3/6/2018 What is a kiseru ?

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What is a kiseru ?
What are the main types of kiseru ?

The kiseru are traditional Japanese pipes used for smoking tobacco. They are used in Japan since the second half of the sixteenth century. They are characterized by a small
bowl where only a small quantity of tobacco can be placed, and their forms are generally very fine and elegant. Most of the kiseru are made of metal and bamboo but there are
also many models entirely in metal or even in ceramics. Some models are very simple and have little value, others on the contrary are true works of art, finely worked and
sculpted. Between these two extremes there is a range of kiseru very different from each other, wether old or new, their are models for everyone !
If you prefer checking that out watching a video, just go strait down to the bottom of this page ^^

Différent parts of kiseru

Main types of kiseru

Rau kiseru 羅宇きせる (or Rau giseru 羅宇ぎせる)

The "Rau kiseru" are made of three parts : suikuchi "mouthpiece", rau "stem" (usually made of bamboo or wood) and gankubi "shank"), unlike « nobekiseru » which are made
of a single part.

There are different styles of « rau kiseru », the three main styles are :
- Sekishū 石州 : with the « Joshin » kiseru (see hereafter) it is one of the most common kind of kiseru. It is called "Sekishu kiseru" because the tea ceremony master Sekishu
used to like very much this model in particular.

- Joshin 女信 : with « Sekishū » (above), it's one of the most common kind of kiseru.

- Kōdaiji 光大寺 Much less common than the two previous models, it is a "rau kiseru" with bulging tips.

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3/6/2018 What is a kiseru ? - Kiseru-pipe

Nobe kiseru 延べきせる or nobe giseru 延べぎせる

Unlike the "rau kiseru", these are very simple kiseru made of a single piece of metal (usually brass).

Tazuna 手網
This kiseru is also made of one piece of metal but the boddy is twisted. There are some very big and massive Tazuna kiseru.

Natamame 鉈豆 ou 刀豆
Kiseru which peculiarity is to be flat to fit easily in the belt of the kimono.

Here is a video that we made to show many different sorts of kiseru, some of which are very uncommon (and some of which were sold on our website!)

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