Takashima Lighthouse,Vintage Japanese Matchbox Label Unisex Tee | Meiji Era Maritime Archive

The Story

A lighthouse stands at the edge of the sea. Moonlight catches the water. A tall-masted sailing ship passes in the distance, mountains rising behind it into a golden sky. And at the bottom, in bold ribbon lettering: Manufactured by Takashima. Made in Japan. Trade Mark.

This Meiji-era label from the Ichinichi archive is one of the most romantically composed pieces in the entire collection a miniature maritime scene that draws on the visual language of Western lighthouse iconography, filtered through the flat color and precise line work of Japanese commercial printing. The result feels simultaneously like a vintage travel poster, a sailor's tattoo flash, and a woodblock print that found its way onto a matchbox and never quite left.

On a tee it becomes exactly the kind of graphic that earns second looks — detailed enough to reward close inspection, bold enough to read across a room. Four colorways, each one changing the character of the label in its own way.

Who This Is For

For the maritime art lover. The Japanese vintage collector. The person who gravitates toward lighthouse imagery and knows there is something about a beacon at sea that never gets old. This label was made to be noticed by sailors, merchants, and buyers across the pre-war export trade. Now it finds a new audience on people who appreciate the craft behind the image.

Pairs naturally with raw denim, workwear, nautical layers, and anyone building a wardrobe around things that actually mean something.

Available Colors

• Black — the label's warm ivory ground glows against the dark, maximum drama
• Green — unexpected and vivid, the maritime scene pops like a vintage travel poster
• Red — bold and saturated, the label's own reds echo through the shirt for a tonal richness
• Pink (Berry) — the warm, striking contrast brings out the golden lighthouse tones beautifully

About the Collection

Every design in the Ichinichi Collection is sourced from a personal archive of original Japanese matchbox labels spanning 1880 to 1940. The Takashima lighthouse label is among the most scenically ambitious pieces in the archive a maker who understood that a matchbox was still worth doing with full artistic commitment.

Product Details

• Material: 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton
• Weight: 4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²) — lightweight and breathable
• Fit: Unisex retail fit · Crew neckline · Ribbed knit collar
• Construction: Tapered shoulders · Dual side seams for shape retention
• Label: Tear-away — minimal skin irritation
• Ethics: Fair Labor Association · Platinum WRAP certified · No sweatshop
• Sleeve prints and neck labels use DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing where applicable

SIZE GUIDE (inches)

Size tolerance: ±1.50 in across all measurements.

Fabric blends: Ash and Heather Prism — 99% cotton / 1% polyester. Heather and Solid Blend — 52% cotton / 48% polyester. Athletic Heather and Black Heather — 90% cotton / 10% polyester.