Cigarette packaging in Japan

15 Feb 2006 Category: Features, Graphics, Japan, Products

Cigarette packaging in Japan

lots of choices!

Deja Vu? Actually, we already wrote an article about cigarette packaging in Japan last year. Never read that one? Well, we took it down after we published it because it was written in a kind of end-of-the-year-rush… and we can do better! 

So please enjoy our new version of: PingMag’s choice of Japanese cigarette packaging. 

written by Uleshka

Due to different license regulations, buying cigarettes seems to be different in every country. Japan and Germany make it equally easy for you by simply having vending machines everywhere (OK - I think Japan beats Germany here) - whereas trying to get hold of cigarettes in France can be a very difficult at certain times…..

German vending machine left, Japanese models on the right

Let’s look at these two different vending machines! I chose two which are pretty standard in both countries. The German one (on the left) has very small buttons for each brand and - that is basically it. The white space is left empty except for the logo of the distributor. Tobaccoland, the main tobacco vending machine provider in Germany has some newer models decorated with a sexy woman smoking to attract customers. That is about as much as they are allowed when it comes to marketing cigarettes. 

There are plenty of reasons why cigarettes should not look pretty. We all know that. This article, however, is about design only and since there aren’t all that many restrictions in Japan yet - there is much more to look at!

Now back to our Japanese vending machine! Besides offering a huge selection of different brands, it certainly uses all the free space for advertisements. On top of that, I often find special highlights in the cigarette packaging area to market a new product.

funky girly cute wrestler mask promoting peach taste cigarettes

Often each machine is “sponsored” by a big brand, e.g. Seven Star, or Kool or Marlboro. What I find quite striking though is that often you come across vending machines in Japan with a huge variety of brands in them.

cigarettes from many different countries

There is quite an alternative selection to chose from besides Japanese tobacco and the American standards.

What about the packaging design!?

I made out a few main target groups:

Cigarettes for real men:

7 Stars - their original design on the left and the new remake on the right

For elegant women:

DUO - the Luis Vuitton appeal cigarettes for ladies, who don’t want to carry too much at once

This is an advertisement for the “clever DUO pack” which can be separated in two halves for those ladies who only have a little space in their very small bags (that suits most women, I believe ;-)

DUO - doesn’t this pattern remind you of something?

For girls:

Do you notice the little sparkling, diamond-like stars glittering on the pack? Amazing!

Peche - pink and glitter stars for the ultimate girly look

pink print on the white cigarettte paper

For cool boys:

Now this packaging is quite something. I first thought it was the new re-design for KOOL cigarettes, but then I noticed, that it was simply a package around the package. The original package is left inside. Whow! Does that make sense???

KOOL - notice the skaters on the pack in matrix-style-graphics?

KOOL - trick! the original pack is still inside

Maybe you noticed that KOOL cigarettes are menthol cigarettes, too. Why are there so many menthol brands to chose from in Japan? I have no idea, to be honest. Flavored cigarettes are very popular over here in general, it seems. Other tastes include the sweet peach taste of peche (see above) or the “subtle vanilla flavor” of Caster cigarettes (I like their re-design!).

Caster - subtle vanilla

One other taste I could find was of “One” placing their cigarettes in the “healthy - corner” by promising a good feeling for your throat while smoking! Notice the little “Herb Blend” written on the pack?

Herb blend

When it comes to good design in the world of cigarettes, Naoki Sato in fact revolutionized Japanese packaging. With his “Alphabet H/R/C side slide box” series he chose easy-to-understand colors for the core smoking classes in the Japanese market: H = red for heavy, R = plain white for regular and C = green for cool mint. With this, the packages have so much more identity than regular brands, even if they have a nice logo or good typography.

H R C colors

In addition to this, he actually changed the whole method of opening the package: instead of flipping the top, one can slide the contents of the cigarette pack sideways and pick a cigarette easily. Very stylish!

Cool mint sliding

When I asked the guys in the store, “what are the most typical Japanese cigarettes?”, they immediately pointed out Hope and Peace.

Hope and Peace traditional packs

These old-school Japanese brands are very short cigarettes and very strong.

short and strong!

Their old fashioned design still works perfectly! I like it a lot.

