Mevius

File:MEVIUS (14780491743).jpg

Mevius was launched in 1977 under the name Mild Seven and was intended to be a mild version of the Seven Stars brand. It was launched overseas, again as Mild Seven in 1981, and was the first brand with a charcoal filter in an American blend in Japan. Initially it was intended to treat Mild Seven similarly to Seven Stars, but JT changed the F1 participation brand from Cabin (another Japanese brand owned by JT) to Mild Seven in 1994, and the vertical blue left side of the white background was changed to a belt design. At the time, the advertising slogan "The blue world of Mild Seven" was used in television commercials, and after that blue became the colour of choice for the brand.

The cigarettes are the third most widely smoked cigarette in the world with 76.5 billion around the world, behind Marlboro and Camel.{{cite news|title=Japan Tobacco Takes on Marlboro|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390443404004577576990588768670|access-date=28 January 2014|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=August 8, 2012}} Under the Mild Seven name, Mevius was a top seller. It is now the second largest cigarette brand in the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.smokin4free.com/mildseven.html |title=Cheap Mild Seven Cigarettes Online made under authority of JT International at Smokinf4Free.com! |publisher=Smokin4free.com |access-date=2012-08-05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.4cigarettes.net/mild-seven.html |title=Buy Mild Seven cigarettes. Cheap discount Mild Seven cigarettes at |publisher=4cigarettes.net |access-date=2012-08-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smokin4free.com/mildseven.html|title=Cheap Mild Seven Cigarettes Online made under authority of JT International at Smokinf4Free.com!|website=Smokin4free.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.4cigarettes.net/mild-seven.html|title=Buy Mild Seven cigarettes. Cheap discount Mild Seven cigarettes at 4Cigarettes.net.|website=4cigarettes.net|access-date=31 January 2018}}

On August 8, 2012, Japan Tobacco announced that the Mild Seven brand name would be changed to Mevius, due to legislation around the branding of cigarettes as "mild" in some countries; and in an attempt to strengthen the brand's "premium image".{{cite news|url=http://jp.reuters.com/article/topNews/idJPTYE87702N20120808 |title=JT changes the "Mild Seven" brand name to "Mebius" |website=Jp.reuters.com |date=8 August 2012 |access-date=2012-08-08}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jti.com/our-views/newsroom/mild-seven-evolves-mevius-new-name-and-design-brand-evolving-aiming-become|title=Mild Seven evolves to Mevius. With the new name and design, the brand is evolving, aiming to become the number one global premium brand|website=Jti.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.japansubculture.com/goodbye-friendly-mild-seven-cigarettes-hello-mevius/|title=Goodbye Friendly "Mild Seven" Cigarettes; Hello "Mevius"! : Japan Subculture Research Center|website=Japansubculture.com|date=15 February 2013 |access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://cigarettesreporter.com/japan-tobaccos-mevius-brand-replace-mild/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820004733/http://cigarettesreporter.com/japan-tobaccos-mevius-brand-replace-mild/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 20, 2012|title=Japan Tobacco's 'Mevius' Brand to Replace Mild Seven - CigarettesReporter.com - Your cigarettes guide|website=Cigarettesreporter.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://japandailypress.com/japan-tobacco-announces-rebranding-of-mild-seven-to-mevius-cigarettes-098656/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810234421/http://japandailypress.com/japan-tobacco-announces-rebranding-of-mild-seven-to-mevius-cigarettes-098656|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 10, 2012|title=Japan Tobacco announces rebranding of Mild Seven to Mevius cigarettes|date=9 August 2012|website=Japandailypress.com|access-date=31 January 2018}} The name change began in Japan in February, followed by Singapore and Korea the following month.{{cite news|last=Yi|first=Whan-woo|title=JTI renames Mild Seven as Mevius|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2013/06/123_132438.html|access-date=28 January 2014|newspaper=The Korea Times|date=March 20, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jt.com/investors/media/press_releases/2012/pdf/20120808_02.pdf |title=Mild Seven evolves to Mevius With the new name and design, the brand is evolving, aiming to become the number one global premium brand |publisher=Japan Tobacco |date=2012-08-08 |access-date=2012-08-09}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tobaccoreporter.com/2013/03/mild-seven-morphs-to-mevius-in-korea/|title=Mild Seven morphs to Mevius in Korea|date=21 March 2013|website=Tobaccoreporter.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}

In 2006, it was reported that counterfeit Mild Seven cigarettes were smuggled and sold outside of Japan.

