Tabako
Pipe smoking was never more popular then in 18th and 19th century Japan (in the 1840s nine million pounds of pipe tobacco shipped to Edo annually for retail consumption). It was shared by all classes, both sexes and was integrated into every private and public aspect of Japanese life, even the quintessential Japanese tea ceremony. Pipes and accessories were crafted by farmers and workers in their spare time for personal use, by ordinary craftsman for common use and by the finest of artisans for the wealthy. Today Japanese tobacciana of that past era is highly collectable both as tobacciana and as among the finest examples of Japanese lacquer, metal and small sculpture work. Most pieces sell in the three figure range but four and five figures are common, and six figures not unheard of. Articles have been written focusing on Japanese pipes and accessories as object d'art and on the artists/artisans that made them, but the emphasis of this paper will be on the artifacts of pipe smoking in 18th and 19th century Japan, and the terminology, development and integration of the same into the national culture. A glossary and bibliography focused on English language publications are provided as appendices. The pipes and accessories illustrated in this paper (double click on the indicated links) are absent advise otherwise, from my own collection and generally date to the 19th century. Given the spectacular pieces in the collections of others my initial intention was to use those, but upon reflection I have decided to use my far more modest pieces for the further purpose of showing what may be collected today on a limited budget. Lastly, a personal confession and explanation. I have a most difficult time remembering and keeping all the various Japanese names and terms in their proper places. Repeated repetition has helped me in this regard and I have used that devise herein. For those impossible readers who get things straight, and remember, at a glance, my apologies and jealousy. One other house keeping matter, for footnote/aside matters I use the convention of placing such in the main text within parenthesis using a smaller font.
Japanese Tobacco (kizami-tabako). Tobacco, in the form of cigars, was introduced into Japan in the 16th century by European traders, probably around 1561, and it appears that there were tobacco dealers in Japan as early as 1576. The initial reaction appears to have been one of horrified curiosity:
“The southern barbarians [Europeans] are setting fire to their stomachs”
but curiosity prevailed:
“[Lord Tokugawa] Ieyasu was pleased to ask us many questions about the gifts we had brought, such as the tobacco seeds and the salve made from tobacco. At the time, the people of Japan were enthusiastic users of such salves, and they were accustomed to carry small amounts of medicine about with them at all times, each pill, powder or salve for a different ailment, and each in its own portable flask or box.” 1601 Burguillos Report.
“[Smoking] originated in the country of the southern barbarians and was introduced to various countries. It is interesting to entertain guests with it. Materials are first shredded. A smoking pipe requires frequent cleaning. It could be a poison or a medicine … “ Taichu, Ryukyu Ohrai - 1603.
“Of late [1607] a thing called tobacco has been in fashion. It is said to come from Nan-ban [the Europeans]. Broad leaves are cut up and lighted, and the smoke is swallowed. … [1609], all classes of Japanese amuse themselves with it. It is said to be a remedy for all diseases. But on the other hand, cases have occurred of persons falling ill who had inhaled it, and as no medical work contains any directions for the treatment of such patients, no medicine could be administered to them.” Family Records of Saka Jiyau-chi-In, 1607 and 1609. (It might be noted that even today in Japan one does not ‘smoke’ tobacco but rather ‘drinks’ it – tabako wo nomu).