Kenka kiseru, kiseruzutsu, and tabako-ire, Takaoka clan, Japan Edo period

Kenka kiseru, kizerusutsu, and tabako-ire, Takaoka clan, Japan, Edo period
Japanese set including a kenka kiseru (fighting pipe) with its kiseruzutsu case and a rigid snuffbox (tonkotsu) bearing the Takaoka clan's mon (family crest).
These objects date from the Edo period (1603–1868), early 19th century, and combine smoking and defensive uses.
From the Edo period onward, tobacco smoking spread in Japan, and the kiseru—a thin, small-bowl tobacco pipe made of metal and bamboo—became a prized accessory, sometimes highly ornamented, and a symbol of social status. Most kiseru measure between 15 and 25 cm, but some significantly longer and heavier models appeared, often used by disreputable individuals. These long pipes were used both for smoking and for defense during impromptu fights. They are called kenka kiseru or "fighting pipes." They are veritable bronze or iron clubs, 30 to 50 cm long. Their weight and strength make them formidable blunt weapons in the event of a fight. Like tessen (iron fans) or truncheon naeshi, these pipes served as disguised weapons, tolerated in public because they were presented as simple smoking accessories.
These fighting pipes found their place in the era of the kabukimono—the eccentric ronin and young samurai of the 17th century with their provocative behavior—and in that of the machi-yakko, the urban vigilante militias formed by the common people to defend themselves against the abuses of the former. The machi-yakko, often of merchant or artisanal origin, readily adopted the kenka kiseru as their weapon of choice, since carrying a sword was forbidden to them. Indeed, in Edo Japan, only samurai were allowed to carry bladed weapons. The otokodate (honorary bandits) of the merchant class had to be cunning in using these long pipes in the event of clashes with low-ranking samurai or other criminals. This context of tensions between machi-yakko (city servants) and violent kabukimono is often cited as one of the origins of the yakuza (Japanese mafia). Thus, the kenka kiseru is part of both the culture of Edo thugs and the vigilantes of working-class neighborhoods, occupying a unique place as an object on the border between refinement and violence. At the same time, some samurai also adopted the fighting pipe in special circumstances. When they had to do without their swords—for example, during visits to the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters where weapons were prohibited—samurai could conceal a heavy kiseru in their belts as a precaution. These models, intended for warriors, were called buy?kiseru (« martial pipe”) and were often made entirely of metal, around 41–45 cm long. No guard would worry about a tobacco pipe, and in the event of an altercation, the unarmed samurai could brandish his pipe like a club and knock out an assailant without tarnishing the honor of his sword. Martial arts schools even incorporate secret kiseru fighting techniques (kiseru-jutsu), comparable to those of tessenjutsu (war fan). Some fighting pipes were even equipped with a small tsuba (guard) to protect the hand, as evidenced by ancient manuals (Kiraku-ry? school).
This dual use between smoking and fighting gives the kenka kiseru a legendary aura, often illustrated in folklore and kabuki theater—think of the bandit Ishikawa Goemon, often depicted with an enormous twisted pipe, or the hero Jiraiya brandishing his kiseru in 19th-century prints.
The set presented consists of a large kenka-kiseru pipe accompanied by its case (kiseruzutsu) and a rigid snuffbox (tonkotsu) forming a coordinated ensemble. The pipe, made entirely of metal (iron) and black lacquered bamboo, measures approximately 31 cm long and weighs 520 grams – an unusual size approaching that of a tant? (short dagger). Its two ends, the bowl (head) and the mouthpiece (mouthpiece), are thick and heavy, capable of withstanding violent shocks. The pipe's shaft is of a substantial diameter to ensure rigidity; it is smooth and shiny.
The kiseruzutsu case, carved from wood, is adjusted to the pipe's generous dimensions (39.5 x 5.3 x 6 cm with an oval cross-section). It features fine gold lacquer ornamentation with silver highlights, depicting stylized plant motifs in scrolls across its entire surface. The closure is accented by a wide brass band adorned with a ring.
On both sides, the Takaoka clan's mon appears, a crest with three stylized oak leaves in a circle, confirming that this set belonged to a member of this samurai family.
The tonkotsu, with its matching decoration and sliding lid, was used to store finely cut tobacco (kizami) while protecting its contents thanks to its rigidity. A cord passing through two side eyelets connects the snuff box to the kiseruzutsu, allowing the set to be hung from a belt. (21 x 14 x 6 cm with an oval cross-section)
The braided silk cord connecting the case to the snuff box passes through a sliding ojime that serves to tighten the suspension. It features the same decoration and measures 4.7 cm in diameter and 2 cm thick. The Takaoka clan is an ancient samurai family originating from Hitachi Province and later attached to the Uda-Genji lords during the Edo period. This Takaoka ka-mon lends additional historical value to the collection, linking it to a prestigious lineage and suggesting that it may have been used during official travel or informal ceremonies where the carrying of swords was prohibited.
Edo-period kenka kiseru are relatively rare today and highly sought after by collectors of unusual Japanese weapons. Their hybrid nature—both smoking and concealed weapons—makes them fascinating. Although many standard-sized kiseru (15–25 cm) are preserved in museums, giant examples measuring 30–50 cm are less common. The Minneapolis Institute of Art holds an iron fighting pipe approximately 41 cm long and weighing over 675 g; This piece, described as an object of "delicate appearance but surprising weight," illustrates the deceptive imbalance between the refined aesthetics of kiseru and their martial potential.
A complete kizeru, ojime, and tokutsu set for a fighting pipe is extremely rare. Time has often separated the elements when they have not been destroyed.
However, there are a few comparable sets in public and private collections. For example, the Spurlock Museum in Illinois holds a lacquered wood tonkotsu with its matching kiseruzutsu (length 28.6 cm) dating to the early 19th century. Although smaller and lighter, this set testifies to the tradition of having a hard case coordinated with the pipe case. An exceptional kenka kiseru by Mitsuhide (dated circa 1870) fetched €2,275 in 2021. 48.5 cm long, it consisted of a solid bamboo stem connected to two heavy bronze mouthpieces engraved with Daruma and paulownia leaf motifs. The pipe was a standalone piece, and its price illustrates the interest in these unusual objects.
Similarly, collector and author Serge Mol mentions a 57 cm buy?kiseru, all made of metal, which he compares to a naeshi, as its weight, reaching 675 g, makes it a veritable "club" disguised as a pipe. Rosemary Bandini reports that this type of piece had left her perplexed at first, before an antique dealer, kiseru in hand, demonstrated to her the balanced grip and controlled movements possible with such an improvised weapon. By bringing together all the original elements (pipe, case, snuffbox) and bearing a family mon, the Takaoka clan set presented here stands out for its rarity and martial interest. Far beyond a smoking object, it tangibly illustrates a little-known aspect of the weaponry of the samurai and thugs of Edo – that of weapons disguised as everyday objects.

Serge Mol, Classic Weaponry of Japan, 2003
Don Cunningham, Samurai Weapons: Tools of the Warrior, 2012
Rosemary Bandini, "Buy?kiseru" (article, 2020)
Zacke Catalogue (Vienna), December 3, 2020 2021
Collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Pipe: 32 x 3.5 cm 520 grams
Pipe case: 39.5 x 6 x 5.3 cm
Ojime: 4.7 x 2 cm
Tonkutsu: 21 x 14 x 6.4 cm
Presented on a patinated bronze base custom-made by Atelier Punchinello
Overall size: 56 x 31 x 12 cm