Denim, canvas, tatami edging... the craftsmanship born in Kurashiki is numerous, and all are popular as souvenirs.
Among them, KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD.'s masking tape “mt” is an attractive item with a rich lineup and affordability. It is loved by a wide range of ages, as it can be used not only as stationery but also for cleaning and interior decoration.
When I give mt as a souvenir to friends from outside the prefecture, they are delighted by its stylish design and ease of use, so I often purchase it myself.
I hear that there are many fans of mt. To learn about its charm, I attended the factory tour of mt, which is held once a year.
I will introduce the state of the factory tour and the thoughts behind the planning.
What is the "mt factory tour" hosted by KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD.?
The mt factory tour is a factory tour hosted by KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD. held once a year. It started in 2012, and the 13th event will be held in 2024. The 2024 event period was from September 11 to September 24 for two weeks.
In addition to being able to observe the manufacturing process of mt, which is popular as a souvenir from Kurashiki, there are also sales of a rich lineup of mt and workshops using mt to enjoy. There were also some unique exhibitions and sales such as bulk sales and lottery draws.
There are also limited items that can only be obtained here, so it seems that there are many repeat participants every year.
KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD. celebrated its 101st anniversary in 2024. The efforts to aim for the next 100 years were also conveyed through the mt factory tour.
State of mt factory tour vol.13
I participated in the factory tour on the morning of September 18, 2024 (Wednesday). The bus to the factory departs from KAMOI Parking near JR Kurashiki Station.
After completing the registration in the parking lot, I received a pass card as a participation certificate and a return bus ticket. The bus ticket has the time of the bus I will take back, but it seems that as long as there are empty seats, I can ride a bus other than the specified time. It is nice to be able to take the factory tour at a leisurely pace.
Before long, a bus wrapped in mt style arrived. The cute bus design made me want to take a photo.
On the bus, we watched a promotional video of KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD. and received explanations of precautions from the staff, and before I knew it, we arrived at the factory.
As soon as we got off the bus, we were handed novelties.
Inside the bag were mt goods. There may randomly be "cutting experience winning tickets" or "lottery participation tickets," so I checked the contents of the novelties right away.
Unfortunately, I did not win, but I was very satisfied with the contents of the novelties.
Factory tour where you can see the behind-the-scenes of mt production
Holding the novelties, the factory tour finally begins.
The inside of the factory is clean, and colorful banners hanging from the ceiling brightened the place.
Photography is usually prohibited inside the factory. This time, we have received special permission to take photos.
The first process introduced was "rewind." Large-width masking tape with patterns printed on it is rolled onto a paper core using a machine.
The length of the masking tape rolled onto one core is 7 meters. In the past, it was rolled to 15 meters, but it has gradually decreased to 10 meters and then 7 meters.
The cores onto which mt is rolled are custom-made, and the mt logo is printed on the inside of the core. This was a fun fact I would not have known without participating in the factory tour.
The masking tape produced by the rewind process is called "semi-finished product" and is then set into a cutting machine.
The cutting machine is cutely wrapped in mt remake sheets and stood out even in the factory. The staff in charge of the cutting machine decorates it with their favorite mt patterns. It seems that one can develop an attachment to a cutting machine with a favorite pattern.
Next introduced was the combination machine. This machine is used for mass production of mt with the same pattern.
During the visit, I saw a robot putting the cut mt into a film packaging machine and labeling them. It seems that mt is being produced while effectively utilizing the power of robots.
While there are mt that can be mass-produced, there are also mt that are completed by hand. Across from the combination machine, the film packaging work was being done manually.
Various sizes and widths of mt are checked to ensure they are properly cut, and each one is covered with film. The employees were quickly and smoothly covering the film, but I felt like it would take me all day if I tried to do it.
During the visit, not only did the employees explain the processes, but they also shared fun facts like, "The best-selling color of mt is white. By the way, the second is black," making the tour enjoyable.
A showcase full of highlights
After the tour, you can freely stroll around the factory grounds.
In the exhibition area, I saw the award-winning works of the "mt art contest 2024" and a classic car wrapped in mt. The classic car was very popular among children, and many parents were taking commemorative photos.
If a ticket for the cutting experience is included in the novelty items, it seems you can experience it with the cutting machine set up in the exhibition room. The experience of making mt was incorporated as one of the new initiatives in the 101st year.
On the second floor, there are many valuable exhibits that convey the history of KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD.
There were interesting exhibits that offered a glimpse into the trends of the time and the flow of the era, such as posters of the original Haitori paper from KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD.
