2024 Bungu Joshi-haku: What You Need to Know
Ame Jin
The 2024 Bungu Joshi-haku (Stationery Girls Expo) was held in Yokohama, Japan from December 12-15, where they announced and awarded this year's most popular stationery items.
Bungu Joshi-haku is a highly anticipated event for stationery and journal and planner enthusiasts across Japan, and even the global journal community is keeping a close eye on it.
In this blog post, I’ll be introducing what Bungu Joshi-haku is and its popular award, the Bungu Joshi Awards, plus, I’ll summarize past award-winning products. Many of them have stood the test of time - they are still bestsellers years later and have become must-haves and classic choice for stationery lovers and journalers.
Content
- What is Bungu Joshi-haku (Stationery Girls Expo)?
- What is the Bungu Joshi Awards (Stationery Girls Awards)?
- 2024 Bungu Joshi Awards
- 2023 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- 2022 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- 2021 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- 2020 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- 2019 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- 2018 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- 2017 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- Final Thoughts
What is Bungu Joshi-haku (Stationery Girls Expo)?
Bungu Joshi-haku is Japan’s largest stationery celebration, featuring a variety of activities for stationery lovers, such as an annual fair, voting for awards by participants, online marketplaces, pop-up events, and even individual stationery design competitions. It creates a strong community atmosphere for journal and stationery enthusiasts. The event was launched in December 2017 with the motto, “An event that stationery lovers can enjoy to the fullest!” Since then, the event has attracted about 500,000 visitors.
Among all the events, the most prominent and largest is the annual fair, which takes place every December in Japan. During this fair, many stationery and journal brands and manufacturers present their newest and exclusive products, and interact face-to-face with enthusiasts and consumers.
Additionally, Bungu Joshi-haku hosts several smaller pop-up exhibitions throughout the year, which travel around Japan, so even if you miss the biggest fair, you don’t have to worry. If you’re a stationery lover and happen to be traveling to Japan, it’s worth keeping an eye out for any pop-up events happening near your destination.
What is the Bungu Joshi Awards (Stationery Girls Awards)?
The Bungu Joshi Awards is a prize that directly reflects the choices of stationery lovers and consumers. Each year, participants at the Bungu Joshi-haku fair vote for the products they find the most interesting or would love to try.
Compare to other prestigious Japanese stationery awards, such as the Stationery Store Awards (文房具屋さん大賞, Bunbougu-ya san Taishou), ISOT (International Stationery & Office Products Fair) Awards, and the Good Design Awards, which represent the opinions of industry professionals including retailers, designers and media persons, the Bungu Joshi Awards reflect the choices of the consumers themselves. As a result, the Bungu Joshi Awards serve as an important reflection of popular trends among stationery lovers.
The awards consist of several categories: the Grand Award goes to the most voted product, followed by two to three Excellent Awards for the next highest voted items. Additionally, two special awards celebrate different aspects of stationery design: the Tokimeki Design Award (ときめきデザイン賞) recognizes items with cute and charming designs that capture your heart, while the Heart-throbbing Convenience Award (胸キュン便利賞) honors products with innovative functionality that makes you want to try them right away.
2024 Bungu Joshi Awards
- Grand Award: kiritoRING (Sun-Star)
This is the third consecutive year that a washi tape cutter product has won the top prize at Bungu Joshi-haku, showing just how much journalers value these small but mighty tools in their daily jouranling!
Sun-Star’s KiritoRING is a game changer. Unlike traditional cutters that attach to tape rolls, you can wear it on your thumb! This design makes it super conveinent when you are working with multiple tapes at once, no more switching cutters between different rolls of tape!
- Excellent Awards: Pochitto Pick Stamp (Kodomo no Kao)
Remember the popular Pochitto 6 from Kodomo no Kao? Here's its lovely upgrade - the Pochitto Pick stamp set. They've kept the slim, portable design we loved about the original, but made it even better: now you can pop out each of the six tiny stamps to use them separately or arrange them however you like. The flexibility makes it super versatile when you're working in your planner or journal!