Now that I compare Peace with Hope, it somehow looks, like one is shooting the other, though….

Peace….

….shot by Hope

“What about Kanji?” Is what I asked the tobacco shop owner. Aren’t there any Japanese brands with Japanese writing on them? “Well, that’s not what people want!”, is what the tobacco shop owner told me.


Sakura cigarettes

Seems like he was slightly wrong here! Kyoko found a website featuring new and limited cigarette designs, some of them only selling to a few rare shops so far. As one can see, they try out some new Kanji-variations. This particular Sakura-brand by JT really goes for the sophisticated traditional Japanese theme: Japanese calligraphy for their title and the paper used for the box is supposed to feel like Japanese-style handmade paper.

There are lots of pretty details to find in the old-school-cigarette packs (look at the beautiful handwritten font for the “cigarettes” on Peace or the little star on hi-lite cigarettes).

There are still plenty of situations in Japan when people will smile at you and blow their smoke right in your face while you are still trying to eat - without noticing anything wrong. This habit, however, is slowly disappearing. There are smoking areas popping up all over Tokyo now. My favorite one is a glass and steel box in Roppongi Hills trying to match the posh atmosphere around it. The funny thing about that one is the opening times and the countless huge ash-trays so close to each other - I have no idea how someone is supposed to reach the one in the middle….

Roppongi’s Smoker’s Style

opening times

Smoking manners have become a big thing over here. One thing, I still find extremly amazing and just cannot get my head around as a European is, that Japanese actually care about their others and leaving garbage in the streets so much, that most smokers always carry their own “portable ashtray” with them. This is often some kind of padded heat-proof pouch or here is a recent model matching the stylish HRC brand.

portable ashtray

And who uses this fancy mini-ashtray? A designer, of course…

56 Comments

  1. Great piece, thank you.

    OK, smoking is truly a disgusting habit. BUT, to see a portable ashtray shows that there is at least one smoker that cares a little bit about what he’s doing.

    Posted by: Jdesign on February 15th, 2006 at 5:45 pm

  2. um. very nice design. got to buy a few pack when i visit japan.

    Posted by: bentong on February 15th, 2006 at 5:58 pm

  3. A very nice article. Informative. I myself hv neva been to Japan but i’m so fond of their cigarettes packs design(friends brought from there). Think u missed one tiny funny thing when u talk about ‘Hope’. There is a little cartoon at the back of the inside-pack. Sometimes they look different from each other.

    Posted by: Narcissus on February 15th, 2006 at 6:37 pm

  4. Interesting site ang important links Cool !!!!!!!Wagering online

    Posted by: ico on February 15th, 2006 at 6:58 pm

  5. Yeap. I’m a ping fan. I was already a Japan fan altough I never went there (but I want to, oh god, as I was want to). Yeasterday I met Ping. Today, I came back in here just to be shure. Now I am.
    By the way, I quit smoking in December 25 2004…

    Posted by: Pedro Rebelo on February 15th, 2006 at 9:32 pm

  6. I love product packaging articles! The Peche & Sakura designs are fantastic. Here in Australia we are doing the complete opposite we have ugly pictures of mouth cancer and lung cancer on cigarettes packs.

    Posted by: Fei on February 16th, 2006 at 12:15 pm

  7. What is most rejoices me is that the warning on the cigarette package, shown here, occupies about 30% of the area unlike warnings on cigarettes , for example, in Europe where it occupies about 5-10% only.

    Posted by: GK on February 16th, 2006 at 5:53 pm

  8. [...] PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » Cigarette packaging in Japan Comprehensive and amusing article on cigarette packaging and branding in Japan. The “Alphabet” line of cigarette packs will make any designer inhale. (tags: cigarettes packaging japan) [...]

    Posted by: no sense of place » Blog Archive » links for 2006-02-16 on February 16th, 2006 at 8:24 pm

  9. I can’t believe you wrote this article without mentioning Golden Bat cigarettes - surely the coolest old-school design of them all!!!

    Posted by: EOWXXX on February 16th, 2006 at 9:33 pm

  10. [...] [...]

    Posted by: Jack Cheng » Blog Archive » Cigarette Packaging in Japan on February 20th, 2006 at 9:35 am

  11. [...] Uleshka has written an interesting piece about cigarette packaging. As always the Japanese go that extra bit. Some good designs. Why can’t the rest of the world be like the Japanese? [...]

