Page 30 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 2 | December 2023 - January 2024

Stationery

As an arts and crafts lover, I’ve always appreciated Japan for being
home to all the very best pens, coloured papers, stickers and
accessories. Japan has done a phenomenal job of merging its
‘kawaii’ culture (the embodiment of everything adorable, heartfelt,
sweet, and super cute) with ‘kaizen’, the pursuit of perfection and
continuous improvement. Stationery favourites for children include
origami, calligraphy pens, rolling stamps, design masking tapes
for wrapping presents, themed erasers, cute sticky notes, and clear
plastic folders with different patterns. High-quality Japanese-made
stationery is not a must-have, but it is something that makes me
happy and brings joy to my day when my work day is busy and
hectic!
While there are many stores across Japan, the most popular in this
category is Tokyu Hands. Their large retail stores showcase some
of the whackiest yet most innovative stationery, DIY products,
and more!
SOME MUST-HAVES FOR PROFESSIONALS TO

BUILD THE PERFECT AND EFFICIENT KIT:

1. Pilot FriXion Gel Pen: Everyone’s wish in a pen – the smoothness
of a pen that has the properties of a pencil: erasable using the tip of
the pen itself!
2. Kukuyo Beetle Tip 3way Highlighter: Calling all highlighter addicts!
This highlighter allows you to highlight three different ways depending
how you hold it: a 1mm to section to underline, a 3mm section for
regular highlighting, and a third option where both sections can be
used together to create double lines. The brand also makes a dual-
colour highlighter (two colours in one), and a dual-tone highlighter (a
darker shade and a lighter shade of the same colour in one highlighter),
which highlighter lovers like myself won’t be able to live without!

3. Kokuyo Kadokeshi 28 Corner Eraser: While a normal eraser has
eight corners that evenly dull, this eraser has 28! This means you will
always have a sharp corner to use when doing detailed erasing. Want
to save time and only erase that ‘a,’ simple! Never a dull moment.

4. Kokuyo Harinacs Staple-Free Stapler: The biggest pain point
about using a stapler (needing to constantly refill it with staples in
the correct size) is solved with this little device. The need for staples
is eliminated as it punches out and tucks a small flap through a slit
to stitch the papers together.

Snacks and Sips
Besides the classic picks of If you are fond of green tea, I urge you to entertain the matcha
mochi, Pocky, Japanese Kit hype. Matcha is the pulverized version of green tea leaves, making
Kats, Hi-Chew, rice crackers, it more highly concentrated and nutrient-rich, with antioxidant
and seaweed strips, look for benefits. When searching for green tea and matcha, look for
some unique snacks such ‘ceremonial-grade’ labels. These denotes higher-quality products,
as Ramune (pronounced and will naturally provide superior health benefits. If you want to
Ra-Moo-Neh); the marble cook with the matcha, then look for ‘culinary matcha.’ If you plan
drink (also available in candy to become a regular matcha-drinker once you arrive home, then
form); high-protein Natori, invest in a bamboo whisk and traditional ceramic cup for your
dried sardines combined ritual. Kyoto is especially famous for this, along with variations
with slivered almonds; of matcha, from soft cream to milk spreads! Fun fact: Japanese
Kasugai Peach Gummy; confectionaries differentiate themselves by having less sugar and
and healthy Konjac drinks. adding matcha to balance the bitterness, while enhancing flavours.

30 | MASALA MAGAZINE DEC 2023-JAN 2024