- Excellent Awards: Jikakeru Washi Tape Base Pen (Shachihata)
Every journaler knows the struggle of writing on regular washi tape - the ink smears and takes forever to dry. While there are writable washi tapes made with special materials that work well with water-based inks and gel pens, what if you want to write on your favorite regular washi tape?
That's where Shachihata's clever Jikakeru Base Pen comes in! This pen has clear ink that creates a writable surface on any washi tape. Just apply a layer of the base ink first, then write over it with your water-based pens. Your writing will be as crisp and quick-drying as if you were writing on regular paper.
- Tokimeki Design Award: Café à la Mode Foil Stickers (BGM)
BGM's Café à la Mode foil flake stickers blend retro café vibes with modern flair, creating a unique fusion of Japanese and Western styles. True to BGM's signature style, these stickers feature sparkling gold foil accents that add a dreamy, magical touch to the vintage café theme.
- Heart-throbbing Convenience Award: Stand Sticky Memo (UN TROIS CINQ)
This charming sticky note pad from UN TROIS CINQ won voters' hearts with its clever stand-up design. It features a cover that doubles as a stand, letting your notes sit upright on your desk as handy reminders. When closed, the cover protects your notes, making it perfect to carry around.
2023 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- Grand Award: Mastemplate (Kutsuwa)
Kutsuwa Mastemplate combines the functions of washi tape cutter and stencil. The edges can cut washi tape into six different shapes, including waves, small zigzags, ribbon ends, and more. The patterns provided by the stencil can be combined with specially shaped cut washi tape to create unique and creative designs that blend hand-drawing with washi tape, making them perfect for decorating journals, planners, and cards. Using Mastemplate is simple and fun!
- Excellent Awards: Japonica Study Notebook Stamp Set (Showa Note)
- Excellent Awards: Mini Clip Cocofusen (Kanmidou)
- Tokimeki Design Award: Traveling Cafe Series (A.P.J. Art Print Japan Co., Ltd.)
- Heart-throbbing Convenience Award: Motick (Dull Colors) (Max Corporation)
2022 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- Grand Awards: Ribbon Bon (Kutsuwa)
Kutsuwa’s Ribbon Bon makes it easy to cut 15mm washi tape into various adorable shapes, such as V-shaped ribbon, and zigzag patterns. It can even cut 15mm tape vertically into 7mm strips. With this handy tool, you can create endless washi tape designs, adding more fun and creativity to your journaling and other craft projects.
- Excellent Awards: ILMILY Color Two Color (Pilot)
You might have be familiar with Pilot’s Frixion series of gel pens, a globally popular line known for its erasable ink. By using the “eraser” at the end of the pen to rub the thermochromic ink, you can easily erase the marks.
This time, Pilot has taken innovation a step further - the Ilmily Color Two Color series allows you to transform the colors of your writing by simply “erasing”. This design makes the pen perfect for note-taking, bullet journaling, and planning. The color-changing function is especially helpful for color coding and organization. For example, you can use it to update the status of tasks on your to-do list, mark reviewed study notes, or just create layered designs of your creation. Thanks to its unique functionality, this pen has become a favorite among students, professionals, and journaling enthusiasts alike.
- Excellent Awards: Uchihaku (Murata Gold Leaf)
Gold foil printing has always been a complex craft that almost impossible to achieve at home. However, Uchihaku is a magical product that lets you easily create stunning gold foil designs all by yourself at home! Simply apply glue or use a detailed glue brush to draw on paper where you want the gold foil to stick. Then, place the Uchihaku sheet over it, press lightly, and peel it off—the thin, shiny gold foil will adhere perfectly to the sticky areas. It’s perfect for creating unique greeting cards, gift wrapping, or decorating journals and other art projects.