    Posted by: MankyDown » Blog Archive » Pingmag Interesting Cigarette Blog on February 20th, 2006 at 8:37 pm

  12. I’m an avid anti-smoker but I really enjoyed seeing the different designs and that mini ashtray! I love the details and symmetry! I forwarded the link to some of my friends who are designers and smokers and would love to see these things as well.

    I can’t wait for Tokyo to ban smoking the way it’s been done in Boston, NYC, and now London… although I doubt it happens anytime soon.

    Posted by: Biki on May 9th, 2006 at 11:44 pm

  13. BAD CIGARETTES ARE BAD BAD BAD

    Posted by: JAK MAC on May 11th, 2006 at 1:34 am

  14. Great article!

    Posted by: Duncan on May 15th, 2006 at 9:06 am

  15. I JUST WENT TO JAPAN AND I BOUGHT THE ‘LV” CIGRAETTE BECOZ OF THE PACKAGE,
    PACKAGING WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND SO AFFECTIVE, THAT MAKES ME WANT TO SMOKE BECOZ OF THAT.
    P.S. I DON’T LIKE SMOKING. BUT…

    Posted by: JC on June 21st, 2006 at 2:23 am

  16. Want to hide those new health warnings - see cover designs and get unlimited covers to use

    Posted by: Alan on July 17th, 2006 at 2:28 pm

  17. “I can’t wait for Tokyo to ban smoking the way it’s been done in Boston, NYC, and now London… although I doubt it happens anytime soon.”

    Thank god we have prohibitionists to help us know what is right and wrong. They’ve almost killed online gambling in the US…

    Next up: smoking in all of SE Asia

    Posted by: Dean on July 20th, 2006 at 10:09 am

  18. All this Anti-Smoking!!!!. Drink and Drugs Kills more. 15 Million Children die ANNUALLY from Disease and starvation—In Africa alone. What you breathe in 20 seconds of Tokyo traffic emmissions is worse than smoking twenty cigarettes. It is proven, that Cancer is mostly genetically inherited. So just enjoy your smoke as well as each day.

    Posted by: Trevor Proctor on July 25th, 2006 at 4:57 pm

  19. “I can’t wait for Tokyo to ban smoking the way it’s been done in Boston, NYC, and now London… although I doubt it happens anytime soon.”

    Not only will that not happen anytime soon in a country like Japan, but smoke bans are an attack on the rights of businessowners all over the world. Ironically, your point of view is a cancer.

    Posted by: Tim on July 26th, 2006 at 7:18 am

  20. Bonjour!
    J’ai trouvé une idée que j’ai breveté..
    Cette invention permet au fabricant de cigarettes ou aux sociétés et entreprises travaillant sur des produits liés aux articles et gadjets ou à la santé des fumeurs, de vendre ce brevet aux autres intéressés en gagnant de nouveaux clients tout en régulant ou diminuant sa consommation de cigarettes pour le fumeur..
    Je cherche un partenaire de préférence Portugais, Espagnole ou Japonais..
    Cordialement,
    Claude
    00 33 608653437.

    Posted by: PINTO on July 27th, 2006 at 12:56 am

  21. well i tried hope and i loved them wish i kould find a way to buy some online

    Posted by: manuel arredondo on August 6th, 2006 at 4:32 pm

  22. if you can find a way email me textavegas@yahoo.com

    Posted by: manuel arredondo on August 6th, 2006 at 4:33 pm

  23. I just returned from Japan, I was really surprised to see so many cigarette machines there and yet last year alcohol vending machines were almost completely banned in Tokyo. I really wanted to buy a nice cold Asahi beer from a vending machine but only came across like 3 in the city and none of them were the old “liqour store” style machines either.
    Also smoking is becoming less popular in Japan, Slowly… and most people dont smoke on the street, and deffinately not on the train. Contrast to the US where everyone doesnt care where they smoke as long as its allowed (which in Spokane, WA its not allowed in any public building or within 25ft of any doors or windows, even in bars!)

    Posted by: Collin ratboycom on September 5th, 2006 at 3:07 am

  24. how can iam bought that cigarette in Indonesia….because iam from Indonesia….?? thx alot..