It is an impressive exhibition room that makes you want to stay as long as time allows.
Shopping at the irresistible "mt shop"
Shopping is a must after participating in the mt factory tour.
The merchandise area "mt shop" is very deep, and the rich lineup makes it easy to get distracted.
The blue mt inspired by denim and the mt with a design like Sanada cord are unique to Kurashiki. For visitors from outside the prefecture, they make memorable souvenirs.
There was also mt packaged in a design reminiscent of old industrial tape. It is filled with retro charm and cuteness that is hard to find in modern times. It seems to be a popular product among young women.
I purchased two types of the "mt Chigihari" workshop kit as souvenirs for myself. The kit for making thin and easy-to-tear masking tape is said to be used in welfare settings as a practice for moving hands and fingers. It is a product that can be enjoyed by all generations.
At the "mt shop," not only merchandise but also a variety of past mt designs were displayed. I knew there were many types of designs, but seeing them lined up in person was overwhelming due to the variety.
Playful "Festival & Outlet Corner"
After passing through the mt shop, I arrived at the "Festival & Outlet Corner." Here, you can enjoy a different kind of shopping with bulk sales of mt and gachapon.
The string lottery costs 1,000 yen per try, and various sizes of mt are hanging. Both the string lottery and gachapon pique your curiosity with the element of "you never know what you'll get." It was bustling with many people.
Rare outlet items were also sold in this area.
What caught my attention was the Hasami ware plate that was sold exclusively at the mt Expo 2022 held in Hasami-cho, Nagasaki Prefecture. The abstract masking tape design on the stylish Hasami ware plate is a valuable item, and surprisingly, it can be purchased for just one coin.
There were also venue-exclusive items sold at past events, and I was able to get lost in searching for hidden treasures.
Hidden Gem? Visiting the "Ribbon Haitori Kiln"
At the very back of the facility, the "Ribbon Haitori Kiln" was on display. The kiln, where the original workshop remains intact, is a deep spot where you can feel the history. It seems that many people often visit while waiting for their family members to finish shopping.
Upon entering, you will find an aged kiln.
Here, the Ribbon Haitori motif was produced until around 1990. The "moti" is not food but refers to a sticky substance made from resin or wax used to catch flies. The rusty appearance conveys that it has been in use for a long time.
In addition to the kiln, various machines and tools used at the time were also on display. Each item showed signs of use and served as valuable materials. It may be an irresistible exhibition for enthusiasts.
Experiences Unique to the Factory Tour
In addition to merchandise sales, there were various highlights to introduce.
At the venue where workshops were held, colorful mt patterns were displayed at the entrance.
The patterns lined up on one wall were the top 101 patterns of mt sold from 2008 to 2011, which were popular in an online vote. During the event period, a runoff vote was held, and the patterns with the most votes will be re-released for sale.
As I moved further inside, a workshop was being held where participants could arrange can badges.
In addition to the workshops, there were also mt goods available for sale that could be used for cleaning and wrapping, making it easy to realize how mt plays a role in everyday moments.
The product called heta box is a collection of the edges of mt that are produced during the manufacturing process. Originally meant to be discarded as they are the adhesive parts, they are now sold as products because they can be used sufficiently as tape.
Since they come with a core, there are voices saying they are easy to hold, and they are said to be useful in kindergarten and nursery school art classes.
Let's also visit the "mt casa shop," where another workshop is being held.
"mt casa" is one of the mt series products, referring to mt for interior use that can be stuck and removed. It is a great DIY item that can completely change the atmosphere just by sticking it to walls and furniture.
At the venue, there was a shopping basket decorated using the actual products. It makes you want to choose your favorite pattern and go shopping.
At the "mt casa shop," you could choose three mt rolls and wrap them yourself in a shrink wrap experience. The price was reasonable at 300 yen, and many women were seriously selecting their mt.
You cover the selected mt with film and pass it through the shrink wrap machine. It reminded me of the work I saw during the factory tour.
The mt that passed through the shrink wrap machine has the film pressed by heat. By the time it rolls out of the machine, a set of three that looks like it could be on store shelves is completed.
Finally, you stick a label of your favorite pattern to complete it.
Your own original mt set makes you want to display it without opening it.
My impression after going around the facility is that it is a factory tour filled with many attractions, not just a factory visit. There were many hands-on workshops, making it enjoyable for both children and adults. After seeing the behind-the-scenes of manufacturing in the factory, seeing the actual products made me feel a sense of attachment to mt.