- Tokimeki Design Award: Kenji Miyazawa Magic Lantern Museum Flake Seal (Shinzi Kotah, Seal-do Printing)
Inspired by the literary works of Japanese author Kenji Miyazawa, the creative designer Shinzi Kotah has designed the Kenji Miyazawa Magic Lantern Museum series of stickers and washi tapes. This award-winning product, the Kirapika Flake Seals, comes in a vintage matchbox-style case adorned with book cover designs. Inside are stamp-shaped stickers, reminiscent of small illustrations taken from the stories. The whimsical and bold designs, paired with shimmering gold foil, beautifully capture the dreamy, mysterious, and imaginative world of Miyazawa’s novels.
- Heart-throbbing Convenience Award: Quick Tape Cutter (Midori)
This clever washi tape cutter from Midori also won a Good Design Award for its smart and convenient features. Load your frequently used tape inside, and say goodbye to the little hassle of finding the tape end every time! The slider gives you uniform 2cm pieces with each push - perfect for labels or keeping your planner neat and tidy. If you want a custom length, just hold the slider and pull out as much tape as you need. There's even a thoughtful little magnet so you can stick it on your fridge for easy access!
2021 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- Grand Awards: Color Creation (Shachihata)
Think of this Shachihata ink pad as your own white canvas - add ink refills however you like and watch them blend into beautiful, unique patterns. Every stamp you make becomes a one-of-a-kind creation!
- Excellent Awards: Maste no Aibo (Beverly)
These delightful stamps from Beverly's "Maste no Aibo" (meaning Washi Tape's Friend) series were made to dance with your washi tapes. Watch your beloved tapes transform into playful flags in tiny animals' paws, charming fabrics on hangers, or flowing brush strokes! These stamps work just as beautifully on their own too - grab your pens and let your imagination complete the picture. It's the kind of creative magic no journaler can resist - where two simple things create something unexpectedly wonderful!
- Excellent Awards: Choki Choki Patterned Paper (Furukawa Shiko)
Furukawa Shiko's Choki Choki Patterned Papers make journaling so much easier and more fun! Each set features six matching designs that create beautiful harmony no matter how you combine them. Simply cut and arrange - they'll look perfectly layered in your journal! They can also be used as lovely note papers or gift wrap for small presents.
- Tokimeki Design Award: Ramune Glass Dip Pen (Paraglass)
Glass maker Paraglass won voters' hearts with this beautiful and playful glass dip pen. Inspired by Ramune - a classic Japanese soda known for its unique bottle design where a glass marble sits between the bottle neck and the drink - this pen features a clever twist: a floating glass marble nestled in a chamber between the nib and the barrel. This whimsical design brings the pen to life with a delightful touch!
- Heart-throbbing Convenience Award: Ninipie Pen & Marker (Sun-Star)
Sun-star's Ninipie has a clever two-in-one tip that works as both a highlighter and fineliner. All you need to do is rotate the barrel to switch between them - no flipping the pen around or dealing with caps. This simple design keeps your note-taking and journaling smooth and uninterrupted.
2020 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- Grand Awards: Robbin (Kokuyo)
Kokuyo's Robin series provides handy tools for creating and storing washi samples from your full rolls. The entire lineup includes the Robin Maker for making samples easily, compact axles and Petit Cutters that all the pieces can snap together into a slim form that fits perfectly in your pencil case, plus a case type with built-in cutter for containing a sample roll . Whether you want to carry tape samples on the go or organize your favorite tapes into shareable portions, Robin provides thoughtful solutions.
- Excellent Awards: Sticky Marker (Kanmido)
This innovative product from Kanmido reimagines the form and usage of a correction tape as a highlighter. It works just like a correction tape - simply pull it across the text you want to highlight, and it lays down a thin, transparent sticky marker. The gentle colors are easy on the eyes and don't obscure the text underneath. What makes it especially practical is that you can peel off these highlights when you no longer need them, or even re-use them to mark different text. It's a thoughtful design for students and office workers who need to mark and unmark their documents.
