[Update 3: 8/5/2011] For a NEW reliable retail seller of Kiseru pipes and Koiki Tobacco please read this.
[Update 2: 10/15/2010] After some investigation and consultation with local pipe shops, the KISERU is apparently considered a "one hitter" pipe and as such is categorized as nothing more than another possible pot pipe. None of the major pipe/tobacco retailers I spoke with wanted anything to do with such "one hitters" citing major federal and state regulations. Even the head shops on Clark/Belmont Avenue, which indeed sell one-hitter pot pipes, wanted to pursue the sale of Japanese tobacco (again, citing federal/state regulations). I will continue to pursue this, though it seems the only likely current scenario is that the Kiseru pipes will be sold by a head shop and NO Japanese tobacco will be available.
[Update 1] I have been informed that as of 9/1/2010, LSANDO no longer supports the sale of Kiseru for overseas shipping. They have removed the English-translated pages from their site. The links on this page now point to only Japanese-language pages. SaruDama intends to verify with LSANDO what their policy now is regarding oversea shipping/processing and if necessary seek out an alternative location from which readers in the U.S. might obtain Japanese kiseru and tobacco.
LSando.com has a new collection of Kiseru Pipes
Living Shop Ando [LSando.com] is to my knowledge the only authentic (geographically and culturally) Japanese pipe shop which offers international currency and shipping for its excellent selection of traditional Kiseru pipes, carrying cases and the exclusively Japanese Koiki tobacco used for Kiseru. I have personally purchased from them and consider them top-notch. (You can find pics and descriptions of my purchases HERE.)
ANYWAY... LSando has just come out with its new collection of Kiseru pipes and cases if any of you are interested.
LSando is located in Tokyo Japan and thus declares it prices in YEN. However, there is a currency conversion calculator at the bottom of the page which will tel you up front what price you can expect to pay in Yen.
If in fact you choose to purchase from Ando-san, please mention that you learned of his shop via SaruDama. I think he may appreciate that.
I was just wondering how you sent the payment to Ando-san. I got the confirmation email but when i click the link it sends me to a website in japanese and i dont know how to read it. I'm not sure what to do, could you please help me i'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
I was wondering the same thing! I tried to get one, but I couldn't figure out how to pay for it! I clicked the link I got, saw that it was in japanese, went to a free translation site and still couldn't figure out how to pay the poor man so I could get my pipe...
I'd appreciate the help in figuring this out too! Thank you!
I was wondering if they make custome pipe's? I tired emailing them but it wasn't working, are there any more site's like this? (Beside's ebay) That would be helpful thankx
Just an update, the online shop you mentioned no longer ship Koiki to the US. This pretty much makes Koiki unattainable for anybody who lives in America.
Heck, just when I was thinking of taking up smoking ...
So U.S. regulators, in their infinite wisdom, believes 'one hitter' pipes are significantly befitting the description of drug paraphernalia? What kind of narcotics enforcement strategy are they playing at, ain't no sense at it!
I tried to purchase one via the website but when it came to the
billing part it got wayyy too complicated, to a point where it
rendered me being able to buy the kiseru impossible.
Well, there's always ebay. I have seen old kiseru pipes on sale there, and very rarely a brand new one.
Good Afternoon,
Can I buy 1 Packet of Koiki Tabacco from you?
What are the total Costs to the Netherlands?
Thanks.
Kind Regards,
Martin Hoen
The Netherlands
I don't know if it's any consilation to people but if your looking for a Kiseru Jbox has them for like 17 bucks but I don't know if they take Koiki tabacco since they modded it to use cigs. If you want one just to look at it's a good deal but if someone does buy from there could you tell us if it takes the Koiki tabacco?