Kiseru

[2][3] It is believed that pipe smoking was introduced to Japanese high society, such as the samurai, the Buddhist priest classes and rich merchants.

Kiseru were considered status symbols for their owners, due to being made from precious metals and having intricate designs adorned on them.

[3][2] The word kiseru today is more commonly used to refer to the practice of defrauding the railway system by buying two cheap tickets to get past the entrance and exit gates while not paying for the distance between them.

[2] The length of a typical kiseru usually measured between 6 and 10 inches (15 and 25 cm), and their metal ends made them suitable impromptu self-defence weapons in emergencies.

[6] Much heavier and longer kiseru were often carried by common people living on the fringes of society, such as the yakuza, gamblers, and gangsters, which were designed to be used as weapons.