From Galley to Home

I used to be a cabin crew member.

What I loved most wasn't just flying—it was the atmosphere inside the cabin. Watching passengers step onboard with excitement, knowing a new adventure was about to begin, sharing small conversations and moments. Being part of the start of someone's journey was something I genuinely enjoyed.

And beside me, every single day, was the airline galley cart.

Back then, it was nothing more than a piece of equipment. But the day I decided to leave aviation, one thought stayed with me: "I will miss this crew-life."

I wanted something that would remind me of those moments, something that reflected who I was, something a little different. Then one day, a simple question came to mind: "Can you actually buy an airline galley cart?"

As someone who used the carts every day, I knew exactly how practical they were. "What if I used one at home?" "What if something designed only for the cabin became part of everyday life?" That single thought became the beginning of everything.

When I started searching, I quickly realized how difficult they were to find. There were only a handful of routes to purchase in Japan, most of them second-hand or sold through collectors with very little information about where they came from. And then I thought, "Who on earth would put an airline trolley in their room? Perhaps, only myself."

Eventually, I found one company selling brand-new trolleys and decided to take the leap. When it arrived, it exceeded every expectation. The same trolley I had pushed down the aisle every day was now sitting in my small apartment. At first, I simply loved the feeling.

Then, after living with it for a while, I realized something. I was using it every single day. The seven drawers naturally organized my belongings, I opened and latched the door countless times, and every day it caught my eye. A product originally built to serve passengers at 40,000 feet had somehow become part of everyday life inside my small apartment in Tokyo. That contrast fascinated me.

This feeling is too good to keep to myself—not just for aviation enthusiasts or collectors, but for anyone who enjoys thoughtful interiors, appreciates unique design, or simply wants something that makes everyday life feel a little more special. Bringing a touch of the extraordinary into everyday life became my mission.

If finding one was this difficult, I decided to build the path myself. That was the beginning of KATAKURA.

From the very beginning, I made one promise to myself: if I haven't seen it with my own eyes, I won't sell it. That's why I traveled to the factory myself. I watched how every trolley was built, spoke with the people who make them, and learned how they're packed, shipped, and delivered. Because I only want to offer products that I genuinely believe in.

My surname is Katakura (片倉). The first character, 片, means half. The second, 倉, represents storage, organization, and keeping things in order. It almost feels like I was destined to introduce the Half Cart to the world.

But KATAKURA was never meant to be just a Half Cart brand. I'll continue traveling the world, meeting people, visiting factories, and discovering products with my own eyes. Only the things I truly believe in will ever carry the KATAKURA name. The Half Cart is the first chapter.

Products that make you smile every time you see them, products that quietly become part of your daily life. That's what KATAKURA is here to do—to make everyday life just a little more extraordinary.