Finance Minister sets Russian DEUS 30g pipe tobacco at 1,500 yen

Minister of Finance Satsuki Katayama has approved the retail price of a 30g box of Russian pipe tobacco “DEUS” at 1,500 yen per box, and announced this in the “Public Notices” section of the Official Gazette (Extra Edition) dated October 21, 2026. The date of approval was September 4, 2026. The announcement was made based on the provisions of Article 35 of the Tobacco Business Act and was published in the Official Gazette of the same date as the “Public Notice of Retail Prices for Manufactured Tobacco.”

Framework for Approval and Public Notice Based on the Tobacco Business Act

The text of the notice explicitly states that the retail price of the manufactured tobacco was approved on September 4, 2026, pursuant to the provisions of Article 33, Paragraph 1 of the Tobacco Business Act, and that said retail price is being announced pursuant to the provisions of Article 35 of the same Act. The system is designed such that the retail price of manufactured tobacco is announced in the Official Gazette after receiving approval from the Minister of Finance, and this announcement follows that procedure.

The notice was issued in the name of the Minister of Finance and is dated October 21, 2026. In the pages of the Official Gazette, it is presented in a table format under the “Public Notice” and “Miscellaneous Matters” columns, listing the category of manufactured tobacco, name, product classification, country/region of manufacture, and retail price.

Details of the Announced Item

The contents described in the notice are as follows:

• Category of manufactured tobacco: Pipe tobacco
• Name: DEUS
• Product classification: Base
• Content: 30g
• Packaging unit: Box
• Country/Region of manufacture: Russia
• Retail price: 1,500 yen

The retail price is displayed per box, confirming a price of 1,500 yen per box for the 30g content. The notice contains no mention of the sales start date or the importing business entity.

Listing of Multiple Flavor Names

In the item column of the notice, numerous flavor names are listed following the product classification “Base.” The identifiable names are as follows:

• Black Currant, Black Ji, Blackberry Wine, Blueberry Yogurt
• Catmint, Champagne, Cherry Jelly, Cola
• Cooler, Elderberry, Guinness, Jasmine Pear
• Kiwi, Love Is, Melon, Orange Blossom
• Orange Tic Tac, Passion Fruit, Peonies, Pine
• Pink Skittles

Under the single name “DEUS,” a large number of product classifications with different scents and tastes have been approved and announced collectively.

Retail Sales Prices and Impact on the Imported Tobacco Market

With this announcement, it has been finalized that 30g boxes of DEUS will be available at retail stores at a fixed price of 1,500 yen per box. Retailers will use the announced retail price as the basis for their selling price, and storefront displays and sales management practices will be aligned accordingly.

Russian pipe tobacco is positioned as a category of imported tobacco. The price level of 1,500 yen for a 30g box serves as a point of comparison for consumers considering the purchase of pipe tobacco, bringing the price difference between this and similar imported or domestic products back into question. The fact that the Ministry of Finance finalized the price through the procedures of authorization and public notice serves as the institutional prerequisite for the distribution of imported tobacco.

Source: Official Gazette (Extra Edition) dated October 21, 2026, “Public Notice Matters,” Public Notice of Retail Prices for Manufactured Tobacco (Minister of Finance Satsuki Katayama, authorized on September 4, 2026, based on Article 33, Paragraph 1 of the Tobacco Business Act, and publicized based on Article 35 of the same Act).