    Posted by: ayumi on November 11th, 2006 at 5:06 am

  25. Can you see multipurpose (including cigarette packs) automated design generation at http://gamedcolors.blogspot.com/

    Posted by: Eduardo Real on November 19th, 2006 at 6:32 am

  26. I’m glad the big airports in Japan have “smoke-boxes”. It allows people who smoke to enjoy their smoking indoors with comfort and convenience, and it respects others who don’t smoke (me).

    Posted by: Peter ピーター on December 11th, 2006 at 7:26 am

  27. I’ve been searching (google) the entire internet to buy japanese cigarettes… especially for the “Alphabet H/R/C side slide box” and Sakura ..
    If anyone knows a website, where i can buy online… let me know !!!

    Posted by: Ken on January 12th, 2007 at 8:51 am

  28. [...] { Smoke me } [...]

    Posted by: the new shelton wet/dry on January 21st, 2007 at 7:02 pm

  29. Good morning,
    we would like to buy 1 container of 40 ” of Japanese cigarettes ” SEVEN star “;
    You could make us a valuable offer the delivered Patterned container, Dalian harbour.

    In wait, better salutations,

    GUY PUISSEGUR
    malvina@malvina.fr

    Posted by: Puisségur Guy on January 29th, 2007 at 7:25 pm

  30. Brilliant,

    I will pay someone with a proficient understanding of Japanese and Oriental packaging design experience. Please contact me at raz_chaudary@hotmail.com

    Thanks

    Raz

    Posted by: raz_chaudary@hotmail.com on February 7th, 2007 at 8:54 am

  31. Where can I buy Alphabets online!?:

    Posted by: Brendan on February 8th, 2007 at 8:03 am

  32. [...] Basashi Icecream } + { Peach Menthol cigarettes [...]

    Posted by: the new shelton wet/dry on April 6th, 2007 at 7:57 pm

  33. where can i buy some korean and japanese cigarettes? please let me know? avaclairai@hellokitty.com

    Posted by: claire on May 22nd, 2007 at 5:54 am

  34. The cigarettes you describe as 1 mg and herb blend are actually Chinese cigarettes, In Chinese called “Zhong nan hai” means something like government building. I actually smoke them myself here in China, although they only come in 5mg and 8mg variety.
    Very suprised to see them in Japan!

    Posted by: Mikkaworks.com on June 8th, 2007 at 3:51 pm

  35. Great article - two minor additions:

    1) Have you noticed that the health warnings are really tiny and much more vaguely worded compared to Europe? My money is on the JT (Japan Tobacco, still mostly government owned) here.

    2) Whereas in Europe and the US, concern is with indoor smoking (restaurants etc.), Japan is concerned with limiting outdoor smoking (therefore the smoker’s style facilities). I’d really like to know the real reason for this - one factor might be a culture-based focus on preventing visible impact such as littering rather than invisible (but much more serious) impact such as the health hazards of passive smoking, but I bet the JT lobby is involved somewhere as well…

    Posted by: calpispatrick on June 28th, 2007 at 12:02 pm

  36. I will sell any brand of Japanese cigarette. 6USD per pack plus shipping. Please email:
    nikutaro@gmail.com

    Posted by: Nikutaro Yamamoto on July 1st, 2007 at 8:03 am

  37. Check out buyjap.com for all of the brands mentioned above.

    Posted by: Nikutaro Yamamoto on July 7th, 2007 at 2:16 am

  38. “It is proven, that Cancer is mostly genetically inherited. So just enjoy your smoke as well as each day.”

    Just wondering - do you live in a cave?

    Posted by: peoplearestupid on August 4th, 2007 at 4:13 am

  39. i have have flip top cigarette box design with a multifunctional tray at the bottom which could be used to store matches/mint etc etc it differs in its inclusion at the bottom.It could function as a sliding tray stored in an extension on the bottom of the cigarette box.It is already patented loking for pasrtner to produce box so that we can market the idea.

