Innovative matches for everyday life From everyday items to interesting accessories

Poppy colors, fresh logos and designs. In the past, matches were essential to everyday life. Still maintaining their practicality, these matches serve as a freely expressive medium, packed with playful design that fully employs the limited available space. Established over 80 years ago, Kobe Match Co., Ltd. hopes to expose the next generation to the unique culture of match production. There are only 3 known companies in the country (including MATCH DESIGN), who are making original in-house matches. Taking advantage of the production technology, third generation company head Sagayama is introducing various ideas such as “retro matches” (printed with old-school labels on the box), and a “tea leaf match,” made in collaboration with beverage manufacturer Itoen.

“Fire-starting items such as matches have slowly lost their status in everyday life. I don’t expect they will be used as a household item in the near future. So we have to extend their relevance as interesting accessories that are fun to handle. Collaborating with creators in the industry, I hope to take further initiative in realizing this goal,” says Sagayama. With this approach, matches are being integrated back into contemporary lifestyles. showing a free sense of creativity with a product lineup that includes not only actual matches, but t-shirts and key holders as well. “I began working on a marketing strategy for matches together with the students in my university seminar, the theme of which was design and usability. I am excited to see what kind of items that generations who were not raised using matches will come up,” says Sagayama.