From Industrial Tape to At-Home Gel: Kamoi Launches "mt French Nail Tape"

Kamoi Kakoshi Co., Ltd. (カモ井加工紙株式会社), the Kurashiki-based paper adhesive manufacturer behind the decorative washi tape brand mt, has entered personal care with the launch of mt french nail seal. Released in September 2026, the collection applies the company's pressure-sensitive paper technology to at-home nail art, offering an engineered alternative to freehand salon-style manicures.

Kamoi Repositioning Adhesive Paper Since 1923

Founded in 1923 by Toshiro Kamoi, the company began as a manufacturer of mechanical flypaper traps (Kamoi's Haitori-gami). In the 1960s, Kamoi expanded into industrial paper adhesive tapes for Japan’s growing automotive and construction industries, developing specialized Japanese washi masking tapes, such as the long-running No. 3303 and "Kabuki" automotive series, formulated to release cleanly without tearing or leaving adhesive residue.

In 2006, after a group of Tokyo design enthusiasts approached the factory with a self-published book demonstrating how industrial masking tape could be repurposed for collage and interior decor, Kamoi developed a consumer line. Launched in 2008 under the brand name "mt" (masking tape), the product line repositioned utilitarian painters' tape as an international craft and stationery staple.

The new nail line represents the company’s first direct crossover from stationery into personal grooming.

Product Design and Usability

The French manicure is traditionally defined by its "smile line," a clean, curved crescent of contrasting pigment bordering the free edge of the nail. For non-professionals, achieving symmetrical arcs across both hands with liquid polish is difficult. While full-coverage plastic nail wraps exist, they frequently lift at the cuticles and can damage natural nail layers during removal.

Kamoi's solution isolates only the free edge using pre-curved washi-backed film strips.

Each pack contains 3 sheets across 7 graded sizes (21 strips total) to accommodate varying nail widths.

The underside backing paper is printed with center alignment marks, enabling users to calibrate matching tip depths across all ten fingers prior to burnishing.

Rather than relying purely on pressure-sensitive adhesive for multi-week longevity, the seal is designed to be locked in place with a thin layer of base gel, cured under a UV/LED light, and finished with top coat gel Because the natural nail plate remains exposed below the tip, the nail breathes normally and new growth does not cause lifting at the cuticle.

Product Lineup and Specifications

The collection launched with 9 styles, ranging from minimalist salon standards to decorative prints drawn from Kamoi's archival washi catalogs:

Product Name: mt french nail seal

Manufacturer: Kamoi Kakoshi Co., Ltd. (Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan)

Contents: 3 sheets per package (7 size variations)

Price: ¥495 (tax included)

Release Date: September 1, 2026

Retail Availability

The series is sold through Kamoi’s official online storefront, mt LIFE STORE, and physically at the company’s concept showrooms:

A visual tutorial on applying the strips and curing the gel boundary is available in the mt French Nail Seal Application Tutorial.

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