Asahi Horse

A proud horse bust is silhouetted against a radiating red sun—visual shorthand for asahi, the “rising sun.” The English header SAFETY MATCHES signals export packaging, while the side inscriptions read 優良品 (yūryōhin, “excellent quality”) and 旭馬印 (Asahi uma‑jirushi, “Rising‑Sun Horse brand”). In the ribbon below appears the company name in prewar orthography, 日本燐寸株式會社 (“Japan Match Co., Ltd.”; note the old characters for matches, 燐寸).

This label comes from Japan’s export heyday in the late Meiji through early Shōwa era (early 20th century), when Kansai‑area makers used bold pictorial trademarks—animals, ships, coins—to reach multilingual markets. The look is classic period color‑lithography: strong keylines, flat blocks of yellow, red, and indigo, and ornamental scrolls at the corners

Print Details

• Paper Finishing: Matte, smooth, non-reflective surface.
• Paper Weight: 170 gsm (65 lb), thickness: 0.19 mm (7.5 mils), sturdy and durable.
• Sustainable Paper: FSC-certified or equivalent for sustainability.