Ballpoint pens are a prime example of superb ingenuity in stationery, with new features constantly coming on the scene. And manufacturers are putting a lot of effort into development especially because it’s a tool with readily-available refills. Maiko Yamada, working with Ito-ya’s PR, says, “In recent years the two hottest trends are erasable pens and oil-based dry-type pen. The secret to erasable pens is their special ink. Erasing with the rubber eraser in the cap (or other erasers) creates frictional heat, which turns the ink clear and colorless. The Frixion ball point pen, released to rave reviews five years ago by the venerable Pilot Corp., remains a classic writing utensil today.

Frixion, the revolutionary ball point pen that lets you write, erase, and write again. Comes in a variety of thicknesses, colors, and designs.

Jetstream, a dry-type oil-based ballpoint pen pioneered by Mitsubishi Pencil. Not only does Jetstream leave little bleeding or ink transfer, but it eliminates the tendency to blur. But enough talk; just give it a try! You’ll be a little shocked at how easy it is to write with. It’s no wonder that Yamada says that at the height of the digital age, people are drawn to the analog charms of a good pen.

New stationery using superb ingenuity besides ballpoint pens also keep arriving on the scene. The latest of these is the PLUS Deco Rush, which lets you make designs with a simple pen-like stroke. You can decorate your ledgers, notebooks, greeting cards, and so on easily with cute designs, making it a huge break-out hit with women.

Deco Rush is a new kind of decorative tape using the same technology as correction tape.

If you’re looking for something practical, look no further than the PLUS Fitcut Curve, which even amazed Yamada, who said, “I didn’t know scissors could evolve like this!” Regular scissors have problems cutting at the base and tips, with paper just getting caught and folding over. The blades on Fitcut Curve scissors are curved, so the ideal cutting angle found at the center of a pair of scissors stretches from the base all the way to the tips. You’ll be surprised at how easily you can cut now with just a grip.
Staple-less staplers are now a huge hit. This feat of ingenuity cuts a section of the paper and folds it over. Yamada says they are safe, eco-friendly, and eliminate the chore of removing staples before shredding. Kokuyo S&T’s Harinacs (handy type) uses an intriguing new construction that makes it more difficult for the fastened area to come undone.

Design is an important element of Japan’s “stationery culture.” “One point of stationery is not just to be functional, but to show off your sensibilities,” says Yamada.
Ginza Ito-ya also carries a wide selection of elegant looking “design stationery.” For the travel aficionado we recommend Midori’s Spiral Ring Notebook, perfect for attaching business cards and photos, making sketches, or keeping a log of your travels. Optional features such as a convenient pocket for tickets and maps and airline-type stickers make travel even more exciting.

Spiral Ring Notebook - perfect for traveling, and you can customize the looks and features to suit your tastes. Bring along the CL Stationery Kit to make cutting and pasting business cards and maps easy.

Designs that highlight your humorous side are also popular. H-Concept’s Evolution is a rubber eraser whose profile features a monkey evolving into a human. Make slices of the eraser to create neat decorations. D-BROS Kudamemo, memo pads that look just like fruit (“kudamono” in Japanese) are sure to inspire envy. The superb attention to detail can be seen in the attached stems, printed seeds, and other features.