The pack design is very similar but the quality of the cigarettes such as scent and taste are not. The tobacco used in the counterfeit cigarettes is not comparable with genuine brands.

According to the survey results both inside and outside of Japan, there is strong suspicion that these fake cigarette are manufactured as a part of the foreign currency fund acquisition activity by North Korea.{{cite web|url=http://japanese.donga.com/List/3/all/27/293201/1|title=北朝鮮産の偽造日本たばこが初めて摘発|date=16 May 2006|website=Japanese.donga.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=999|title='Fake Cigarettes' Japan Investigation on North Korean Authorities|website=Dailynk.com|date=17 August 2006 |access-date=31 January 2018}}

In December 2007, Japan Tobacco recalled some of the Mild Seven brand cigarettes sold in stores in Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures because of faulty filters.

Japan Tobacco said 14,500 cigarettes would be recalled, including 2,500 faulty ones, which were shipped to 225 stores in Tokyo and three other prefectures on December 13, 2007. The faulty filters of the cigarettes were not glued on properly and were likely to come off, the company said.

Japan Tobacco planned to finish the recall by the end of Wednesday, said company spokeswoman Shoko Hamamoto.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-31047420071219|title=Japan Tobacco recalls Mild Seven cigarettes|date=19 December 2007|access-date=31 January 2018|website=Reuters.com}}

In September 2017, it was reported that JTI Korea had been paying Instagram users who had a lot of followers to post photos of its Mevius brand cigarettes, according to a document obtained by The Korea Times.

In return, Instagram "influencers," most of whom were men in their 20s and 30s, are said to have received as much as 5 million Won (approximately US$4,400) for each post. These photos primarily aim to spark interest in Mevius among women who follow young, fashion-savvy men who upload photos of their daily lives. A bigger program with JTI's marketing on the photo-centered social networking service (SNS) platform is that underage users are indiscriminately exposed to these photos glamorizing cigarettes because anyone, regardless of age, can join Instagram and view pictures posted by others. In Korea's "Tobacco Business Act", there are no specific rules yet governing cigarette makers' marketing and sales activities on Instagram, Facebook and other SNS platforms.

One Instagram user came forward and informed The Korea Times of Instagram Influencer Guidelines to let the public know about JTI Korea's dubious SNS marketing. He said he was approached by a person from JTI Korea's marketing team in June 2017. "JTI systematically recruited young male Instagram users who have at least 10,000 followers" the user said anonymously. "I heard they were offered 4 to 5 million Won for each post for a month, depending on the number of their followers. The users were given this piece of paper outlining how they should take photos and depict them". The company's marketing tactic is disgraceful, he said, stressing minors, particularly young girls, have been exposed to hundreds of photos that beautify smoking. "Many young girls closely follow these handsome men in their 20s and 30s who regularly post photos of their well-shaped bodies. They have certainly viewed many of these Mevius pictures" the user said. "I decided to let people know about JTI's unethical marketing, due to concerns that teenagers may become more inclined to smoke cigarettes".

JTI's guidelines outline how Instagram users take photos and what phrases they should use when depicting photos. However, JTI Korea denied drawing up such guidelines, stressing it had never conducted marketing on SNS. "Our company's internal policies forbid illegal marketing activities" a company official said. "JTI Korea strictly observes all relevant domestic laws in our business affairs".{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2017/09/694_237138.html|title=JTI Korea pays Instagram users for cigarette postings|date=28 September 2017|website=Koreatimes.co.kr|access-date=31 January 2018}}

There has been a controversy online about the spread of rumors that Mild Seven is manufacturing tobacco leaves near the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan. Some have suggested that Mild Seven changed its name to Mevius in order to avoid such suspicion. However, the controversy was overcome by JTI Korea's official statement that "Mevius does not use Japanese tobacco at all"{{Cite news|url=http://www.etoday.co.kr/news/section/newsview.php?idxno=819431|title=빼빼로 방사능 논란에 이어 '일본산 잎담배'도 방사능 공방|date=2013-11-11|work=이투데이|access-date=2018-03-17|language=ko}}

Image:Renault_R26_right_2017_Museo_Fernando_Alonso.jpg with Mild Seven sponsorship, driven by Fernando Alonso during the 2006 F1 Season.]]

