Origins of Smoking in Japan

In their earlier stages, Japanese smoking implements were virtually identical with the first models of smoking equipment introduced from abroad.
As time went on, methods of tobacco use and smoking manners became naturalized were altered to suit local conditions, and, in many cases, eventually evolved into unique forms not found in other parts of the world.
The classic Japanese kiseru, or long-stemmed, small-bowled pipe that remained in use until the late nineteenth century, is thought to have been derived from European clay pipes of the Age of Discovery, as well as from Southeast Asian smoking paraphernalia.
The oldest kiseru were long and relatively large. Some kiseru were made of substances such as ceramics or bamboo. In many cases, smoking accessories other than kiseru pipes were simply adapted from previously existing articles originally employed for other purposes. For example, Edo-period tobacco pouches could trace their ancestry from common, ordinary flint-and-steel pouch forms that had been a part of daily life for centuries before, while the first tobacco trays were apparently no more than recycled versions of trays designed to hold incense- burning implements.

Japanese Tobacco

During early years after its introduction into Japan (1689), tobacco became the subject of much prohibitive legislation, but in spite of legal hindrances, the cultivation and use of tobacco continued to spread. By the time when the bans were lifted in the seventeenth century, tobacco was firmly established as one of the most popular consumer luxuries throughout all social levels, including the rank and file of the lower and middle strata of the population. The characteristic Japanese method of smoking finely-mince tobacco in the long stemmed, thimble-bowled pipes know as Kiseru is also believed to date from approximately the same era. This custom of using finely-shred tobacco was to prove of significance in the history of Japanese technology, for the original hand-shredding process was soon supplemented by a variety of mechanical techniques, that stimulated the early development of quality mass production machinery in Japan.

In addition, the decorative possibilities of smoking paraphernalia opened up new fields for the creative energies of craftsmen in numerous areas of applied art. In this and other ways, influences from tobacco made their mark upon early modern Japanese art, society, farm economy, agriculture, transport and technology. In the years after 1868 (meiji), when Japan once more became open to cultural influence from other parts of the world, new kinds of tobacco products were imported from abroad and rapidly naturalized.

The indigenous tobacco industry flourished as never before, with rival manufacturers striving to outdo one another through flamboyant publicity campaigns. In the Meiji-era government was quick to realize the value of tobacco as a potential source of revenue. In 1904, all stages of tobacco leaf processing and sale were brought under government control as a national monopoly, which remained in effect until 1985. In this days like in the past tobacco and tobacco products continue to play significant roles in the Japanese society, agriculture, economics, medical science and other areas.

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Source of Information: Japanese Tobacco Institute

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