Seven Stars was launched on February 1, 1969, as the first cigarette with a charcoal filter, and was created in response to customer demands for low-tar, menthol, and D-spec (low smoke smell) products.

[citation needed] Changes in the cigarettes' design have been made several times, but the 20-cigarette box has been largely unchanged since launch.

[citation needed] Since the beginning of the 21st century, low-tar and menthol variants are also sold; the latter, introduced on August 3, 2009, originally used a special charcoal filter to prevent covering and adsorption of the menthol, but this was changed to a plain filter on April 14, 2014.

[citation needed] A tree used on a Seven Stars package became a scenic spot representative of the hills of Biei, Hokkaido.

From 2007 to 2011, music acts Boom Boom Satellites, The Lowbrows, and ripvanwinkle also participated in promoting the brand, including as part of magazine advertisements portraying them as "men who resonate with Seven Stars" (セブンスターと響きあう男たち, Sebun Sutā to Hibikiau Otokotachi).