Technology

Origin of Colantotte

This is an introduction to Colantotte's origins and the passion behind its development.

Colantotte started here: the birth of one-of-a-kind medical devices

In 1998, Colan Totte Co., Ltd. President and CEO Katsumi Komatsu contemplated whether he could make magnetic support gear that simultaneously cared for the shoulders, back and hip. He was concerned about his ill father, who was bedridden and complained of soreness. Komatsu specifically had in mind a technology that had not existed before: alternating the north-south polarity orientation of the magnets.

After trial and error, he created the prototypes pictured here. "I feel better." His father's smile made Komatsu happy.

The effects of Komatsu's support gear that used the unique magnet orientation amazed those around him and drove him to market the products. After further trial and error, he gave concrete shape to the gear. This marked the birth of the Colantotte tank top and waist belt in addition to the home magnetic therapy devices embraced by many to this day. With an uncompromising eye for his pursuit of sound devices, Komatsu continues to develop products with the quality and sensibility to accommodate diverse lifestyles.

The quickest way to be happy is to wear a wholehearted smile - this has been Colan Totte's vision from the start. The desire to have as many people as possible lead healthy, happy lives is the very sprit that creates Colantotte products.

Returning to the originsThe pleasure of seeing smiles

My father's smile spurred me on to create Colantotte. Having had some knowledge about magnets, I searched for a magnetic therapy device that would help alleviate my bedridden father's muscle stiffness. I wasn't happy with the effects of the home magnetic therapy devices available at the time, though, as they used like poles in the same direction. I found that by alternating the magnets' north-south polarity orientation, the magnetic field flow spanned across a wider surface. My father's smile when he tried on my prototype gave me the encouragement I needed to take my product to market. It was no easy task, but now I have more items that are making many people happy.

The name Colantotte comes from the Kansai dialect kata korantotte, which translates into “don't get stiff shoulders.” It embodies my sympathy for a loved one. And it's a pun. Each time I tell this story, the other person smiles. Smiles are the greatest motivation in life - you become healthy, you become happy, you smile. Colantotte's happiness is to see our customers' wholehearted smiles.

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