Essential Oils of Eternal Japan: Todomatsu and Hinoki By Gabriel Mojay, LAc
- Aromatika Magazine
- Mar 25
- 2 min read
Pg. 6-13 - 7-minute read
My love for Japan and its traditions of healing, fragrance, and spirituality began about fifty years ago, when I first encountered Macrobiotics while in Paris between high school and university. Discovering the teachings of George Ohsawa and Michio Kushi opened my eyes to a philosophy of “great life,” where diet, lifestyle, and even thought are aligned with the rhythms of nature and the wider universe. Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, with its principles of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, Macrobiotics became my gateway not only into holistic healing but also into Japanese culture. At eighteen, I shifted from a typical Western diet to preparing foods like brown rice, miso, seaweeds, tofu, and even natto, while also exploring therapeutic practices such as the Ginger Compress and later studying and teaching Shiatsu.
It wasn’t until 2010 that I first traveled to Japan, an experience that deepened my connection to its culture and healing traditions and led me to return many times to teach and explore. Visiting places like Kyoto became a personal pilgrimage, while journeys to Hokkaido allowed me to witness the sustainable harvesting and distillation of Todomatsu (Sakhalin Fir), an experience that profoundly connected me to the energetic aspects of aromatherapy. Through practices like Aromatic Acupressure and the study of essential oils, I came to understand how scent, energy (Qi), and the body are intimately linked—supporting vitality, grounding, and emotional balance. Today, I continue to share this knowledge, focusing especially on native Japanese essential oils, their therapeutic properties, and their role in harmonizing both body and spirit.
Hinoki, the “Tree of the Sun,” embodies for me the union of nature, spirituality, and healing. Native to Japan and once revered as a manifestation of the Sun goddess Amaterasu, it has long been used to build sacred temples such as the Ise Grand Shrine, which is ritually rebuilt to renew its energy. This tradition reflects a deep respect for the living essence of the tree, believed to endure even after it is transformed into wood.
Working with Hinoki essential oil, I have experienced its calming, stabilizing, and restorative effects on both body and mind. Its chemistry supports neuroprotection, stress reduction, and antimicrobial action, while energetically it grounds and centers, strengthening Qi and easing fatigue, anxiety, and overthinking. Like the temples it helps create, Hinoki carries a quiet strength that nurtures both structural integrity and inner balance.
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