This is a new one on me. I think it will interest you.
Tiny tiny bowl though.
Tiny tiny bowl though.
Kiseru - Japanese Pipe
- Thread starter Flatfish
- Start date
A friend of my wife's who is a Japan expert sent me a Kiseru pipe, and I've played with it to see how it smokes. I take it that the tobacco is supposed to be almost powered, and the smoke is quite short accordingly, a ceremonial sip or two. I got the leaf down to very small pieces, but probably not quite small enough, so the smoke was short indeed.
Tiny, tiny, tiny bowl. Basically only fit for shag. I've a long one (oiran, they call 'em) that I very seldom use, because I very seldom have shag cut, and can't be bothered to go through the hoops of getting the even-finer stuff they're meant for.
Damn handsome object though.
Damn handsome object though.
Ah, I see it is shredded tobacco, not powdered. Maybe some shag cut will do it. I see in the youTube they skipped the charcoal on the relight and used a lighter. Interesting! And about four or five draws is what you get. Thank you for the video; it makes this much clearer.
I managed to score some kizami (the shredded tobacco meant for kiseru and a kiseru off eBay a while ago. Kazami is so fine it’s like hair. It’s a good smoke but I doubt I’ll get more of it as I rarely smoke my kiseru so that little packet will last a long time.
Kiseru is really interesting, it's really much closer to cigarettes in nature than conventional pipes. I'd love to know how they deviated so wildly from pipes everywhere else
Apparently it was mostly economics.
Shogunate set a high tariff on tobacco, so they bought less and made smaller pipes. And of course you need very small tobacco for your very small pipe.
As for the ritualistic aspect - that's a spot-on comparison. They adapted incense burning equipment and techniques for use with tobacco. Which, I'm sure, may also have influenced them toward a more unique form of pipe.
Antique Chinese pipes also have tiny bowls typically
I would think that scarcity and high cost of tobacco are contributing factors
Much as the majority of antique (pre-1900) European pipes have smaller bowls than their modern day counterparts
Kiseru pipes predate the import of tobacco, which is indigenous to the America's. I always wondered what they were smoking back then. Any insights?
Yes, I do know google exists...
Yes, I do know google exists...
Now this, is a wild Kiseru style, I so wished I could of bought.
After living in Japan for a year, I have an affectation for many things Japanese.
After living in Japan for a year, I have an affectation for many things Japanese.
These pipes are around flea markets in Japan everywhere. But no briar pipes to be found there as collectors have caught up with that game.
That would make sense, ironic considering now Japan is one of the most free countries with tobacco. Pipe tobacco there is more expensive than it is in most (but not all) American states but much cheaper than most other countries, and the price is probably due entirely to the fact everything is expensive in Japan and not because of nanny state taxing.
I didn't know the Chinese made tobacco pipes, my understanding was that smoking was illegal in China before the Emperor was deposed so their tobacco use was limited to snuff. Chinese snuff bottles are absolutely stunning and extremely diverse.
They were often elaborate pipes - enamelled and bejewelled.
So for the Royals, the mandarins and rich merchants
Probably for smoking opium as much as tobacco.
The East India Company was responsible for most of the opium trade in China. And the cause of the Opium War
Some of those opium pipes are beautiful works of art. Sorta reminds me of how back in the day when snuff was the most popular tobacco form, snuff boxes could be extremely elaborate through very simple. And everything in between. But with both I can see why there are collectors who have no interest in the use of the item but love the art value of it.They were often elaborate pipes - enamelled and bejewelled.
So for the Royals, the mandarins and rich merchants
Probably for smoking opium as much as tobacco.
The East India Company was responsible for most of the opium trade in China. And the cause of the Opium War
I recently got a kiseru myself. I have been smoking some PS Amsterdam Shag in it. I am working on getting some actual koiki tobacco, but we'll see how that goes.
This style of smoking suits me. It is a short but good and satisfying smoke. It is sometimes preferable to have a quick smoke and get back to other tasks. As enjoyable as pipe smoking is I often have other things I would rather do.
This style of smoking suits me. It is a short but good and satisfying smoke. It is sometimes preferable to have a quick smoke and get back to other tasks. As enjoyable as pipe smoking is I often have other things I would rather do.