Est. 2026 · Price: FreeEditor-at-large: The Hedgehog

Stationery Times

Brand: Tombow

Tombow ippo! Glue Stick: Easy-Open Drop Cap

Compiled from 1 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research

Quick answer

The ippo! glue stick is Tombow's school glue stick with a drop-shaped cap that a child's hand can open easily and that does not roll off a desk. The glue goes on blue and dries colorless, and a reminder color shows when the cap is left off. It holds 10 g and costs 154 yen with tax (about US$0.97).

On this page11 sections
Tombow ippo! glue stick with a light blue-green body, drop-shaped cap and white base, with a blue-to-clear glue swatch beside it
The ippo! stick (drawn in proportion, not to scale) and the blue glue that clears as it dries. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Product facts

Product
Tombow ippo! disappearing-color glue stick (PT-TCSC01)
Brand
Tombow
Brand origin
Japan
Made in
Not stated*
Material
Plastic body with at least 40% recycled plastic by weight excluding the glue; blue disappearing-color paper glue
Price range
$under $5 per item
Colors

Light blue-green body and cap

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Notes on these facts
  • Made by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Tombow's product page lists capacity, part number and price but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy. Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo company. Price: example listing.
  • Colors: names per Tombow (Japan), checked November 2, 2026. Tombow lists one version. The light blue-green tint was sampled from Tombow's product image and is representative, not measured. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
  • How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery.
  • 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

  • The drop-shaped cap has bumps so it opens easily, even for a child's hand, and its shape resists rolling off a desk.
  • The glue is blue when applied and colorless when dry, so you can see where you have glued.
  • A reminder color makes a forgotten cap easy to spot, per Tombow.
  • It holds 10 g (PT-TCSC01) and costs 154 yen with tax (about US$0.97).
  • Tombow's page lists a 2014 Kids Design Award and says the body uses at least 40% recycled plastic by weight, excluding the glue.

What is the Tombow ippo! glue stick?

It is a school glue stick designed around the cap. Tombow’s pitch begins with two familiar complaints: the cap of a glue stick is hard to open, and the stick rolls off the desk. The ippo! answer is a drop-shaped cap with bumps that a child’s hand can open easily and that resists rolling.

The glue is the disappearing-color type: blue when you rub it on, colorless when dry, so you can see where you have glued. It is part of Tombow’s ippo! range for children, which also includes pencils, a sharpener and an eraser. For the same blue-to-clear idea in a standard stick, see the Kieiro PiT.

What are the size and price?

One size: 10 g, 154 yen with tax (about US$0.97). Tombow lists the part number as PT-TCSC01. The price is a Japanese list price at 158 yen to the dollar. Tombow gives no body dimensions, so the drawing above is in proportion only.

Item Part number Glue weight Price with tax
ippo! glue stick PT-TCSC01 10 g 154 yen (about US$0.97)

Who is the ippo! glue stick for?

It suits children and anyone who wants a glue stick that stays put on a desk. The fact behind that is Tombow’s cap design: bumps for easy opening, a drop shape that resists rolling, and a reminder color that shows when the cap is off.

Skip it if you need a refill or a larger stick: Tombow lists one 10 g size and no refill for it.

What is the cap reminder?

A color cue that shows the cap is not on. Tombow says the stick has a “notice color” (oshirase kara, in Tombow’s wording) that makes it easy to see when you have forgotten to close the cap. The page does not describe exactly where the color appears, so check a stick in person.

Did it win an award?

Tombow’s page lists a 2014 Kids Design Award. It does not say which category or for which feature, and we have not checked the award organizer’s own listing, so treat it as Tombow’s statement.

What should you watch out for?

Wind the glue out only 3 to 4 mm, cap it, and stick the paper down straight away. Tombow says pushing the glue out too far can stop it winding back, and that glue left to dry may no longer bond. It says to put on more glue if a paper peels easily, to avoid heat, and notes that depending on storage it may discolor photographs and that thermal paper such as receipts may lose its print. Keep it out of reach of small children, do not put it in the mouth, and use it only for gluing.

What is it made of?

A recycled-plastic body. Tombow lists it as a Green Tombow product with at least 40% recycled plastic by weight excluding the glue, plus Green Purchasing Law compliance and a listing on the GPN eco-products site.

Where is it made, and what does it cost?

Tombow’s page doesn’t state a country of manufacture. The company is based in Tokyo. At 154 yen with tax (about US$0.97), it is in our $ band (under $5). Tombow’s matching ippo! liquid glue is 220 yen (about US$1.39).

Frequently asked questions

What is special about the cap?

It is drop-shaped with bumps, so it opens easily even for a child's hand and is less likely to roll off a desk.

Does the glue change color?

Yes. It is blue when applied and colorless when dry, per Tombow.

How do I know the cap is off?

Tombow says a reminder color makes it obvious when the cap has been left off.

How much glue is there?

10 g.

How much does it cost?

154 yen with tax (about US$0.97).

Has it won any design award?

Tombow's page lists a 2014 Kids Design Award.

How far should I wind the glue out?

Tombow says 3 to 4 mm. Winding it out further can stop it winding back.

Sources (1)

  1. Tombow: ippo! glue stick product page (drop-shaped cap, disappearing-color glue, cap reminder, 10 g, 154 yen, 2014 Kids Design Award, cautions; read November 2, 2026)

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