5 ½” x 3 ¾” x 2”
13. 5 cm x 9.5 cm x 5 cm
Osaka

Hirozo Nishijima, the man who discovered rubber bands for Japan, founded Kyowa Limited in Osaka in 1923. Apparently he came up with the idea by slicing bicycle tubes because he was searching for something to hold money in bundles. Since 1951, Kyowa has continued to produce its rubber band line of over 35 styles with more or less the same design and packaging. Kyowa is the biggest seller of rubber bands in Japan. The package design is by Shichiro Imatake, a Japanese pioneer in graphic design during the Showa period, 1926 – 1989. He designed this package at the height of his career. Mr. Imatake was a big fan of New York and when he passed away his remains were brought here.