--- title: "Japan Stationery Award 2026 Winners and US Stock" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/japan-stationery-award-2026-winners/" description: "Japan Stationery Award 2026 winners: Maruman's Spiral Note Basic took the grand prix; all 12 category winners with yen prices and where to buy in the US." category: "Accessories" published: 2026-10-22 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 8 products: - name: "Maruman Spiral Note Basic" brand: "Maruman" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Foil-stamped color board front cover, kraft board back cover, Maruman 70 g/m² writing paper, metal coil binding" released: "2024-11-22" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Maruman Co., Ltd." model: "N236OHFS_" mpn: "N236OHFS_-05" gtin: "4979093236053" url: "https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/products/detail/n236ohfs_.html" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/maruman-spiral-note-basic/" - name: "Sakura Ballsign iD Single gel pen" brand: "Sakura" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "ABS barrel and end cap, brass tip, steel clip (Sakura Japan)" released: "2025-10" price_band: "$ (under $5 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Sakura Color Products Corporation (Osaka); sold in the US by Sakura of America" model: "GBR403" gtin: "4901881256813" url: "https://www.craypas.co.jp/products/ball/001/0141/256812.html" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-ballsign-id-single/" - name: "CARL Refill Maker 3.5 planner punch" brand: "CARL" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" released: "2025-09" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan" model: "RM-6535N" mpn: "RM-6535N-K" gtin: "4971760101992" url: "https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/refill_maker_35n/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-refill-maker-3-5-punch/" - name: "PLUS Fit Cut Curve Bannō Titanium scissors" brand: "PLUS" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "High-carbon stainless steel blades and rivet with titanium coating; PE grip; POM anti-rattle ring; PP cap (PLUS Japan)" released: "2026-05-29" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "PLUS Corporation (プラス株式会社)" model: "SC-190PMT" mpn: "34-221" gtin: "4977564828349" url: "https://bungu.plus.co.jp/product/cut/use/fcc_bannou_titan/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/plus-fit-cut-curve-banno-titanium/" - name: "LIHIT LAB Mutual folding clipboard" brand: "LIHIT LAB" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Polypropylene body; ABS resin clip and slider; polyester and polyurethane rubber band (LIHIT LAB)" released: "2025-10" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "LIHIT LAB, Inc." model: "A-2068" mpn: "A-2068-11" url: "https://www.lihit-lab.com/products/catalog/a-2068.html" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lihit-lab-mutual-folding-clipboard/" - name: "CARL Book Tilt bookend" brand: "CARL" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Steel, 1.2 mm thick (DIME; CARL calls it a sturdy metal bookend)" released: "2025-10" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan" model: "BT-001" mpn: "BT-001-D" gtin: "4971760101404" url: "https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/bookend_bt001/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-book-tilt-bookend/" - name: "KOKUYO Campus eraser that erases well but doesn't break easily" brand: "KOKUYO" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "PVC body (PVC-P); sleeve with recycled pulp" released: "2025-09" price_band: "$ (under $5 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "KOKUYO Co., Ltd." model: "ESR-C02 (parallelogram M, white)" mpn: "ESR-C02" gtin: "4901480395296" url: "https://www.kokuyo.com/stationery/series/campus/orenikui-eraser/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kokuyo-campus-eraser/" - name: "Sonic Digitox The Routine phone time-lock case" brand: "Sonic" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "ABS body, polycarbonate lid" released: "2026-02" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Sonic Corporation (株式会社ソニック)" model: "DG-2618" mpn: "DG-2618-W" gtin: "4970116057587" url: "https://www.sonic-s.co.jp/product/dg-2618" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sonic-digitox-the-routine/" --- # Japan Stationery Award 2026 Winners and US Stock > Maruman's Spiral Note Basic, a kraft-covered ring notebook, won the grand prix of the 35th Japan Stationery Award, announced by RX Japan on June 24, 2026 at the ISOT fair in Tokyo. It was picked from 12 winners in four categories (function, design, sustainable and trend), including Sakura's Ballsign iD Single and a KOKUYO eraser. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/japan-stationery-award-2026-winners/ - Category: Accessories - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-22 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Japan Stationery Award 2026 winners in a row: Maruman Spiral Note Basic in B5 and A5, the Ballsign iD Single, the Book Tilt bookend and the KOKUYO eraser](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/japan-stationery-award-2026-winners-16x9.png) *The two notebooks are drawn to scale at 1 mm = 0.75 px from Maruman's sizes; the pen, bookend and eraser are drawn in proportion.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Maruman Spiral Note Basic | Maruman (by Maruman Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | Foil-stamped color board front cover, kraft board back cover, Maruman 70 g/m² writing paper, metal coil binding | 2024-11-22 | $$: $5–20 per item | | Sakura Ballsign iD Single gel pen | Sakura (by Sakura Color Products Corporation (Osaka); sold in the US by Sakura of America) | Japan | Not stated | ABS barrel and end cap, brass tip, steel clip (Sakura Japan) | 2025-10 | $: under $5 per item | | CARL Refill Maker 3.5 planner punch | CARL (by CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan) | Japan | Japan | – | 2025-09 | $$$: $20–75 per item | | PLUS Fit Cut Curve Bannō Titanium scissors | PLUS (by PLUS Corporation (プラス株式会社)) | Japan | Not stated | High-carbon stainless steel blades and rivet with titanium coating; PE grip; POM anti-rattle ring; PP cap (PLUS Japan) | 2026-05-29 | $$: $5–20 per item | | LIHIT LAB Mutual folding clipboard | LIHIT LAB (by LIHIT LAB, Inc.) | Japan | Not stated | Polypropylene body; ABS resin clip and slider; polyester and polyurethane rubber band (LIHIT LAB) | 2025-10 | $$: $5–20 per item | | CARL Book Tilt bookend | CARL (by CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan) | Japan | Not stated | Steel, 1.2 mm thick (DIME; CARL calls it a sturdy metal bookend) | 2025-10 | $$: $5–20 per item | | KOKUYO Campus eraser that erases well but doesn't break easily | KOKUYO (by KOKUYO Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Not stated | PVC body (PVC-P); sleeve with recycled pulp | 2025-09 | $: under $5 per item | | Sonic Digitox The Routine phone time-lock case | Sonic (by Sonic Corporation (株式会社ソニック)) | Japan | Not stated | ABS body, polycarbonate lid | 2026-02 | $$$: $20–75 per item | - Made in (Maruman Spiral Note Basic): Japan. Maruman Japan's product pages list 生産国：日本 (country of production: Japan) for the 150-sheet B5 and A5 in Black, Light Grey and kraft, and the Amazon US listings say made in Japan. Maruman's award notice names its Sagamihara and Miyazaki factories. Source: https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/products/detail/n236ohfs_.html - Made in (Sakura Ballsign iD Single gel pen): Not stated. Sakura Japan's product page and its two 2026 press releases give size, weight, materials and JAN but no country of manufacture. - Made in (CARL Refill Maker 3.5 planner punch): Japan. CARL Japan's product page lists 信頼の日本製商品 (a trusted made-in-Japan product) among the Refill Maker 3.5's features. Source: https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/refill_maker_35n/ - Made in (PLUS Fit Cut Curve Bannō Titanium scissors): Not stated. PLUS Japan's product page, item list and May 19, 2026 press release give sizes, materials, codes and price but no country of manufacture. PLUS's own shop lists China for a different model, the Premium Titanium (SC-175STN); we don't assume the same here. - Made in (LIHIT LAB Mutual folding clipboard): Not stated. LIHIT LAB's catalog page, its online store and its October 2025 release give sizes, materials and price but no country of manufacture, and the Amazon US listing we read doesn't state one. - Made in (CARL Book Tilt bookend): Not stated. CARL Japan's product page and October 17, 2025 press release give size, weight, codes and price but no country of manufacture. - Made in (KOKUYO Campus eraser that erases well but doesn't break easily): Not stated. KOKUYO's Japanese spec pages, RX Japan's winners page and DIME don't state a country of manufacture. - Made in (Sonic Digitox The Routine phone time-lock case): Not stated. Sonic's product page, its leaflet, RX Japan's winners page, Hands and DIME don't state a country of manufacture. ## Key takeaways - The 35th Japan Stationery Award named 12 winners (優秀賞), 3 in