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Stationery Times

Japanese Stationery: Best Brands, What to Buy & Where in the US

By · Published · 7 min read

Compiled from 13 sources; we haven't tested these products ourselves yet. How we research

Quick answer

Japanese stationery stands out for fine-tip pens, thin paper and planners such as the Hobonichi Techo. The best-known brands are Pilot, uni, Zebra, Pentel and Tombow for pens; KOKUYO, Midori and Maruman for notebooks; Hobonichi and Jibun Techo for planners; and mt for washi tape. In the US, Kinokuniya, Yoseka and the makers' own stores sell it.

On this page8 sections
Ten Japanese stationery starter-kit picks drawn to scale, from a Sarasa Clip pen to a Campus notebook
A ten-piece Japanese stationery starter kit, drawn to scale from maker and retailer sizes.

Products compared

  1. Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.5 mm retractable gel pen with the tip out, showing its binder clip and clear barrelNo. 1Zebra Sarasa Clip Retractable Gel Pen$Read the guide →
  2. Navy uni Jetstream 4&1 multi pen with the blue ballpoint out, drawn to scale, with an end view of its slidersNo. 2uni Jetstream 4&1 Multi Pen$$Read the guide →
  3. Platinum Preppy with black ink and the cap posted, drawn to scale, with a close-up of the steel nibNo. 3Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen$$Read the guide →
  4. Black uni Kuru Toga mechanical pencil drawn to scale, with the lead's rotation per stroke insetNo. 4Uni Kuru Toga Standard mechanical pencil$$Read the guide →
  5. Zebra Mildliner double-ended highlighter in Mild Blue with both caps off, with a close-up of the chisel tipNo. 5Zebra Mildliner double-ended highlighter$Read the guide →
  6. White Tombow MONO PE-04A eraser in its striped sleeve beside a cleanly erased pencil lineNo. 6Tombow MONO eraser, PE-04A$Read the guide →
  7. mt masking tape roll in Matte Light Blue with a 15 mm strip running across a ruled cardNo. 7mt masking tape (washi tape), mt basic 1P, 15 mm single roll$Read the guide →
  8. Hobonichi Techo Original A6, closed and opened flat on two daily pages with a 3.7 mm gridNo. 8Hobonichi Techo Original Book, A6, 2027$$$Read the guide →
  9. Midori MD Notebook A5 with its cream cover and cloth spine, closed and opened flat on 7 mm lined pagesNo. 9Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages$$Read the guide →
  10. KOKUYO Campus Semi-B5 notebook in a blue cover, closed and opened flat on 6 mm dotted rulingNo. 10KOKUYO Campus Notebook, Semi-B5, 30 sheets$Read the guide →
ProductBrand originMade inPrice range
Zebra Sarasa Clip Retractable Gel Pen (0.3 / 0.4 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; JJ15)ZebraJapanJapan*Price range: $under $5 per item
uni Jetstream 4&1 Multi Pen (0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 mm + 0.5 mm pencil; MSXE5-1000)uni-ballJapanJapan*Price range: $$$5–20 per item
Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen (02 EF / 03 F / 05 M)PlatinumJapanJapan*Price range: $$$5–20 per item
Uni Kuru Toga Standard mechanical pencil (M5-450, 0.5 mm)uniJapanJapan*Price range: $$$5–20 per item
Zebra Mildliner double-ended highlighter (WKT7; US packs sold as Mildliner Double-Ended Creative Highlighter)ZebraJapanJapan or Mexico (varies by pack)*Price range: $under $5 per item
Tombow MONO eraser, PE-04ATombowJapanJapan*Price range: $under $5 per item
mt masking tape (washi tape), mt basic 1P, 15 mm single rollmtJapanJapan*Price range: $under $5 per item
Hobonichi Techo Original Book, A6, 2027 (English or Japanese; January or April start)HobonichiJapanNot stated*Price range: $$$$20–75 per item
Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages (blank, lined, grid, dot grid or frame)MidoriJapanJapan*Price range: $$$5–20 per item
KOKUYO Campus Notebook, Semi-B5, 30 sheets (NO-3BN 6 mm rule; NO-3BTN 6 mm dotted; NO-3ATN 7 mm dotted)KOKUYOJapanJapan*Price range: $under $5 per item
Notes on these facts
  • Zebra Sarasa Clip Retractable Gel Pen (0.3 / 0.4 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; JJ15): Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation. Made in Japan: per retailer spec sheets: FairPrice (Singapore) lists Japan for the 0.7 mm pen and the JF-0.5 refills, Carrefour UAE lists Japan for the Sarasa Push Clip, and SM Stationery (Philippines) says made in Japan. Zebra's Japanese and global product pages don't state a country of manufacture. Source. Price: example listing.
  • uni Jetstream 4&1 Multi Pen (0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 mm + 0.5 mm pencil; MSXE5-1000): Made by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: The Journal Shop lists Japan as the country of origin for the 0.5 mm 4&1. Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product page and press releases don't state it. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Mitsubishi Pencil's February 17, 2011 press release says the Jetstream 4&1 first came out in November 2008.
  • Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen (02 EF / 03 F / 05 M): Made by Platinum Pen Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Made in Japan: per retailer listings: Hunter Paper Co says made in Japan and Unsharpen gives Japan as the country of origin (both read on October 20, 2026). Platinum's Japanese product pages don't state it. Source. Price: example listing.
  • Uni Kuru Toga Standard mechanical pencil (M5-450, 0.5 mm): Made by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: per retailer spec sheets (The Journal Shop: country of origin Japan; Bungu Store: made in Japan). Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product pages don't state it. Source. Price: example listing.
  • Zebra Mildliner double-ended highlighter (WKT7; US packs sold as Mildliner Double-Ended Creative Highlighter): Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation. Made in Japan or Mexico (varies by pack): Hamster (Canada) lists Japan for the 5-pack MPN 78205, and Japanese-market retailers sell the WKT7 as made in Japan. Nordisco lists Mexico for the US 10-pack, item 78101, and Boston General Store lists a single Mildliner as made in Mexico. Zebra's Japanese product page doesn't state a country of manufacture, so check the pack. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Launch year in Japan, per Zebra's company history and press releases (2009 launch, 15th anniversary in 2024).
  • Tombow MONO eraser, PE-04A: Made by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: Officeworks in Australia lists Japan as the country of manufacture for the PE-04A, and Galaxus gives Japan as the country of origin. But St. Louis Art Supply, a US shop, says its PE-04A is made in Vietnam, so US stock may differ. Tombow's Japanese MONO page (read on October 21, 2026) doesn't state a country; check the packaging. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Tombow says the MONO eraser was created as a giveaway with the MONO 100 pencil (launched 1967) and became a product in 1969; that is the line's launch year, not necessarily the PE-04A code's.
  • mt masking tape (washi tape), mt basic 1P, 15 mm single roll: Made by Kamoi Kakoshi Co., Ltd. (Kurashiki, Okayama). Made in Japan: Kamoi Kakoshi's company page describes its head-office factory in Kurashiki and a second factory in Yakage, Okayama, shipping mt from Japan to the world. Maruzen Junkudo's listings for mt basic 1P rolls give 原産国 (country of origin) Japan, and Jenni Bick, Hunter Paper Co. and Tacto Studio say made in Japan. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Kamoi Kakoshi's company history dates mt's launch to February–March 2008.
  • Hobonichi Techo Original Book, A6, 2027 (English or Japanese; January or April start): Made by Hobonichi Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Hobonichi's Japanese store listing for the 2027 English Original gives size, weight, pages and paper but no country of manufacture (it names one only for a free charm, made in China), and we found no retailer spec sheet that states it for the Original Book. Hunter Paper Co. says its Original Avec book is made in Japan by Hobonichi, but that is a different product. Check the back of the book. Price: example listing. Released: Hobonichi's history page gives October 5, 2001 as the release date of the first edition, the 2002 Techo.
  • Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages (blank, lined, grid, dot grid or frame): Made by Designphil Inc. (Tokyo); the MD line is now sold as MD PRODUCT. Made in Japan: Midori's Japanese MD PRODUCT store gives 原産国 (country of origin) Made in Japan for the A5, as did the older Midori online store listing for the lined A5 (15294006). The Journal Shop, Galen Leather and Boston General Store agree. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Designphil's February 23, 2018 press release says Midori launched the MD Notebook in 2008 and marked its 10th anniversary in January 2018; Midori's store says the notebook reached 15 years in 2023, when it was renewed with MD Paper covers.
  • KOKUYO Campus Notebook, Semi-B5, 30 sheets (NO-3BN 6 mm rule; NO-3BTN 6 mm dotted; NO-3ATN 7 mm dotted): Made by KOKUYO Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: KOKUYO's own global online store gives Country of Origin: Japan for the NO-3BN 3-pack and 10-pack and for the NO-3BTN and NO-3ATN dotted books. KOKUYO's Japanese catalog pages don't list origin; other Campus lines and sizes may differ. Source. Price: example listing. Released: KOKUYO's Japanese chronicle: the Campus brand began with spiral notebooks in 1965; this perfect-bound Campus Note followed in 1975, and the current design is the fifth generation, from October 2011.
  • Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

