[POLIFE]

We are proud to be a long-established tea caddy manufacturer founded in 1895.

We are proud
to be a long-established
tea caddy manufacturer
founded in 1895.

We are proud to be a
long-established tea caddy
manufacturer founded in 1895.

Kato Seisakusho has a history of over 130 years as a manufacturer of tea canisters, seaweed cans, and confectionery cans since its founding in 1895.

Our cans are made by hand, from cutting the tinplate to forming it, which is why we can create special containers that are airtight and help the food inside last longer. Not only does the double structure of the inner and outer lids prevent moisture, but by measuring the dimensions to the nearest 0.1 mm and narrowing the gap between the lid and the body, we have achieved a moisture removal rate of 96-98%, while by leaving 2-3% of moisture behind, we replenish the moisture needed by the tea leaves and help Japanese tea last longer.

Our cans are a structure packed with the wisdom of our ancestors, designed to protect Japanese tea leaves from the humid Japanese summer climate.

In addition, by applying marble patterns or gold leaf patterns to handmade cans using the traditional spray-painting technique, we can create a luxurious look reminiscent of the beauty of lacquerware.

Please feel the high quality of our Japanese products and the warmth of our handmade products.

We are sure you will love them!

Handmade can production scene

About

[POLIFE] cans are products that pursue the functionality of traditional Japanese handmade cans to the utmost. Not only are they airtight to keep out moisture, but they also offer products that are positioned as the finest tea utensils, with a beautiful form with no protrusions between the lid and the body, and a glossy coating that resembles lacquer.

The task of transferring food such as tea leaves and coffee beans from the tea canister to the utensils allows for a polite life in the midst of a busy life.

History

Kato Seisakusho was founded in 1895. At the beginning, they made and sold lunch boxes made of anodized aluminum, not tea canisters.

However, sales were not very good, so the second generation successor started making and selling tea canisters, which became popular due to their good performance and sold like hotcakes.

At that time, it was common to drink Japanese tea from tea leaves, and many Japanese people were interested in how to keep tea leaves fresh and long-lasting in Japan's humid climate. For that reason, tea canisters, which have a double structure of an inner lid and an outer lid to keep out moisture and are made of tinplate to keep out ultraviolet rays and keep the inside temperature cool, were highly valued.

From the beginning of the Heisei era, people began drinking ready-made tea in plastic bottles, and the culture of drinking tea in a teapot with tea leaves gradually disappeared.

As a result, tea canisters also disappeared from Japanese kitchens, and Kato Seisakusho was on the verge of bankruptcy. The company's employees, which had been about 50 at the time, were reduced to about 10 family members.

A while later, the owner of a coffee shop suddenly visited Kato Seisakusho.

He said, "I think the structure of the tea canister is ideal for storing coffee beans. But it won't sell if we just stick washi paper on it, so can't we make it more stylish? Maybe print a logo on it?"

At the time, tea leaves were sometimes put directly into the teapot, so the narrow and long tea canisters were modified to make it easier to put coffee beans and other ingredients in.

The opening was widened to make it easier to insert a measuring spoon, and the length was cut and shortened to make it more stable.

Word of mouth spread about the reputation of the high-quality cans, and they began to be used for a variety of purposes.

Even now in their fourth generation successor, they still follow the traditional manufacturing methods and carefully make each can.

Tea canisters, filled with the wisdom of their predecessors, have been given a modern makeover and are being used in new fields.

Feature

Tea canister technology is actually ideal for food preservation!

Kato Seisakusho is a long-established tea canister manufacturer founded in 1895.

Tea canisters protect the tea leaves inside from moisture and at the same time have the characteristic of prolonging the life of the tea leaves by maintaining a uniform temperature inside the can.

These characteristics are also effective for preserving other foods, creating a comfortable environment for a variety of foods such as seaweed, coffee, snacks, granola, pasta, and kelp.

Try using them for any purpose you like, not just tea leaves, by putting in foods that you don't want to get damp!

However, foods that contain a lot of moisture or salt will cause rust, so they are not suitable for preserving.

Secret of the can 1Inner lids
Due to a decrease in the number of craftsmen, there are currently only two or three companies* in Japan that can manufacture tin inner lids.

In fact, if you open a tea canister you see at a tea shop, most of them have plastic inner lids, right?

Compared to plastic, tin inner lids are less likely to change shape due to the outside temperature and humidity, and can be used for a long time without becoming too tight or loose.

The outer and inner lids are double-layered to keep out moisture and the structure that blocks light creates the optimal environment for prolonging the shelf life of food!

*According to our research

Secret of the can 2Can manufacturing
Handmade cans are made by hand, from cutting the tin plates to shaping them.

Cutting the tin plates is the most difficult step in making handmade cans, and if the measurements are off by even 0.1mm, the can will be crushed in the final process.

To compensate for this, the space between the lid and the body is narrowed to the minimum, making it extremely airtight and helping food stored inside last longer.

Another feature of handmade cans is that there are no bumps or irregularities between the lid and the body, giving them a beautiful shape. This means it is also possible to apply designs that span both the lid and the body.

Secret of the can 3Can painting
Each can is hand-spray painted, giving it a glossy, warm finish.

High skill is required to spray paint evenly onto a round can.

The glossy finish and beautiful patterns that are reminiscent of lacquer painting are only possible by spraying the paint by hand.

In addition, by applying marble patterns or gold leaf patterns to handmade cans using the traditional spray-painting technique, we can create a luxurious look reminiscent of the beauty of lacquerware.

The paint is lead-free, so it can be used safely for food storage.

Secret of the can 4We make our products with all our heart.
Regardless of the number of orders, we feel grateful to be able to make our customers' precious original cans, and we make our products with all our heart.

Most of the process is done by hand, so there are individual differences, but in order to minimize the differences as much as possible, we discuss areas that can be improved every day, change the work process, and introduce new tools.

(We don't mean to use this as an excuse, but we would be happy if you could consider the individual differences as part of the flavor.)

Products

Marble Paint Can

This can has a beautiful glossy marbled pattern that gives it the sheen of lacquerware.
The marbled pattern is made using dried seaweed, so each can has a slightly different pattern, creating a dreamy atmosphere.

Gold leaf spray paint can

The gold leaf scattered like glitter gives the cans a gorgeous, luxurious look.
The gold leaf is sprayed on by hand, so each can is slightly different, which adds to its charm.