scent with the University of Tokyo.
For more information, visit our official website: Scentmatic.
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