  • Japan exported 120.4 billion yen (about US$762 million) of writing instruments in 2025, and the US was its biggest market at 28.6 billion yen (about US$181 million), per JWIMA.
  • Eight of the big makers were founded between 1887 and 1921, from Mitsubishi Pencil (uni) to Sakura; Hobonichi followed in 1979 and mt washi tape in 2008.
  • On October 26, 2026 Kinokuniya listed 19 US stores in 8 states, plus Mai Do stationery shops in San Francisco and San Jose.
  • In our October 2026 index of 60 Japanese items, the median US price was 1.4 times the Japanese list price.
  • Nine of our ten starter-kit picks sit in our under-$20 bands; the Hobonichi Techo is the one in $20–75.

What makes Japanese stationery worth buying?

Japanese stationery is known for fine-tip pens, thin but ink-friendly paper and clever planners, made by specialist companies that have competed for more than a century. Eight of the big makers were founded between 1887 and 1921, and our history of Japan’s stationery industry traces how each grew from a single product.

Several pen types started there. Sakura says its Ball Sign of 1984 was the world’s first water-based gel-ink ballpoint, and Pilot’s history lists the first capless fountain pen (1963) and the erasable FriXion Ball (2006). Gel pens come in 0.3 mm, and Japanese fountain-pen nibs run about a size finer than Western ones.

The scale is large. JWIMA, the pen makers’ association, counts 1.55 billion ballpoints made in Japan in 2025 and 120.4 billion yen (about US$762 million) of writing-instrument exports, with the US the biggest market at 28.6 billion yen (about US$181 million).

Japanese stationery brands by category: eight pen makers, seven notebook and paper brands, four planners and four tape and sticker brands
The brands this guide covers, grouped by what they're best known for. Not a ranking.

Which Japanese stationery brands are best for each category?

Pilot, uni and Zebra lead pens; KOKUYO, Midori and Maruman lead notebooks; Hobonichi leads planners; and mt leads washi tape. Each brand links to its page, with every guide we’ve written about it.

