mt lab.

A Masking Tape Shop from Craft-Minded Kuramae

"Kamoi Kakoshi," the company behind "mt lab.", has been in business for over a century. The company began by producing flypaper and later expanded into industrial adhesive products such as masking tape for construction and automotive painting, as well as packing tape. Its wide range of colors—developed to meet the needs of professional painters—and its distinctive texture gained attention for their unique charm, leading to the launch of the stationery masking tape brand "mt" in 2008. Masking tape can be found around the world, but Japanese-made tape stands out for its washi-paper texture (traditional Japanese paper), the ease with which it can be torn by hand, its strong yet removable adhesive power, and its resistance to water. These qualities helped the brand gain fans overseas. As the masking tape boom grew and new creative uses spread, the company opened its first specialty store, "mt lab.", in 2017 in Kuramae, a downtown area known for its manufacturing heritage. According to Ogino from the company’s public relations team, Kuramae was chosen for the first flagship store because the neighborhood’s atmosphere resonated with the identity of a historic manufacturing company. “Kuramae once flourished as a center of manufacturing, filled with factories and wholesalers. Many old buildings from that era still remain. In recent years, a new generation of owners has renovated and reused these structures, and one by one, highly curated shops have opened. The blend of old-world character and new values mirrors the values we strive to share as a manufacturer. The atmosphere also reminds us of Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture, where our headquarters is located. It was the ideal place for our first base of communication.”

Kuramae used to be a prosperous manufacturing district with many factories and wholesale stores, and is lined with old buildings that still carry the atmosphere of those days. These old streets and properties have been reused by the next generation of owners, and the number of highly sensitive stores has increased by one or two ....... The fusion of the atmosphere of the good old days with new values overlaps with the value proposition we propose as a manufacturing manufacturer. It also has an atmosphere similar to that of Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, where our headquarters is located, making it the perfect location for our first transmission base.

Creative Experiments at "mt lab."

In keeping with its laboratory concept, masking tapes are displayed in tube-like holders reminiscent of rows of test tubes covering an entire wall. The gallery space inside the store hosts special exhibitions approximately every three months. Themes range from seasonal gift-wrapping displays to creative wrapping ideas presented by craft artists and select shops that carry "mt" products. Some exhibitions even spotlight the company’s industrial tapes, offering a unique perspective only the manufacturer itself can provide. Limited-edition items are sometimes produced to coincide with these events. The store also sells experimental products available only at this location, such as double-sided tape with decorative designs or tapes with improved surfaces for writing. Some of these items later become part of the regular lineup depending on their popularity, embodying the spirit of a true laboratory.

Designs, Colors, and Creative Collaborations

Even the standard designs—plain colors, polka dots, and stripes—offer such variety that choosing can feel like a delightful challenge. The store also features a wide range of collaboration items with artists and brands from Japan and abroad. Past partners include the fashion brand "mina perhonen," the Kyoto-based textile brand "SOU・SOU," animal illustrations by ceramic artist and designer "Lisa Larson," the beloved comic "Peanuts" (featuring Snoopy), and the manga "GeGeGe no Kitaro." The brand actively collaborates with niche creators whose work resonates strongly with specific audiences.