The Japan made product "pursuing safe flames"

Today, and July 8th annually, is Chakkaman Day チャッカマンの日 in Japan. 'Chakkaman' is formed from chakka 着火, which means ignition, and the English 'man' as a playful suffix. It is both the brand name and common name for one of Japan's most familiar household tools - the long-nosed lighter with a safety lock. It is most commonly referred to as a BBQ lighter, utility lighter, or grill lighter in English. 

The anniversary was established by Tokai Corporation who first brought us the Chakkaman. The date of the anniversary marks two milestones: the company's founding on July 8th, 1972, and the release of the first "Chakkaman" in July 1985. However, the company's founder, Tomio Nitta, first came up with the idea for a long lighter three years before that, in 1982, and it was first launched in America in 1983 as "BBQ" lighter. The second model, the one we know today, was given the name "chakkaman" and was rolled out in Japan in 1985. 

Since its launch, Chakkaman has become a quiet icon of Japanese daily living. Monthly sales are in the hundreds of thousands and the last figures I could find for worldwide sales indicate that more than 500 million have been sold around the globe. Tokai Corporation was built on the philosophy of "pursuing safe flames" and Mr. Nitta also wanted to make the product affordable. I think you can agree that he succeeded in both.