NOWAS
NOWAS
Branding / 2026
Fragrant Omamori: Bridging Past and Present Through Harmony Nowas connects the present (NOW) with the past (WAS)throughWA, the Japanese spirit of harmony.Drawing on 450 years of incense-making heritage, from the Nippon Kodo Group, Nowas carries this olfactory culture and aesthetic into contemporary life. Fragrance has long served as both companion and expression. Samurai of the Sengoku era used incense to steady minds before battle; nobles of the Heian period (7941185) conveyed emotions through scent; the Muromachi period (13381573) nurtured the arts of tea, flower arranging and incense above tatami mats; and, during the Edo period (16031867) scented sachets were cherished as protective charms. Our four fragrances embody these eras. Merging tradition with modern grace, Nowas fragrances invoke everyday life with subtle beauty.The wooden cap symbolizes WASthe fragrance culture and spirituality that Nippon Kodo has cultivated over many years. The warmth of the wood felt in the hand embodies Nowas, which views fragrance as aprotective charm to be worn,while the flat bottle shape and striking colors express NOWthe contemporary moment. Classical and modern, stillness and movement. By allowing opposing elements to coexist, we have visualized the continuity of time. Each bottle color reflects the spirit inherent in its era, as well as thestate of mindevoked by the fragrance. We believe that choosing a fragrance is, in essence, choosing who you are in that moment.

Art direction & Design : Mayuko Kanazawa (kokon inc.)
Design : Minen Nakajima (kokon inc.)
Client : NIPPON KODO CO., LTD.

N.E.W.S project

N.E.W.S project is a food project that transforms ingredientseach carrying the intentions of producers from across Japaninto processed products suited to each moment.Starting from the enjoyment and pleasure of food, the project explores whatfoodcan be in a contemporary context. By uncovering value in often overlooked ingredients and their backgrounds, it brings them into everyday life.Through food, it also aims to create a fair economic cycle and contribute to a diverse and inclusive society.
Forest BouillonDeveloped with inspiration from a traditional, land-rooted dashi culture.Extending beyond seafood, it reinterprets a quintessential Japanese food cultureone that draws broth from plants growing naturally in each regionin a contemporary way.Using plants native to the northern foothills of Mt. Fuji, the product offers flavors that shift with the seasons and from year to year.Rather than a simple seasoning, it is designed as an experience oftasting the terroir.From ingredient selection to package design, the entire process is carried out consistently within N.E.W.S project.

P.O.S.T studio inc.

P.O.S.T studio inc. is a creative studio that works across food product development and design.Working closely with producers and processors, we develop products from the ground upcovering product planning, design, branding, and sales strategy.We also shape the broader experience surrounding food, including promotion, media and storytelling, retail development, and community initiatives.How a product reaches people, what kinds of relationships it creates, and how it contributes to producers, local communities, and the environmentP.O.S.T studio looks beyond the act of making itself to design sustainable cycles for the future.

We look at both what is visible and what lies beneath. By doing so, we open up the possibilities of design. We explore ways that feel right, creating designs that are familiar and that endure.

We look at both what is visible and what lies beneath.By doing so, we open up the possibilities of design.We explore ways that feel right and grow more familiar over timeseeking a balanced and enduring approach.kokon inc. is a creative studio that works across multiple disciplines, centered on art direction for entire brands, including visual identity, packaging, typography, and web.From brand launches to rebranding, we take an integrated approach, engaging deeply with both challenges and context.

About

Company

Kokon inc.

Established

January 11, 2022

Services

Brand development and cultivation
CI/VI planning and production
Advertising and sales promotion planning and production
Web design development and production

Founder

Mayuko Kanazawa

Location

153-0042
3-3-11 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Clients

FOOD & COMPANY Co., Ltd. / THE NORTH FACE / Kodama Jozo Co., Ltd. / Nippon Kodo Co., Ltd. / NatureLab. Co., Ltd. / PARCO Co., Ltd. / Fang Fang Co., Ltd. / Warner Music Japan Inc. / Palace Hotel Co., Ltd. / Fujita Kanko Inc. / TRANSIT OPERATION SERVICE INC. / etc.

Member

金澤繭子

Art Director / Graphic Designer

1990Born in Hokkaido, raised in Chiba
2013Graduated from Tama Art University
2014Belonged to Neandertal inc.
2017Started freelance
2022Founded kokon inc.
2024Founded P.O.S.T studio inc.

中島ミンエン

Graphic Designer

2000Born in Taoyuan, Taiwan
2022Graduated from National Taiwan University of Arts, Joined paragram
2024Belonged to TSDO inc.
2025Joined kokon inc.

Award

Press

  • JAGDA Graphic Design in Japan 2023

Office

Midori.so 1F, 3-3-11, Aobadai
Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0042

Contact

Instagram

DEVELOPED BY TAISEI DOFUKUCOPYRIGHT © kokon inc.