each of 4 categories, on June 9, 2026, and the grand prix on June 24, 2026. - The grand prix Spiral Note Basic starts at ¥176 (about US$1.10) for a memo pad on Maruman's brand site; DIME lists the winning 150-sheet notebook at ¥715 (about US$4.50) in A5. - The winners were shown for 3 days at ISOT, held June 24–26, 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight; the categories were function, design, sustainable and trend. - The priciest winner is CARL's Refill Maker 3.5 punch at ¥6,050 (about US$38), per DIME; the cheapest is a KOKUYO Campus eraser from ¥99 (about US$0.60). - By October 23, 2026 Amazon.com listed the grand prix Spiral Note Basic (A5 Black sold by Maruman US) and the LIHIT LAB Mutual clipboard; most other winners still need Japanese retailers or proxy services. ## What won the Japan Stationery Award 2026? **Maruman's Spiral Note Basic won the grand prix (グランプリ) of the 35th Japan Stationery Award, announced by RX Japan on June 24, 2026 at the ISOT fair in Tokyo.** It came from the design category, and it ranks first because RX Japan's judges chose it over the other 11 winners for its paper, ring binding and perforations. RX Japan had named 12 winners (優秀賞), three in each of four categories, on June 9. RX Japan calls the Japan Stationery Award (日本文具大賞) the industry's biggest award. In 2026 it judged four categories: function, design, sustainable and trend. ## How did we choose what to cover? **We didn't pick these winners; RX Japan's judges did, and we compiled the results from RX Japan, DIME and the makers without testing the products.** We list all 12 winners with DIME's and Maruman's Japanese prices and US availability checked on October 23, 2026; our facts box holds the grand prix and seven category winners with published maker specs. ## Why did the Spiral Note Basic win? **RX Japan praised its smooth original writing paper, easy-turning ring binding and clean micro-perforations, and DIME says the judges rewarded a basic notebook done well.** RX Japan's own description also mentions calm cover colors with foil-stamped designs. DIME names the winning version as the 150-sheet lined notebook, at ¥715 (about US$4.50) for A5 and ¥825 (about US$5.20) for B5 as of August 31, 2026. Maruman's brand site lists the same 150-sheet notebooks at ¥605 (about US$3.80) and ¥715 (about US$4.50), and the 40-sheet B5 at ¥363 (about US$2.30), so check current prices. | Spiral Note Basic | Size (Maruman) | Sheets | Japan price (Maruman site) | |---|---|---|---| | 150-sheet B5, 6.5 mm ruled | 193 × 254 × 22 mm (7.6 × 10 × 0.9 in) | 150 | ¥715 (about US$4.50) | | 150-sheet A5, 6.5 mm ruled | 162 × 212 × 22 mm (6.4 × 8.3 × 0.9 in) | 150 | ¥605 (about US$3.80) | | B5 notebook | B5 | 40 or 80 | ¥330 (about US$2.10) to ¥495 (about US$3.10) | | A6 to A7 memo | A6, A7 | 50 or 80 | ¥176 (about US$1.10) to ¥363 (about US$2.30) | Sizes include the rings. Maruman says it made Japan's first ring notebook, and its Spiral Note brand dates from 1960. For Maruman's premium line, see our [Mnemosyne A5 guide](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/maruman-mnemosyne-a5-notebook/). ## What were the 12 category winners? **Three products won in each category; prices are from DIME as of August 31, 2026.** | Category | Winner | Maker | Japan price | |---|---|---|---| | Function | Refill Maker 3.5 planner punch | CARL | ¥6,050 (about US$38) | | Function | Fit Cut Curve Bannō Titanium scissors | PLUS | ¥2,530 (about US$16) | | Function | Mutual folding clipboard | LIHIT LAB | ¥1,430 (about US$9.10) | | Design | Book Tilt bookend | CARL | ¥880 (about US$5.60) | | Design | Ballsign iD Single gel pen | Sakura | ¥440 (about US$2.80) | | Design | Spiral Note Basic (grand prix) | Maruman | See above | | Sustainable | Color-changing memo pad | 国府印刷社 (MEKURU) | ¥440 (about US$2.80) | | Sustainable | Campus eraser that erases well but doesn't break | KOKUYO | ¥99 (about US$0.60) to ¥550 (about US$3.50) | | Sustainable | Dustless Sea Shell Chalk | Nihon Rikagaku | ¥220 (about US$1.40) to ¥550 (about US$3.50) | | Trend | Stickyle Tsumamuno scissors-tweezers | Sun-Star | ¥935 (about US$5.90) | | Trend | Digitox The Routine phone time-lock case | Sonic | ¥4,950 (about US$31) | | Trend | funlog life-log planner and accessories | Mark's | Memo pad ¥440 (about US$2.80) | ## What do the pen and paper winners do? **The Ballsign iD Single offers six shades of black ink, and the Refill Maker 3.5 punches your own paper for mini 6-hole and micro 5-hole planners.