    Posted by: ibrahim yusuf on August 10th, 2007 at 4:10 am

  40. Hi. Just wanted to know a site I could use to buy & ship ‘SEVEN STARS’ cigs to the United Kingdom …. ..

    Thanks Guys

    (:

    shokku@hotmail.co.uk

    Posted by: X-Japan on September 21st, 2007 at 8:36 pm

  41. as usual, the japanese take packaging to a whole new level.

    Posted by: nwl on November 10th, 2007 at 3:05 pm

  42. Hi!
    I’m serchinh for a site where I can buy japanese cigarettes such like Parliament, Lark or Peche.

    Please let me know: tigrax4@wp.pl

    Posted by: Karolina on January 12th, 2008 at 12:46 am

  43. [...] Via Russel Davies Mais sobre design de embalagem de cigarros, ver links: 1 e 2 [...]

    Posted by: Trocando os vícios, mas não de embalagem | AdVertigo on January 15th, 2008 at 4:49 am

  44. I’m looking to buy a variety of Japanese cigarettes online. I’m in the US, I used to live in Japan but won’t be back there for awhile. I tried buyjap, but it won’t accept payment in my area (NY/NJ) and there is NO information to contact them. Is there another site???

    Looking for the brands: Pianissimo Peche, Seven Stars, Alphabet, Marlboro Ice Mint, Camel Nutty Menthol, Sakura, Caster, Mild Sevens

    If anyone knows, PLEASE PLEASE e-mail me at bethany.carkhuff@gmail.com

    I’m so sick and tired of American cigarettes :(

    Posted by: Bethany on January 17th, 2008 at 10:39 pm

  45. PS. for people that want to try to get in contact with buyjap.com, I found their e-mail… it is staff@buyjap.com

    Posted by: Bethany on January 17th, 2008 at 10:43 pm

  46. Yeah I tried buyjap as well and they wouldn’t accept payment from England either. I wonder Where they Accept payment from. It’s Very annoying. The only solution I can see (Which i’m considering) is to go back to Japan and buy a whole load there. I’ll keep looking and if anyone does find anything before me please email me at edwardwebley@yahoo.co.uk

    Posted by: Edward Webley on February 7th, 2008 at 9:27 am

  47. its like that a collection.nice photos thanks

    Posted by: kurye on February 22nd, 2008 at 7:14 am

  48. Hey, I grew intrigued with the Kool cigarettes. I tried BuyJap.com, but the site didn’t carry Kool’s. Can anyone help me out?

    Posted by: Nick on May 4th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

  49. who can told me where can buy Peche cigarettes. thanks

    Posted by: brandon on January 10th, 2009 at 10:31 am

  50. Dude buy japan wont except my pament for seven stars if anyone knows any site that i can buy any Japanese ciggs i contact me at taka_chan36@yahoo.com please i dont like american ciggs

    Posted by: harley on March 31st, 2009 at 7:52 am

  51. [...] 粉紅笑話 Pianissimo Pêche 分類於 1 — intsyliv @ 2:58 am 上飛機的前一天，阿鳥送給我ㄧ盒 Pianissimo Pêche [...]

    Posted by: 粉紅笑話 Pianissimo Pêche « Synchronicity on September 17th, 2009 at 11:58 am

  52. hey I would love to find any lucky sevens or HRC cigarettes , can anyone tell me where to find these ?

    email me @ Drunkinkinmonkey405@yahoo.com

    thank you ^~^

    Posted by: Cali cee on October 7th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

  53. Did anyone try this site?
    http://www.to-world.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&language=en
    They ship worldwide.
    I’m kind of hesitating as I can’t find much feedback about this site><

    Posted by: Dan on October 11th, 2009 at 6:44 am

  54. I don’t know if I can speak up in here…
    I’m the owner of “TO-WORLD.COM”
    We ship japanese products.Especially JAPANESE CIGARETTES.
    Originally our website is for japanese who lives in all over the world.
    Now we ship to everyone it’s not only for japanese!
    Please try our service!And taste japanese cigarettes!
    Thank you.

    Posted by: YOKOYAMA on October 17th, 2009 at 6:44 pm

  55. Mine doesn’t sell in Japan anymore

    Posted by: japan love on January 12th, 2010 at 4:43 pm

  56. Interesting about the Cigarette packaging in Japan,i don’t know what it deals with it.

    Posted by: legal smoking blends on January 13th, 2010 at 1:42 pm

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