MOSAKU KISERU INSTRUCTION MANUAL


Thank you very much for purchasing a Mosaku Kiseru.

Although this manual is a bit long, it contains important information to help you
enjoy your kiseru for a long time to come.

Please take a moment to read through it.

Regarding the Silver Material

Silver is a very soft metal.
Hitting it hard against an ashtray to remove ash,
or dropping it from the fire bowl downward, can cause scratches, dents, or deformation.

While solid-silver kiseru are hardened by hammering the base metal during manufacturing,
silver is still a soft metal. If you genuinely try to bend it, it will bend.

Please never do this.

Recommended ways to remove ash include:

Removing it with a toothpick
Blowing it into an ash receptacle (ashtray/kiserufuki)
Lightly tapping it against your finger

Regarding Silver Tarnish

Over time, silver changes color from an oxidized finish (ibusigin) to black.
This is a natural phenomenon caused by the sulfuration of silver.
If this concerns you, you can polish it clean using:
A polishing cloth, 　Silver cleaning liquid, 　Pickard (metal polish). 　Tissue paper
Denim fabric(Note: Denim will get dirty.)

If you do not plan to use it for an extended period, sealing it in plastic wrap or similar
will help prevent tarnish.

Beware of Burns

Because silver has extremely high thermal conductivity, the fire bowl and
smoke head become very hot during and immediately after smoking.

Avoid holding the fire bowl or smoke head, and do not put the kiseru in your pocket
right after smoking.

Doing so can cause burns or damage your clothing.

Daily Maintenance

After smoking, while the fire bowl is still hot, blowing firmly into an ash receptacle
or tissue paper

will expel a significant amount of tar and residue.
I usually blow it out once every 5 to 10 puffs.

When it is still hot, the tar has not yet hardened,
making the smoke channel less likely to clog and
making subsequent maintenance much easier.

Lightly clean the fire bowl and smoke head with a toothpick or cotton swab.

For the mouthpiece and smoke channel, pipe cleaners (chenille stems)
or straw brushes are recommended.

Paper twists (koyori) are not recommended because they can break and get stuck inside.
Using ethanol or alcohol will clean it even more thoroughly.

Maintenance of Root-Bamboo Kiseru (Netake Kiseru)

For root-bamboo kiseru, pour boiling water into a disposable cup,
submerge only the fire bowl and smoke head,
and gently swish it around to effectively remove tar and residue.

*Do not submerge up to the bamboo shank (rau).

Maintenance of Solid Silver Kiseru

Submerging it in boiling water or running a pipe cleaner through
it while in hot water will clean it quite thoroughly.

Boiling it in a pot is also an option, but it produces a strong odor.

Simply swishing it around in the hot water of a washbasin (teoke)
while taking a bath is also effective.

Regarding the "Devil's Mouthpiece" (Akuma no Suikuchi)

The trumpet-shaped mouthpiece has dimensions
that allow a pipe cleaner to just barely pass through.

Forcing it through will cause the pipe cleaner to bend,
so please pass it through slowly and gently.

Once the pipe cleaner reaches the smoke head, move it slightly,
and pouring ethanol or neutral dish soap from the fire bowl side is effective.

Do not use acidic or alkaline detergents, as they will cause black discoloration.

Regarding Silver Allergies

Very rarely, some individuals may have a silver allergy.
If you notice any abnormalities on your lips or elsewhere,
discontinue use immediately and consult a physician.

Tongue Burn

Shorter kiseru tend to cause tongue burn more easily.
Even with a longer kiseru, smoking too rapidly and forcefully can burn your tongue.
Smoking lightly and leisurely makes this less likely to occur.

Regarding the "Hot Water Swish" (Recommended)

When you first start using a silver kiseru,
before a layer of tar builds up in the smoke channel,
you might notice an off-flavor or sharpness.

Once the inside of the fire bowl turns a dark brownish color,
try the "Hot Water Swish" once.

Pour boiling water into a disposable cup,
submerge the entire kiseru starting from the smoke head, and gently shake it.

Tar and residue will come out of the smoke channel
(you can tell because the water turns brown).

Submerge the mouthpiece side as well and give it a gentle swish.

I call this method the "Hot Water Swish." Once performed, metallic odors and
off-flavors tend to disappear, making it easier to experience the true flavor of the kiseru.

Subsequent maintenance can be done sufficiently with just the hot water swish,
but from the second time onward,
adding a small amount of neutral dish soap to the boiling water
and gently cleaning with a pipe cleaner or straw brush is even more effective.

Be careful not to scrub too forcefully with a straw brush, as it may wear down the mouthpiece;
please use it gently.

Regarding the Sōten Wire

With extended use, a wall of tar builds up inside the smoke channel.
Insert it from the mouthpiece side,
and gently scrape the inner wall of the smoke channel to push the tar out
toward the fire bowl side. Scrubbing too forcefully risks poking a hole in the smoke head.

Work gently, with the sensation of pushing the tar out.

In Closing

Should you ever encounter any defects or have any questions,
please feel free to contact us at any time.

The more you use a kiseru, the more it grows into a piece uniquely your own.

Please cherish and enjoy it for many years to come.

Enjoy a blissful smoke.

Mosaku Kiseru - Shigeru Ishida