A close look at Nakatōshi Sangyo shrink plastic sheets often seen at Seria and other 100-yen shops

Hello, this is Kanahina☆

I have been making shrink plastic crafts for more than 15 years, and Nakatōshi Sangyo sheets are one of the materials I keep using because they are affordable yet reliable.

There are many kinds of shrink plastic sheets, so beginners may wonder which one to choose. Here I explain what makes these sheets easy to use for handmade accessories.

You may have seen them at Seria, other 100-yen shops, or on Amazon. Let’s look at the company, the available types, and the points I like.

What kind of company is Nakatōshi Sangyo?

Company overview: introducing Nakatōshi Sangyo

Founded in 1961, Nakatōshi Sangyo appears to have supplied stationery and useful everyday goods to 100-yen shops across Japan for more than 60 years.

I checked the web catalog on the official site, and it was full of simple, handy items for daily life.

Product development: practical and creative ideas

The company seems to import stationery and miscellaneous goods made at partner factories in China and supply them to the Japanese market.

It also appears to develop products with major clients and respond to market needs. That makes it feel like more than a wholesaler: a partner that creates useful products with its customers.

Popular products: shrink plastic sheets loved by handmade fans

Their craft products, including shrink plastic sheets, are popular among handmade creators and can be bought not only at 100-yen shops but also on Amazon.

Even though the price is reasonable, the sheets are stable and easy to work with, which is probably why many people buy them repeatedly.

When I make shrink plastic accessories, I often buy several packs at once on Amazon.

Future outlook: wider markets and better products

Nakatōshi Sangyo seems to offer both fresh, appealing products and classic, easy-to-use items while expanding its market and improving its technology.

As a handmade creator, I really appreciate materials that are easy to buy at 100-yen shops but still reliable enough to use for a long time.

I did not know much about the maker before, so I researched what I could. Since I use their products often, I am glad to know more about the company and hope they continue making affordable, high-quality sheets.

What kinds of shrink plastic sheets are available?

As of April 2024, Nakatōshi Sangyo sold 10 types of shrink plastic sheets.

They can be grouped like this:

■ Color: clear, translucent, white, and glow-in-the-dark
■ Printing type: regular and inkjet-printable
■ Surface type: non-silicone and frosted
■ Size: A4, B4, B5, B6, 230 mm × 330 mm, and postcard size
■ Thickness: 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.4 mm

You can check the details on the official site.

For color, the main types are clear, translucent, and white. There is also one glow-in-the-dark type.

Choose based on whether you want the finished piece to be transparent. At first, I recommend buying a few types and comparing how they look after baking.

Regular sheets are for hand drawing with colored pencils or markers, while inkjet sheets are for printing digital artwork from a computer.

Non-silicone sheets are smooth and work well with oil-based markers. Color goes on cleanly and ink is less likely to bleed.

Frosted sheets have a rougher surface, so they are good for colored pencils and pastels and give a softer handmade look.

Size means the sheet size itself.

There are three thicknesses. I use 0.3 mm when I want strength for keychains or larger pieces, and 0.2 mm for smaller, lighter items such as earrings. I do not use 0.4 mm very often, but it may be useful when you want extra firmness.

I have also written comparison articles about baking different sheets, so please take a look.

Related articles about 100-yen shrink plastic sheets

• Comparing shrink plastic sheets from Daiso, Seria, and Can★Do
• Testing how to bake 100-yen shrink plastic sheets and the best temperature
• Follow-up test: comparing Daiso and Seria sheets by thickness

Amazon is convenient for buying Nakatōshi Sangyo sheets online

I often buy them on Amazon because packs of 10 can be cheaper than buying one by one at a 100-yen shop. They also arrive quickly, and shipping is often free with Amazon Prime.

Take a look from the button below if you are interested.

Summary

This article introduced Nakatōshi Sangyo, the types of shrink plastic sheets they sell, and where you can buy them.

The sheets are affordable, sturdy, and easy to use. As a handmade creator with more than 15 years of experience, I have relied on them for a long time.

If you are starting shrink plastic crafts for the first time, they are worth trying.