When ordinary gossamer-soft, two-ply tissue has been tried and found wanting for the royal beak, then maybe it's time to upgrade to the imperial luxury of Junihitoe Tissues. Priced at 10,000 yen a box (approx. $100), these sumptuous nose-rags mimic the twelve layers of colorful kimono worn by the Japanese Imperial family and aristocracy since the Heian Era.

There is a whole school of etiquette to be mastered here too: only a boorish oaf would use the cherry-blossom color tissue before a lapis lazuli, or staunch a nosebleed with pale wisteria color.