Category Brand Best known for
Pens Pilot G2, Hi-Tec-C, FriXion, Metropolitan, Iroshizuku ink
Pens uni (Mitsubishi Pencil) Jetstream, Signo, Kuru Toga
Pens Zebra Sarasa gel pens, Mildliner highlighters
Pens Pentel EnerGel, Sign Pen, GraphGear pencils
Pens Sakura Pigma Micron, Gelly Roll
Pens Tombow MONO erasers, Fudenosuke and Dual Brush pens, AirPress
Fountain pens Platinum Preppy, #3776 Century
Fountain pens Sailor Gold-nib fountain pens and inks
Notebooks KOKUYO Campus notebooks (since 1975), Jibun Techo
Notebooks Midori MD Notebook and MD Paper
Notebooks Maruman Mnemosyne, Croquis sketchbooks, Spiral Note
Notebooks Apica Premium C.D. Notebook
Notebooks LIFE Noble Note
Notebooks Tsubame Fools notebooks
Paper Tomoe River Very thin 52 gsm fountain-pen paper
Planners Hobonichi Hobonichi Techo, one page a day
Planners KOKUYO Jibun Techo Weekly pages with a 24-hour timeline
Planners MARK’S EDiT One-page-per-day dated planners
Planners TRAVELER’S COMPANY TRAVELER’S notebook leather covers
Tape mt Washi tape since 2008
Tape MARK’S masté Masking tape, some writable with water-based pens

For pens alone, see our best Japanese pens; for paper, our best Japanese notebooks; for planners, Hobonichi vs Jibun Techo.

What should be in a Japanese stationery starter kit?

Start with a gel pen, a notebook and an eraser, then add the pieces you’ll use. These ten are well documented, easy to find in the US, and all but the Hobonichi sit in our under-$20 bands.

  1. Zebra Sarasa Clip ($): the everyday gel pen; Zebra says it has led Japan’s gel pen sales for 14 years.
  2. uni Jetstream 4&1 ($$): four quick-drying ballpoint colors and a 0.5 mm pencil in one body.
  3. Platinum Preppy ($$): the cheapest way to try fountain-pen ink, with a cap that seals the nib.
  4. uni Kuru Toga ($$): a mechanical pencil that turns the lead as you write, keeping a sharp point.
  5. Zebra Mildliner ($): double-ended highlighters in soft colors that suit planners.
  6. Tombow MONO eraser ($): the plastic eraser in the blue, white and black sleeve, sold since 1969.
  7. mt washi tape ($): 15 mm paper tape that tears by hand and peels off cleanly.
  8. Midori MD Notebook A5 ($$): a thread-sewn notebook of cream MD Paper that lies flat.
  9. KOKUYO Campus notebook ($): the Japanese school notebook, made since 1975 and cheap enough to fill.
  10. Hobonichi Techo Original ($$$): the page-a-day A6 planner on thin Tomoe River paper.

Which Japanese stationery awards are worth following?

Two Japanese awards work as buying guides: the Japan Stationery Award, judged at the ISOT trade fair, and the Bungu-ya-san Taishō, voted by shop staff. The 35th Japan Stationery Award named 12 winners in 2026 and gave its grand prix to Maruman’s Spiral Note Basic.

The Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026, judged by staff from 13 Japanese stationery chains, gave its grand prize to the LACONIC Solid Write mechanical pencil, and its function award to Pilot’s FriXion Synergy 3.

Where can you buy Japanese stationery in the US?

Kinokuniya and Yoseka have the biggest shelves, and the makers’ US stores sell the American versions online. We checked each on October 26, 2026.

  • Kinokuniya: its store page lists 19 US Kinokuniya bookstores in 8 states, from New York to Seattle and Austin, plus Mai Do stationery shops in San Francisco’s Japan Center and San Jose’s Santana Row.
  • Yoseka Stationery, 63 West Street in Brooklyn, and its online shop: it says it has a tester of almost every gold nib it sells.
  • The makers’ US stores: uni, Tombow USA, Zebra Pen and Pentel of America sell online; Tombow USA offered free shipping on orders over $40.
  • Online specialists: Goulet Pens for fountain pens, and JetPens, whose site blocked our check; Amazon sells US office packs.

Our NYC and Los Angeles store guides list more shops, and our Tokyo guide covers Itoya and the rest if you go to the source. Prices are usually higher in the US: our Japan vs US price index found a median markup of 1.4 times.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Japanese stationery brand?

