Visualizing the 'Invisible UV' of the Scorching Era Through Color: OUROBOROS [METAMORPH]

Maruhachi Kasei Co., Ltd. (Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; President and Representative Director: Masanori Kaneda) has developed a new product, 'OUROBOROS METAMORPH,' which changes color when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light and emits light in the dark.

This product is a carabiner that achieves a 'triple-state transformation': it appears in a natural color under normal conditions, turns purple when exposed to UV light, and emits a green glow in the dark.

Maruhachi Kasei plans to launch this product as its 8th project on the crowdfunding platform 'Makuake' in early July 2026.

Only the areas exposed to UV light turn purple.

Turning 'Invisible Danger' into Visible Value

In recent years, due to extreme heat and abnormal weather, public interest in UV protection has been increasing.

However, UV radiation is invisible to the naked eye.

Even if people check the UV index in weather forecasts, it is difficult to intuitively understand how much UV exposure they are actually receiving in daily life.

With this in mind, Maruhachi Kasei began developing a product based on the idea: 'Can we make UV radiation feel more tangible in everyday life?'

The result is a new carabiner that alerts users to UV exposure during the day and makes its presence known at night.

It has been designed as a versatile item for various daily scenarios, including outdoor activities, camping, disaster preparedness, commuting, and school.

We recorded how the product changes at different times of the day.

On May 26, 2026, we verified the UV index values in Nagoya City.

At around 13:00, the index value was 8, indicating 'very strong' UV levels.

During peak sunlight hours (around 13:00)

It turns a deep purple. UV index value: 8

At around 17:00, the index value was 1, indicating 'weak' UV levels.

Same day, 17:00 in the evening

The color becomes lighter depending on UV intensity. UV index value: 1

First State: Natural Color

In indoor environments or areas with little UV exposure, the carabiner appears in a calm, natural color.

It blends naturally into daily life without being too conspicuous, whether attached to bags, keys, or outdoor gear.

Indoor state with no UV exposure

Second State: Purple Color

When exposed to sunlight containing UV radiation outdoors, it transforms into a vivid purple.

The intensity of the color changes according to UV levels, allowing users to visually perceive the invisible UV radiation.

It can also be used as a guide for when to apply sunscreen or during outdoor activities.

In actual tests conducted in Nagoya City, it turned deep purple under a UV index of 8 ('very strong'), and changed to a light purple by late afternoon when the UV index dropped to 1 ('weak').

State under sunlight (UV exposure)

Third State: Green Afterglow

It releases the light absorbed during the day and emits a vivid green glow in the dark.

This improves nighttime visibility and can serve as a marker during power outages, making it promising for use as a disaster preparedness item.

It alerts to UV presence during the day and reveals its own presence at night.

A new carabiner that changes its role depending on the time of day.

It glows visibly when moving from bright to dark environments.

Maruhachi Kasei was founded in 1974 as a plastic injection molding manufacturer.

It has previously manufactured automotive parts, industrial components, and construction materials.

However, the material that changes color under UV light has significantly different properties from the polycarbonate resin used in conventional glow-in-the-dark carabiners, making it impossible to produce using traditional methods.

Therefore, the company re-evaluated everything from material selection to molding conditions from scratch, repeatedly prototyping and testing, and successfully developed a new product that combines UV color-changing and glow-in-the-dark functions.

The company's long-standing expertise in injection molding technology and material development has supported the realization of this product.

8th Makuake Crowdfunding Project

Since 2020, Maruhachi Kasei has been promoting its own brand, 'OUROBOROS (Uroborosu).'

So far, through crowdfunding, it has launched a total of 13 projects, receiving support from over 8,455 people and raising over ¥25.84 million in pre-orders.

This 'OUROBOROS METAMORPH' will be launched as the 8th Makuake project.

[Company Information]

Company Name: Maruhachi Kasei Co., Ltd.

Representative: President and Representative Director Masanori Kaneda

Address: 673 Kawamiya-cho, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

Founded: 1974

URL: https://maruhachi-kasei.co.jp

Rakuten Market: https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ouroboros-08/

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maruhachikasei/

Official X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/maruhachi_kasei

Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maruOUROBOROS

Company Overview

Company Name: Maruhachi Kasei Co., Ltd.

Representative: Representative Director Masanori Kaneda

Headquarters: 673 Kawamiya-cho, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 463-0081

Founded: 1974

Business: Planning, manufacturing, and sales of plastic products