Japanese take up old-fashioned alternative to pricey cigarettes

(independent.co.uk) ... "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. Continued

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