There isn't one best brand; each leads a category. For pens, Pilot, uni (Mitsubishi Pencil) and Zebra are the big three, and Zebra says its Sarasa Clip has been Japan's best-selling gel pen for 14 years. KOKUYO and Midori lead notebooks, Hobonichi planners and mt washi tape.

Why is Japanese stationery so popular?

Japanese makers introduced pen types the world now uses, such as the gel-ink ballpoint (Sakura, 1984) and the erasable FriXion (Pilot, 2006), and they sell finer tips and thinner paper than most Western brands. Exports show the demand: 120.4 billion yen (about US$762 million) of writing instruments in 2025, with the US the biggest buyer.

Where can I buy Japanese stationery in the US?

In person, at Kinokuniya's 19 US bookstores, its Mai Do stationery shops in San Francisco and San Jose, and Yoseka Stationery in Brooklyn. Online, at Yoseka, Goulet Pens for fountain pens, and the US stores of Tombow, Zebra, Pentel and uni.

Is Japanese stationery cheaper in Japan?

Usually. In our October 2026 index of 60 Japanese items, the median US price was 1.4 times the maker's tax-included Japanese list price, from 0.7 times for the Pilot Falcon to 3.2 times for MUJI's gel pen. Several Pilot gold-nib fountain pens cost less in the US.

What Japanese stationery should I buy first?

Start with a Zebra Sarasa Clip gel pen, a Midori MD or KOKUYO Campus notebook and a Tombow MONO eraser. Add a Kuru Toga pencil, a Platinum Preppy for fountain-pen ink, Mildliner highlighters, a roll of mt tape and, for a daily planner, the Hobonichi Techo.

Hobonichi or Jibun Techo: which Japanese planner should I get?

Pick the Hobonichi Techo to journal: it has one grid page per day in A6 or A5. Pick KOKUYO's Jibun Techo to time-block: its weekly pages have seven columns crossed by a 24-hour timeline, in an A5 Slim set of three books.

What is the Japan Stationery Award?

An annual award run at the ISOT trade fair in Tokyo by RX Japan. The 35th, in 2026, named 12 winners in four categories, function, design, sustainable and trend, and gave its grand prix to Maruman's Spiral Note Basic on June 24, 2026.

Sources (13)

  1. JWIMA (Japan Writing Instruments Manufacturers Association): 2025年筆記具類の輸出状況 (2025 exports: 120.4 billion yen)
  2. JWIMA: 筆記具類の主要国別輸出金額 2022–2025 (US the biggest market, 28.6 billion yen in 2025)
  3. JWIMA: 2025年筆記具類の生産・販売状況 (2025 production: 1.55 billion ballpoints)
  4. Sakura Color Products (Japan): 沿革 (1984 Ball Sign, the world's first water-based gel-ink ballpoint)
  5. Pilot Corporation (Japan): 歴史・沿革 (1963 Capless; 2006 FriXion Ball)
  6. 「サラサクリップ3C/2+S レトロ・シック」8月6日に数量限定発売 (Zebra press release, July 22, 2026: No. 1 gel pen for 14 years by Nikkei POS)
  7. マークス: mizutamaさんの 水性ペンで書けるマスキングテープと刺繍ステッカー 発売 (MARK'S press release, February 9, 2022: masté masking-tape brand, writable with water-based pens)
  8. Books Kinokuniya USA: Store Locations (19 Kinokuniya stores in 8 states and the Mai Do stationery shops; read October 26, 2026)
  9. Yoseka Stationery: Plan Your Visit (63 West St, Brooklyn; gold-nib testers; read October 26, 2026)
  10. Tombow USA (online store; free shipping on US orders over $40, read October 26, 2026)
  11. Zebra Pen (US online store; read October 26, 2026)
  12. Pentel of America (US online store; read October 26, 2026)
  13. uni (US online store): uniball JETSTREAM RT (read October 26, 2026)

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