Well, the kiseru has been around for centuries in Japan and smoking tobacco in pipes is making a comeback, especially amongst younger people as being now fashionable and cool.
The Japanese government raised taxes on cigarettes on Oct. 1, 2010 but the taxes on loose tobacco went up only a pittance. Now, some people are smoking pipes to be different and save money.
As the Independent UK reports:
Figures released by the government show that cigarette sales were up a remarkable 88 percent in September.
But the increase on shredded tobacco was a mere Y30 (€0.27), raising the price to Y360 (€3.25) for a box, because of a difference in tax rates between ready-rolled cigarette and loose tobacco.
Sales of "Koiki" brand loose tobacco accounts an "extremely small" percentage of Japan Tobacco Inc.'s total sales, according to spokesman Yoshinori Tsuchiya, but that is creeping up as the company has not witnessed the steep decline in sales in the months since the tax hike.
" 'Koiki' is fine-cut Japanese tobacco that is not for roll-your-own cigarettes or a regular pipe, but for the traditional 'kiseru' pipe," Tsuchiya told Relaxnews.
"The biggest differences between roll-your-own tobacco and that for a Japanese pipe is that Koiki is cut finer than hair - less than 0.3 milimetres - and no additives are included, so the smoker can enjoy the original flavour of the tobacco," he said.
Japan Tobacco stopped producing kiseru in 1979 as the popularity of cigarettes soared, but "Koiki" was launched in 1985 to meet demand from purists who yearened for a revival of Japanese tobacco culture, Tsuchiya said.
The product is made by hand at a single JT factory, but the company also owns the "Old Holborn" and "Amber Leaf" brands of rolling tobacco, while "Golden Virginia" and "Drum" can also be purchased in Japan.
Thanks to News on Japan
Its always amazing to see the womens smoking through pipes.. When I was in Japan I have noticed many young girls doing it and enjoy the moment.. Just wondering to know is there any legal age of girls for smoking over there?
ReplyDeleteIn Japan, legal age for drinking and smoking is 20!
ReplyDelete