Japan Tobacco was, through Mild Seven, the title sponsor of the Enstone-based Benetton Formula One team beginning with the 1994 Formula One season.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorpasion.com/formula1/los-coches-de-competicion-mas-bellos-de-la-historia-benetton|title=Los coches de competición más bellos de la historia: Benetton|first=Àlex|last=Garcia|date=4 August 2014|website=Motorpasion.com|access-date=31 January 2018}} This association continued after Benetton was acquired by Renault. It was to remain with Renault F1 until the end of the 2009 Formula One season, but due to European Tobacco Regulations, the company had to end their association with Renault at the end of the 2006 Formula One season and ING became their main sponsor from 2007 onwards.{{cite news |url=http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/75810/renault-and-tobacco/ |title=Renault and tobacco |publisher=GPUpdate.net |date=2005-02-05 |access-date=2011-01-30}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Mild+Seven+Renault+F1+Team&type=R|title=Mild Seven Renault F1 Team - ChicaneF1.com|website=Chicanef1.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/75810/renault-and-tobacco/|title=Renault and tobacco|website=GPUpdate.net|access-date=31 January 2018}}

Next to Benetton and Renault, Mild Seven sponsored both Tyrrell Racing, from 1994 to 1996, and Minardi in 1997 as a result of a sponsorship deal with Japanese driver Ukyo Katayama.

For races where tobacco branding was not allowed, the logo was blocked out, replacing it with their team names. For Renault, it was replaced with "Blue World" and "Team Spirit".

At the end of the 1990s to early 2000s, Japanese tobacco companies were not allowed to advertise their products in China due to the still lingering tensions of World War II. So Japan Tobacco decided to hold an "Eco-challenge" style adventure race – sponsored by Mild Seven cigarettes. Thus was born the "Mild Seven Outdoor Quest". Dan Morris was the official photographer for this event from 1997-2001. This event took him to a number of beautiful spots in Western China including Dali City, Lijiang and Xijiang (home of the Chinese space program). Top athletes such as Team Eco-Internet, Mike Pigg and Paula Newby-Fraser would regularly compete in this event.{{cite web|url=http://www.danmorris.com/japan-tobacco-mild-seven-outdoor-quest/|title=Japan Tobacco Inc. "Mild Seven Outdoor Quest..." - Dan Morris Photography & Video - Commercial, Product, Editorial, Wedding and Adventure Photography & Video|website=Danmorris.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://duathlon.com/articles/343/|title=Duathlon.com – All About Duathlon – Mild Seven Outdoor Quest|website=duathlon.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1pXzmtQNpk|title=Mild Seven Outdoor Quest - Lijiang, China|last=Michael McComb|date=4 October 2014|access-date=31 January 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/70784635|title=Mild Seven Outdoor Quest End Montage (1998) 2m39s|website=Vimeo|access-date=31 January 2018}}

In 2001, Mild Seven was the official sponsor of the "Mild Seven Pool Challenge".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU-akj4w45k|title=Mild Seven Pool Challenge - 2001 (Malaysian Advertisement)|date=12 March 2016|access-date=31 January 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}

During the 1980s and 1990s, JTI created various TV advertisements to promote Mild Seven cigarettes, both in English and Japanese.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbcTaZNs2GA|title=Mild Seven 1987|date=4 November 2017|access-date=31 January 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghSLlnO6XAE|title=Mild Seven 1985|date=9 November 2017|access-date=31 January 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPbHL7EFF90 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wPbHL7EFF90 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Mild Seven Cigarettes commercial 1985 - TVB Pearl|date=23 November 2017|access-date=31 January 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBf7_82e6cU|title=[經典廣告] 1990年 - Mild Seven 萬事發香煙 (特醇萬事發) (Oh Freedom)|date=5 January 2013|access-date=31 January 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj99INDwItc|title=[經典廣告] 1987年 - Mild Seven 萬事發香煙|date=13 September 2013|access-date=31 January 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT_NKnPyqDU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QT_NKnPyqDU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Mild Seven , Japan Tobacco commercial|date=15 October 2015|access-date=31 January 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

