Gato Mikio Shoten was founded in 1908 in Yamanaka, Ishikawa Prefecture. Inheriting the policy of the "kijiya" (Japanese woodworkers), Gato Mikio Shoten's craftsmanship is particular about the perfection of wood grain, which is the basis of lacquerware.
The name "Karmi" refers to one of haiku poets, Matsuo Basho's haikai philosophy, "karumi (軽み)." The products express an open-hearted state of mind that we could feel in our everyday lives, without overly elaborating on knowledge and techniques. The products also represent the philosophy of beautiful design that exudes from the inside of the product.
Karmi Tea Canisters received Good Design Award and Prize of Smaller Enterprise Agency's Director in 2010, Germany's Design Plus Award in 2011, and won a silver medal of the world's most authoritative design award, the Designpreis Deutschland 2012 in Germany, among more than 1500 other candidates.
Gato Mikio products are not only beautiful and functional, they have a certain magic that is hard to describe. I am overjoyed and also thank you for the extremely friendly and professional service during the purchase.
D.F. from Austria
Just got my package and want to pass my deepest appreciation to you all. I
LOVE all the products I purchased and THANK YOU for packaging them up so
carefully. This is my first time buying from you, but I am now your big fan!
I will definitely recommend your store on my network. Thank you again, and I
will follow your facebook page and promote your store on my network! Really
love it and thank you. I am a big fan of your store and a big fan of
anything made in Japan. One of my struggles living outside of Japan is that most
of the Japanese brands don't ship internationally - as such, I am very
happy that I found your website and store.
A.C. from USA
I am delighted by all the products, from the towels to the brushes. They waited few months in boxes during the refurbisment work of my appartment. I am now pleased to be able to share with you a picture with some tinplate containers and karmi boxes on shelves. These are handmade in red oak (Quercus rubra) from La Dombes, in Eastern France. This wood has been widely used in my new flat and perfectly matches with my treat from Japan.
F.B. from France
Thank you. My 5 tea caddies arrived in perfect condition and are very beautiful as well as functional.
The products are lovely and arrived safely.
J.A. from Australia
I received my order and have only given me pleasure since then. In my own hands, the value of the craft is felt even more clearly. Also the packaging of the individual tea tins is very nice. I am very happy that I discovered you and your shop. Looking forward to the next order.
J.G. from Hamburg, Germany
Thank you for shipping out the products so quickly. I'm excited to receive them! I'm sure will come back to you guys. I've received the products. The products are very well made and the way you guys packing and wrapping them are exceptional! These little details will make me want to come back to the store. Thanks again and wish you guys success.
K.H. from USA
Gato Mikio Shoten Karmi Tea Canisters for Tea 100g Soji
For 100g of black tea and with graduated scale for measuring.
Size: About Ø62-78xH193-212mm Capacity: About 310-350ml Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Urethane Coating)
Price: 20,000 JPY
From Left: Moto, Taru, Sane, Bou, Bin, Tou, Kubi, Hishi
Gato Mikio Shoten Karmi Tea Canisters for Tea 100g Sumi
For 100g of black tea and with graduated scale for measuring.
Size: About Ø62-78xH193-212mm Capacity: About 310-350ml Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Black Japan, Urethane Coating)
Price: 20,000 JPY
From Left: Moto, Taru, Sane, Bou, Bin, Tou, Kubi, Hishi
Gato Mikio Shoten
Karmi Tea Canisters for Tea 100g Fuki
For 100g of black tea and with graduated scale for measuring. Fuki is produced through a repetitive process called "fuki-urushi" which involves painting the surface with transparent lacquer called "ki-urushi" and then wiping it off with a cloth, and users may enjoy the natural shading created by the soaked lacquer and the grain.
Size: About Ø62-78xH193-212mm
Capacity: About 310-350ml
Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Raw Japan, Urethane Coating)
Gato Mikio Shoten Karmi Tea Canisters for Green Tea 100g Soji
For 100g of green tea and with an inner lid.
Size: About Ø78-90xH225-280mm Capacity: About 225-280ml Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Urethane Coating)
Price: 20,000 JPY
From Left: Tawara, Toku, Kama
Gato Mikio Shoten Karmi Tea Canisters for Green Tea 100g Sumi
For 100g of green tea and with an inner lid.
Size: About Ø78-90xH225-280m Capacity: About 225-280ml Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Black Japan, Urethane Coating)
Price: 20,000 JPY
From Left: Tawara, Toku, Kama
Gato Mikio Shoten
Karmi Tea Canisters for Green Tea 100g Fuki
For 100g of green tea and with an inner lid. Fuki is produced through a repetitive process called "fuki-urushi" which involves painting the surface with transparent lacquer called "ki-urushi" and then wiping it off with a cloth, and users may enjoy the natural shading created by the soaked lacquer and the grain.
Size: About Ø78-90xH225-280m
Capacity: About 225-280ml
Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Raw Japan, Urethane Coating)
Price: 20,000 JPY
From Left: So, Za, Ju
Gato Mikio Shoten Karmi Tea Canisters for Tea 50g Soji
For 50g of black tea.
Size: About Ø100-104xH44-48mm Capacity: About 175ml Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Urethane Coating)
Price: 12,000 JPY
From Left: So, Za, Ju
Gato Mikio Shoten Karmi Tea Canisters for Tea 50g Sumi
For 50g of black tea.
Size: About Ø100-104xH44-48mm Capacity: About 175ml Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Black Japan, Urethane Coating)
Price: 12,000 JPY
From Left: So, Za, Ju
Gato Mikio Shoten
Karmi Tea Canisters for Tea 50g Fuki
For 50g of black tea. Fuki is produced through a repetitive process called "fuki-urushi" which involves painting the surface with transparent lacquer called "ki-urushi" and then wiping it off with a cloth, and users may enjoy the natural shading created by the soaked lacquer and the grain.
Size: About Ø100-104xH44-48mm
Capacity: About 175ml
Material: Japanese Cherry Birch (Raw Japan, Urethane Coating)
Price: 12,000 JPY
Gato Mikio Shoten
Gato Mikio Shoten was founded in 1908 in Yamanaka, Ishikawa Prefecture. Yamanaka has the largest lacquerware production area in Japan. Inheriting the policy of the kijiya (Japanese woodworker), Gato Mikio Shoten's craftsmanship is particular about the perfection of wood grain, which is the basis of lacquerware. Karmi Tea Canisters won a silver medal at Designpreis Deutschland 2012.