Title edited for caps. Pls. see rule 9
Now, they've got me interested. In short, it ALL started with me looking for info on Squadron Leader.
On Tobaccoreviews there is a review by Canvas.
"I wanted to do something special for my 300th review, so I decided to finally pop open the much revered/hyped tobacco with a soaring biplane on the tin. In my case, this tin marked the one year anniversary of buying it in Japan, which at the time was the only place that had any! [...]*While in Tokyo I visited a few tobacconists, and I definitely recommend a trip to Ginza KIKUSUI. It was fully stocked and staffed by extremely knowledgeable English speakers who came across as traditional butlers ready to serve your every question and need."
-Canvas
This made me want to check out the tobacconists webpage.
www.ginza-kikusui.com
I started looking into their tobaccos. The ones for the Japanese style of pipe first. They're all at the very bottom of this page.
![japanese blends 1.png japanese blends 1.png](https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/data/attachments/255/255090-40312d335d675da91330d11235fc0e71.jpg)
They range in price from $6-8 dollars. I was only able to find a review for the first one. I saw this review of Koiki-Kizami (Stylish) on tobacco reviews. As Levins0 notes
"Unfortunately for the rest of the world, this is only sold in Japan, and it is apparently illegal to ship it outside of the country. If you are lucky enough to visit this beautiful country, or lucky enough to know someone going, then a box or three can be brought back with you or them in luggage."
As noted on the Ginza-Kikusui webpage, THAT one is made in Japan. Despite this, the other tobaccos intended for smoking with Japanese pipes ALL list their "Country of Origins" as Denmark, OR Germany. If they're manufactured in Europe, does that mean they might be somehow accessible outside of Japan?
Or is there some agreement that prevents all of that? Has anyone actually smuggled some outta Denmark or Germany?![Man shrugging: medium-dark skin tone :man_shrugging_tone4: 🤷🏾♂️](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f937-1f3fe-2642.png)
I then took a gander at the tobacco specifically intended for Western Pipes.
You see all the familiar stuff their, same logos, etc but in Japanese packaging. Further down you will find some distinctly Japanese brands grouped under "JT-I Product" Momoyama Smoking Mixture 1934 and Asuka both list Denmark as their country of origin. Havent found any English reviews. BUT! Also in that category is Silk Road Luxury Mild Cavendish and Rock'n Chair which 'sound' more western.
What a WILD trip that biplane sent me on!
Now, they've got me interested. In short, it ALL started with me looking for info on Squadron Leader.
On Tobaccoreviews there is a review by Canvas.
"I wanted to do something special for my 300th review, so I decided to finally pop open the much revered/hyped tobacco with a soaring biplane on the tin. In my case, this tin marked the one year anniversary of buying it in Japan, which at the time was the only place that had any! [...]*While in Tokyo I visited a few tobacconists, and I definitely recommend a trip to Ginza KIKUSUI. It was fully stocked and staffed by extremely knowledgeable English speakers who came across as traditional butlers ready to serve your every question and need."
-Canvas
This made me want to check out the tobacconists webpage.
[パイプ・煙草 喫煙具専門店 銀座菊水] GINZA KIKUSUI
銀座菊水は銀座で明治36年(1903年)に創業したパイプ、シガー、タバコ、とその関連グッズを豊富に揃えたタバコと喫煙具専門店です。パイプの品揃えではどこにも負けないと自負しています。アフターサービス、遠距離からの通信販売にも対応いたします。
I started looking into their tobaccos. The ones for the Japanese style of pipe first. They're all at the very bottom of this page.
![japanese blends 1.png japanese blends 1.png](https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/data/attachments/255/255090-40312d335d675da91330d11235fc0e71.jpg)
They range in price from $6-8 dollars. I was only able to find a review for the first one. I saw this review of Koiki-Kizami (Stylish) on tobacco reviews. As Levins0 notes
"Unfortunately for the rest of the world, this is only sold in Japan, and it is apparently illegal to ship it outside of the country. If you are lucky enough to visit this beautiful country, or lucky enough to know someone going, then a box or three can be brought back with you or them in luggage."
As noted on the Ginza-Kikusui webpage, THAT one is made in Japan. Despite this, the other tobaccos intended for smoking with Japanese pipes ALL list their "Country of Origins" as Denmark, OR Germany. If they're manufactured in Europe, does that mean they might be somehow accessible outside of Japan?
![Thinking face :thinking: 🤔](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f914.png)
![Man shrugging: medium-dark skin tone :man_shrugging_tone4: 🤷🏾♂️](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f937-1f3fe-2642.png)
I then took a gander at the tobacco specifically intended for Western Pipes.
![japanese blends 2.png japanese blends 2.png](https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/data/attachments/255/255092-975d80045ec172a4ac0039fb8452df25.jpg)
What a WILD trip that biplane sent me on!
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