** Sakura's entry names the blacks Pure, Night, Forest, Mocha, Mysterious and Pencil Black, in 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mm. *Why they're here:* CARL says the punch's 3.5 mm holes suit small planners, and DIME lists it as the priciest winner. The funlog planner is an undated A6 half-year book with a monthly habit tracker, per RX Japan. ## What won the function and sustainable categories? **PLUS's new Fit Cut Curve scissors add a titanium coat so they can be washed, and KOKUYO's eraser balances clean erasing against breaking.** PLUS says the scissors cut paper and metal, building on the 2016 all-purpose model. The LIHIT LAB Mutual clipboard and CARL Book Tilt are in our facts box for their function and design wins, and the Digitox Routine because it also won a Bungu-ya-san Taishō award. KOKUYO sells the eraser in parallelogram and rectangular shapes, two sizes each, per DIME. Nihon Rikagaku's chalk uses waste Hokkaido scallop shells, and RX Japan's page calls it made in Japan. ## Can you buy these winners in the US? **Some are: on October 23, 2026 Amazon.com listed the grand prix [Spiral Note Basic](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/maruman-spiral-note-basic/) (the A5 Black sold by Maruman US) and the LIHIT LAB Mutual clipboard from third-party sellers.** We found no US listing for the Ballsign iD Single, the Refill Maker 3.5 (Amazon.com shows only its spare bottom cover), the Fit Cut Curve Bannō Titanium or the Book Tilt; JetPens lists older Ballsign iD gel pens but not the Single. The Digitox Routine also won a Bungu-ya-san Taishō category award; see [Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026 winners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/bungu-ya-san-taisho-2026-winners/) and [every 2026 stationery award winner](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/stationery-awards-2026-winners/). ISOT itself is trade only; see [top stationery events of 2026](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/top-stationery-events-2026/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the Japan Stationery Award? The Japan Stationery Award (日本文具大賞) is an industry award run by RX Japan at ISOT, the Tokyo stationery trade fair. Judges pick category winners from products exhibited at the fair, then one grand prix. ### What notebook won the Japan Stationery Award 2026? Maruman's Spiral Note Basic, a ring notebook with a plain kraft cover, micro-perforated pages and Maruman's own writing paper. DIME names the winning version as the 150-sheet lined notebook in A5 and B5. ### Can you buy Japan Stationery Award 2026 winners in the US? Some of them. On October 23, 2026 Amazon.com listed the Spiral Note Basic (the A5 Black sold by Maruman US) and the LIHIT LAB Mutual clipboard from third-party sellers. We found no US listing for the Ballsign iD Single; JetPens sells older Ballsign iD pens. For the rest, Japanese retailers and proxy services are the realistic route. ### Who won the design category at the Japan Stationery Award 2026? CARL's Book Tilt bookend, Sakura's Ballsign iD Single gel pen and Maruman's Spiral Note Basic, which then took the grand prix. ### When is the Japan Stationery Award 2027? The award is presented at the summer ISOT fair. RX Japan's ISOT site lists the 2027 summer fair for June 9–11, 2027 at Tokyo Big Sight, but it hadn't announced 2027 award dates when we checked on October 22, 2026. ### Is the Japan Stationery Award the same as the Bungu-ya-san Taishō? No. The Japan Stationery Award is judged at the ISOT trade fair in June; the Bungu-ya-san Taishō is voted by shop staff and announced by Fusosha in February. ## Sources - [RX Japan, ISOT: 2026年 受賞製品一覧 (official winners list; read October 22, 2026)](https://www.lifestyle-expo.jp/summer/ja-jp/about/isot/award/winning-products.html) - [RX Japan via PR TIMES: 第35回 日本文具大賞 2026 優秀賞が決定 (June 9, 2026)](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000002062.000026157.html) - [Maruman (Japanese): spiral note brand site (grand prix notice of June 30, 2026; lineup and prices)](https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/lp/spiralnote/) - [Maruman via @Press: 1.5cmの分厚い「スパイラルノート ベーシック」新発売 (November 19, 2024)](https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/417249) - [@DIME: 「日本文具大賞」のグランプリに選ばれた商品 (all winners with prices as of August 31, 2026)](https://dime.jp/genre/2157982/) - [Koubo: 日本文具大賞2026 優秀賞が決定 (June 9, 2026)](https://koubo.jp/article/86284) - [Bic Camera: Sakura Ballsign iD Single (¥440, released late October 2025)](https://www.biccamera.com/bc/item/14508127/) - [JetPens: Sakura Ballsign iD Gel Pens](https://www.jetpens.com/Sakura-Ballsign-iD-Gel-Pens/ct/6227)