Various poster advertisements were also made to advertise both Mild Seven and Mevius cigarettes.{{cite web|url=http://www.smokernewsworld.com/super-slim-mild-seven-cigarettes-japanese-market/|title=Super Slim Mild Seven Cigarettes for Japanese Market - Smokers News|website=Smokernewsworld.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chinatraderonline.com/Display-Equipment/Light-Boxes/EL-light-box---Mild-Seven-215651574.htm|title=wholesale EL light box - Mild Seven-buy discount EL light box - Mild Seven made in China-CTO12392|website=Chinatraderonline.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}[https://roots.sg/Roots/learn/collections/listing/1105930] {{dead link|date=January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/385057836875994824/|title=Cigarettes|website=Pinterest|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://ravelex.net/forum/bali/mevius-presents-'7th-heaven'-(76beat-7th-anniversary)-hypnotized-bali/|title=Mevius presents "7th Heaven" (76Beat 7th Anniversary) @HYPNOTIZED BALI|website=Ravelex.net|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tvcf.co.kr/YCf/V.asp?Code=B000248066|title=NO.1 AD PORTAL - www.tvcf.co.kr|website=Tvcf.co.kr|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bluegartr.com/threads/124474-Mobius-(Mevius)-Final-Fantasy/page2|title=Mobius (Mevius) Final Fantasy|website=Bluegartr.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tvcf.co.kr/YCf/V.asp?Code=B000201297|title=NO.1 AD PORTAL - www.tvcf.co.kr|website=Tvcf.co.kr|access-date=31 January 2018}}

In Hong Kong, Mild Seven also appeared on buses as an advertisement in the 1980s and 1990s.{{cite web|url=http://picssr.com/photos/busbore/favorites/page169?nsid=61988445@N04|title=BusBore11's Favorite Flickr photos - Picssr|website=picssr.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://picssr.com/photos/clarksonlee/interesting/page16?nsid=46369660@N05|title=clarkson_lee's most interesting Flickr photos - Picssr|website=Picssr.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}

Mevius is mainly sold in Japan, but also was or still is sold in the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Myanmar, South Korea and the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.cigarettespedia.com/index.php/BrandMild_Seven|title=BrandMild Seven - Cigarettes Pedia|website=Cigarettespedia.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.zigsam.at/B_MildSeven.htm|title=Mild Seven|website=Zigsam.at|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.zigsam.at/B_Mevius.htm|title=Mevius|website=Zigsam.at|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cigarety.by/brand.php?n=10&l=12&p=0&w=MILD+SEVEN|title=Brands|website=Cigarety.by|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cigarety.by/brand.php?n=10&l=12&w=MEVIUS&p=0|title=Brands|website=Cigarety.by|access-date=31 January 2018}}

• In the anime Great Teacher Onizuka, Mild Seven are the cigarettes smoked by the protagonist Eikichi Onizuka.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
• In the novel by the Japanese author Koushun Takami Battle Royale one of the protagonists, Shōgo Kawada, was smoking a cigarette brand called Wild Seven, an evident parody of Mild Seven.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
• In the manga Cat's Eyes, the clumsy inspector Matthew (Toshio) is an avid smoker of Mild Seven, who unlike other brands (such as Suzuki which becomes Zusuki) appear with the true name.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
• In the manga Tobacco chan, the main female cigarette is an anthropomorphic version of Mevius Super Lights.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
• In the manga series Tokyo Babylon and X by CLAMP, Mild Seven is the brand of cigarettes smoked by Seishirō Sakurazuka. His ex-lover Subaru Sumeragi later smokes Mild Seven as well.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
• In the final chapter of the manga Ajin: Demi-Human, Ikuya Ogura starts smoking Mevius cigarettes.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
• In the anime “Paranoia Agent” a side character smokes Mild Seven with a fictional “charcoal filter” detail written on the box.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

• Japan Tobacco
• Smoking in Japan

• Assunta, M., Chapman, S., [http://tc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/13/suppl_2/ii58 "A 'clean cigarette' for a clean nation: a case study of Salem Pianissimo in Japan"], Tobacco Control 2004;13:ii58-ii62. This research paper has comparative information on the Mild Seven product.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070122120117/http://www.jti.com/english/about_jti/our_brands/mild_seven.aspx JTI's web page on the Mild Seven product]
• [http://www.data.minsk.by/minsk/outdoor/06012007.html Kent vs Mild Seven in Minsk]

{{Imperial Tobacco}}

Category:Japanese cigarette brands

Category:Products introduced in 1977

Category:Japan Tobacco brands