Awa Ikeda Tobacco Museum

• History of Tobacco in Japan
• Japan Tobacco
• Kiseru & Kizami
• Exhibits
• Museum Access
• Shikoku Museums
• Japan Museums

Tobacco in Japan: The Awa Ikeda Tobacco Museum 阿波池田たばこ資料館

This small, private museum in Tokushima is surprisingly interesting and informative about much more than just tobacco.

Housed in a traditional property from the Edo Period, it was formerly the residence and workshops of a local tobacco manufacturer.

The Tobacco Museum in Awa Ikeda housed in an Edo Period propertyThe entrance of the Awa Ikeda Tobacco Museum in Miyoshi, Tokushima

History of Tobacco in Japan

Tobacco was introduced into Japan probably by Portuguese traders in the late 16th century, although no exact documentation exists.

By the early 17th century tobacco use had become fairly widespread causing the government to issue edicts banning its cultivation, sale, and use.

However, the fact that the edicts were repeatedly issued suggest that they had little effect and by 1624 the government had realized that prohibition was useless and allowed tobacco use.

At first tobacco was imported, but in 1601 a Franciscan monk gave tobacco leaves and seeds to the shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa and tobacco began to be grown in Japan.

It is believed that the first domestic tobacco was grown in Tokushima. However, it was cultivated widely throughout many parts of the country as it was a lucrative cash crop.

Tobacco use was widespread through all levels of Japanese society and with men as well as women. Though not as extensive as Tea Ceremony, a Tobacco Ceremony existed among the upper classes with strict rituals connected with smoking in homes with guests.

When the country opened up after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 cigarettes rather than kiseru pipes eventually became the dominant smoking form although the use of pipes never completely died out.

Puppets and related historical artifacts on display at the Tobacco Museum in Awa IkedaCourtyard garden in the property of the Awa Ikeda Tobacco Museum

Japan Tobacco (JT)

In 1898 the Japanese government established a monopoly on the sale of tobacco leaf to secure a hefty tax income.

In 1904 they extended the government monopoly to all parts of the tobacco industry which removed all foreign interests in the business.

This government monopoly existed pretty much until 1985 when Japan Tobacco (JT) became a publicly traded company with the Japanese government being the majority stockholder.

Since then the government has sold off some of its shares but still retains one third. Japan Tobacco International is one of the major tobacco companies in the world having acquired many overseas tobacco companies including the purchase of the Gallagher Group in 2007 which was the biggest foreign takeover in Japanese history.

Display of kiseru, traditional Japanese pipes

Kiseru & Kizami

The foreigners that the Japanese had first seen smoking tobacco had been using pipes, and so that is how tobacco came to be smoked in Japan.

The Japanese pipe is known as kiseru, and has a metal, usually brass, mouthpiece and a very small, metal bowl.

Some very small examples existed but most had a middle section of wood or bamboo. Kiseru came in a variety of lengths, and in fact long kiseru were used as weapons as carrying swords was forbidden to most Japanese.

Images of men and women using kiseru are widespread in the visual arts of the Edo Period and artists and craftsmen produced many fine examples of kiseru and other smoking paraphernalia, especially netsuke, the tiny carvings used on tobacco pouches.

Traditional Japanese tobacco, kizami, was very finely chopped to make it easier to pack into the small bowls of the kiseru.

The Japanese developed their own tools and machines to produce kizami. Production of kizami ceased in 1979 but limited production restarted as there was still a market for the traditional tobacco. Currently one Japanese brand of kizami is on sale, although a Belgian company produces a version also.

Traditional historical painting on a screen on display at the Awa Ikeda Tobacco Museum

Exhibits

The museum is housed in a group of traditional buildings from the Edo Period built in a style called udatsu, which refers to the plaster covered extension to the front of the building. This helped prevent fires from spreading. down river from Awa Ikeda in Mima is a fine example of a street of Udatsu buildings.

In the traditional entrance room visitors who wish can try a smoke of kizami in a kiseru. The property is a warren of connecting buildings and rooms, with the front section being originally residential.

As you pass through the many rooms towards the back of the building, which is where the tobacco museum is and where tobacco was produced in the old days, there are many displays of art and other objects unrelated to tobacco.

You also pass by a nice courtyard style garden. There are about half a dozen rooms with exhibits on tobacco including old and new photos, diagrams and plans, documents and models. Also on display are tools and machines both old and new.

There is no information in English but much of it is pretty self-explanatory and though the guide speaks little English he can usually explain things.

There are also plenty of examples of smoking paraphernalia such as kiseru, historical cigarette packs and advertising.

The Museum of Tobacco, housed in traditional buildings, is surprisingly modern and with a wide variety of good displays

Access - Getting There

2465-1 Ikedacho Machi, Miyoshi-shi, Tokushima 778-0002
Tel: 0833 72 3450
Open 9 am to 5 pm. Closed Wednesdays and over the New Year period.
Entry 310 yen for adults

The museum is located a 5 minute walk from Awa Ikeda Station on the JR Dosan Line, about 75 minutes from Tokushima Station or Takamatsu, and 80 minutes from Okayama.

Find out more about the history of tobacco in Japan at the Tobacco & Salt Museum in Tokyo.

Book Hotel Accommodation in Shikoku

Travel Books on Japan