hibi

Scents that enrich your day – the incense of Awaji Island and the matches of Harima: These two traditional industries of Hyogo Prefecture first encountered each other in 2011. The collaboration between incense company Daihatsu and match manufacturer Kobe Match Corporation began with the idea of an incense that could be lit like a match, hoping to save two stagnating industries. What followed were three and a half years of trial and error. The result: a perfectly balanced blend of Japanese paper, incense and temperature that makes the stick more flammable and resistant.

In the Harima region of Awaji, incense has been produced for nearly one hundred and fifty years. The westerly winds that blow across Awaji Island provide the perfect temperature for drying incense, and each of the fragrances comes from herbs grown by a local incense maker using traditional methods. The technology of match making was introduced to Japan from Europe at the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912). In Himeji, Masashi Sagayama's (hibi co-founder) grandfather founded Kobe Match Corporation in 1929, a company that has now been in existence for three generations. Unfortunately, lighting matches, which used to be a part of everyday life, gradually disappeared with the introduction of inexpensive lighters, so the idea for a new kind of match was born. "Matches don't have to play the main role. However, we want to pass on the roots and tradition of our matches." With this in mind, hibi has strived to enrich people's lives through collaboration with Japanese craftsmanship and culture. The name hibi was chosen in the hope that people can carry it with them every day and enjoy its fragrance carefree, matching the mood of the day or the occasion. The logo is a combination of two Chinese characters "日" (day) placed side by side. Hibi hopes to become synonymous with simple and cool incense both in Japan and abroad, and to bring a sense of pride and dreams to people involved in the traditional industry – a connection between Japan and the world through the spirit of enjoying scents. This is the hope and goal of hibi.