Lightweight and easy-to-use, the disposable lighter is an indispensible dispensable tool for any smoker on the go. However, in the hands of an unsupervised child, the small flame of a lighter can quickly lead to burns, uncontrolled fires or death – which has been the case in a series of fires caused by children playing with standard 100 yen (1.20 USD) lighters.

With this in mind, the Japanese government mandated that starting September 27 all disposable lighters sold in the country must be equipped with additional safety devices that meet the standards set by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

As convenience stores in Tokyo have already begun to sell the new lighters, we picked one up to see just how difficult they are to use.

If you watch the video below, you’ll see that you don’t have to be a child to struggle with these lighters. It’s not like we didn’t understand the mechanics: design-wise, the ignition lever is more resistant and two separate switches must be held down simultaneously for the spark to light.

Yet even equipped with this knowledge, getting the flame to appear was like starting a campfire with two wet sticks. We understand that the new design is a safety measure to prevent fire-related accidents, but did the government really have to go this far?

Photo and video：rocketnews24