Smell-scape and Tourism
(観光計画概念としてのスメルスケープに関する基礎的研究)
JSPS Kakenhi Grant number: (B) 20H0443
Research members:
Toshiya HASHIMOTO(*leader)
Yurie KAIZU
Akio MAITA
Yoko IWASAKI
Introduction:
Recently, tourism is often overly focused on "visually biased" behaviour, which emphasizes the recording and transmitting of photos and videos. Even when visiting a tourist spot, it may be difficult to have an experience that is lasting and deeply engraved in the memory and body.
This research focuses on the role played by our "olfactory sense", which is closely linked to memory and emotions as a way to regain the impact of being within a new place, focusing on the importance of olfactory environmental experiences. With the intention of comprehending a "smell-scape", we are also seeking to develop a new soft planning method for improving tourist resort spaces.
To that end we will: (1) analyse advanced cases of developing town development and tourist facilities with the theme of domestic and foreign odours; (2) analyse the structure of odor memories that induce "nostalgic" feelings at tourist destinations in Japan and overseas, and; (3) we will integrate the results of (1) and (2), to review the possible applications of Smell-scape, and develop a soft planning method relevant for tourist resort spaces.
Smell of Islands – Smell-scape Theory
The latest research explores new planning methods for the development of tourist space from the perspective of 'smell-scape'. The main focus is on developing the concept of a 'theory of the multilayered structure of smell'. Field research has been conducted on Minamidaitōjima, Iriomotejima and Ishigakijima Islands, including conducting field interviews. These islands are located in the remote Okinawa Prefecture at the southern tip of Japan and have a subtropical climate. Vegetation differs from that of the main island of Japan and life is greatly affected by monsoons and typhoons.
'Panoramic view of Minamidaitōjima', Photo by Minamidaitō Village Hall.
The theory of the multilayered structure of smells positions tourism as an 'environmental experience' in a large space, and sees it as the layering of seasonal nature, events and food smells against a background of the smells of the sea, wind and mountain environments. This has a high affinity with the 'ecotourism' approach, which combines nature conservation and tourism. It can also be seen as a shift from the traditional 'consumption-type' of tourism development to the creation of 'co-creation-type' experiences between tourists from other countries and local people.
'The Sea of Minamidaitōjima ' Each season has its own name for the winds that blow and bring different smells from the sea.
The sense of smell is an extremely personal experience, and because it does not appear on digital media, it is difficult to spread and share the scent experience of a destination through current social networking services. Therefore, the sense of smell has been excluded from VR tours and online tourism, but this can be used as an opportunity to rethink the nature of tourism, which can only be experienced by visiting the destination. For locals, too, the smells of the seasons and food, which they may be less conscious of because they are so familiar, can be recaptured from the outside through the interviews conducted in this study, leading to a reassessment of new tourism resources.
‘The flower of shell ginger at Minamidaitōjima’ These leaves and flowers have a good fragrance, and the leaves are used to wrap rice cakes to be eaten during festivals and other events. The fragrance wafts through the room.
In winter, the smell of sugar cane harvesting wafts from the sugar mills to all over Minamidaitōjima.
Smell is not a "point" experience that ends when it is satisfied, such as experiencing a famous place or purchasing souvenirs are as part of regular tourism, but a concentric circle that spreads through time and space with the tourist at its centre. It has a layered structure that differs according to season and location, and it provides an opportunity to make new discoveries by repeatedly visiting the site. This can be seen as a process of self 'structuring' the tourist space by the visitor.
The wood of the Chinese fan palm is used as a building material, while the leaves are woven into ropes and used for roofing. Its flowers have a distinctive fragrance.
In this study, we are currently surveying islanders on Minamidaitōjima, Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima to create a 'scent calendar'. On Minamidaitōjima, interviews were conducted with islanders about seasonal scents, which were classified using an original method, and an attempt was made to visualize them. A similar survey has been conducted on Iriomote Island, with islanders interviewed about the nature and smells of the island.
Pandanus fruit turns yellow when ripe and has a sweet fragrance. Children suck the base of the fruit as a snack
In both cases, the 'islands' are limited spaces surrounded by the sea and are characterized by seasonal breezes that carry different seasonal scents. The results of the research on these islands have been conceptualized and are being produced as a prototype artwork (Remini-scent 2023). In the future, such basic research could be applied to other cities and overseas locations as a concept for new tourism proposals.
By using smell-scape ‘theory’ as the axis, the research is not only promoting the economy of the tourism industry as a new tourism experience, but is also expanding to question the relationship between people and space and the 'fundamental meaning' of people moving through space and travelling.
'Mangrove forests of Iriomotejima', Forests of plants that grow in brackish water. When people enter the forest, they can smell the unique mixture of marshland and mangrove
'Sunset on Minamidaitōjima' The smell of the tide from the sea changes during the day and after sunset.
Related Artworks
Viola Odorata, which explores temporal change in odour perception related to a narrative derived from a letter dated 1673.
soranonioï, a journey of space and time with scents
Omokagé, a journey in time and space with scents: Unchanging scents, changing scenes.