Kiseru (Japanese pipe)

Shichifukujin (Japanese seven deities of good fortune) are engraved on the neck and mouth-piece of kiseru. They are dancing cheerfully. The goddess who is playing biwa (Japanese lute) is called Benzaiten (cf. the picture below). She is the goddess of knowledge and music. Shichifukujin have been worshiped by Japanese as the gods who bring happiness.