On that day, the cafeteria was also open, so for mt lovers, it seems like one could stay for a whole day.
The mt factory tour is so popular that there are often waiting lists every year, and I heard that some fans come from overseas.
The mt factory tour captures the hearts of many fans. I interviewed Ogino Sana, the planning and public relations manager of KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD., about her thoughts on the event.
Interview with the Person in Charge
The last factory tour marked the 100th anniversary of the founding. How was the response?
Ogino (no honorifics)
The "mt factory tour vol.12" held in 2023 was the first event after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and also celebrated the 100th anniversary of our founding, so we received an overwhelming number of applications. The atmosphere on the day was like a festival.
The novelty items we distributed were also luxurious in commemoration of the 100th anniversary, and many people were pleased with them.
Since it was a milestone year, it received extensive media coverage, and perhaps due to that, it felt like even those who are not fans of mt participated in the tour this time.
Previously, the events were mostly centered around fans, but with the increase in participation from new customers, I feel that we are now able to convey the charm of mt to a wider audience.
Please tell us about the highlights of this year's factory tour, which marks the 101st year since the founding.
Ogino
This year's factory tour had the main theme of "Making the 101st year like the first year", focusing on returning to our roots for the next 100 years.
For example, we sold revival packaging designs of past height rice paper as mt wrapping paper. Some people found it nostalgic, while others thought it was retro and cute, making it a popular product across all age groups. Through design, we hope to convey the history of KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD. once again.
The voting project to choose popular mt patterns will feel fresh for those who have recently become fans of mt, as there are many designs that may seem new. By reintroducing designs that were sold in the past, I hope everyone can enjoy the journey leading to the current mt.
Additionally, as a new initiative not seen in previous factory tours, we have increased participatory experiences such as the mt cutting experience. We will continue to innovate to ensure that repeat visitors also have fun.
Are there any other initiatives unique to the 101st year of establishment?
Ogino
In addition to factory tours, we plan to hold events nationwide that introduce initiatives for our 101st year.
In October 2024, we will hold an event called "mt ex at Aimi Akarenkakan" at Kurashiki Ivy Square.
Kurashiki Ivy Square is a place that has been repurposed from a former factory building. The idea of "adding new value and using it in different ways" is the same for masking tape, so I hope everyone can enjoy the fusion of Kurashiki Ivy Square and mt.
We are particular about not only sales but also the decoration of the space.
I'm sure you will discover new charms of mt.
Through this event, I would be happy to convey our efforts to develop new products for the next 100 years and to provide new value to things that have been discarded until now.
What kind of presence do you want mt to have in customers' lives?
Ogino
The theme of our 100th anniversary was "Sticking to Life." I truly want mt to be that kind of presence.
Honestly, masking tape is not something you necessarily need, and I don't think it's a product that stands out that much. However, it is very convenient to have, and it is easy to use and can be utilized in many situations.
I want to continue creating products that can accompany a wide range of generations in their daily lives, not just as stationery.
Moreover, I want to ensure that our products continue to be something that can brighten customers' feelings or motivate them.
Please send a message to the fans.
Ogino
It has been about 16 years since the mt brand was born, and I feel very supported by the fans who have been watching over us since the beginning.
Not only the mt products but also the employees who create mt and the history and journey that mt has carved are supported by many, and I am truly grateful for that.
In this digital age where everything can be completed online and information can be obtained on the internet, I believe there is definitely a charm unique to analog products.
The texture of the washi paper of masking tape and the feeling of tearing it are charms that can only be produced in an analog way. I hope you can enjoy mt, including those sensations.
We are holding events all over the country, so please come and visit if you are nearby!
Conclusion
This author participated in the mt factory tour for the first time and felt that there were many ideas and mechanisms to entertain participants everywhere.
Shopping was not just about buying; there were displays of historical mt patterns, and creative purchasing methods like bulk sales and lottery draws, allowing me to enjoy shopping without getting bored for a long time.
I believe that because mt is a brand that does not forget its初心 (original intention) and continues to move forward, it is supported, including by the makers of mt.
I also became a fan of mt by participating in the factory tour. Next time, I would like to participate in other events to discover new charms of mt.
Articles about KAMOI KAKOSHI CO., LTD.
Data for mt factory tour vol.13
| Name | mt factory tour vol.13 |
|---|---|
| Date | From Wednesday, September 11 to Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Reservation required between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM |
| Location | 236 Katashima-cho, Kurashiki City |
| Website | Masking Tape 'mt' |