- Excellent Awards: Empty Pen (Kuretake)
If you are a colored ink enthusiasts, Kuretake's Empty Pen opens up new possibilities for your favorite inks! It comes with a felt-tip pen with a unfilled fiber core. Simply soak the fiber core in your favorite fountain pen ink and insert it into the pen barrel. The flexible tip creates varying line widths based on your writing pressure and angle. Now you can use your beloved inks not just in fountain pens, but also like a brush pen or fine marker!
- Heart-throbbing Convenience Award: Mushroom Rotating Stamp (Alisa & Akamegane)
A date stamp by independent designers Alisa and Ryohei Tsutsui that brings fairy tale magic to life with its intricate, unforgettable design.
2019 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- Grand Awards: Ring Leaf (Kanmido)
Kanmido's Ring Leaf offers a clever way to add documents, cards, notes, photos, leaflets, receipts and other paper sheets to your double ring notebook without punching holes or permanent adhesives. Simply stick your paper onto the Ring Leaf and attach it to the notebook rings. Since it's movable, you can shift it between any pages and positioned anywhere along the rings to align with your page content. The adhesive is reusable, so you can switch out papers without worrying about damage.
- Excellent Awards: Section Chief Iwai "Presentation Frame" (RiraRira Hanko)
This playful rubber stamp features Section Chief Iwai - a serious-looking, slightly balding man holding a blank board where you can write or draw your own message. He's actually part of RiraRira Hanko's signature series, which shows this seemingly stern office worker in various amusing situations in and beyond his corporate life. The humorous portrayal of Chief Iwai has captured the hearts of many journaling and stamp enthusiasts.
- Excellent Awards: System Planner (Mark’s)
MARK'S system planner offers a highly flexible, customizable ring-binder system that balances functionality with stylish design. Unlike traditional system planners that tend to be business-focused, this one has a fresh, modern feel that appeals to young students, office workers, and planning and journaling enthusiasts.
- Excellent Awards: Classical Pouch (Kokuyo)
The Classical Pouch brings a retro charm with its simple design and semi-soft yet durable material. It comes in two sizes to suit different needs, with options including a clear version that lets you see your contents at a glance.
2018 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- Grand Awards: Stationery Girls Washi Tape (BGM)
Discontinued.
- Excellent Awards: Maco (Kanmido)
Maco is a pen-shaped case designed for carrying smaller portions of your washi tapes. Using the included winding tools, you can create mini rolls from your full-size tapes and store up to four of them in this compact case. Perfect for keeping your favorite tapes handy without taking up much space in your pen case or pouch.
- Excellent Awards: Mamoru-kun Placard Rubber Stamp (RiraRira Hanko)
This playful rubber stamp features beloved character, Mamoru-kun from RiraRira Hanko, holding up a blank placard. Write or draw whatever you like on his placard to create your own little scene!
- Excellent Awards: Masté Washi Tape that can be written on with water-based pens (Mark’s)
Mark's writable Masté washi tape line has grown impressively over the years. Unlike regular washi tapes that work best with oil-based permenant markers, these washi tapes feature specially treated paper that allows for crisp, quick-drying writing with water-based ink pens like fountain pens and gel pens. Since its launch, the series has been a favorite among journaling and planning enthusiasts.
Mark’s has then designed slim washi tapes that are perfect for on-the-go use and creative mixing, plus a range of memo stickers for quick notes and planning.
2017 Bungu Joshi Awards in Review
- Grand Awards: Karu Cut Washi Tape Cutter (Kokuyo)
The Karu Cut is a tiny clip-on cutter for your washi tapes that creates neat, lightly serrated edges. Just clip it onto your tape roll and it's always there when you need it! Simple and reliable, it's become a must-have tool for many journalers.
- Excellent Awards: New Retro Series (HIGHTIDE)
HIGHTIDE's New Retro series has become one of their most iconic collections, offering everything from stationery to pouches and fashion accessories. By mixing bold contemporary touches with Showa-era vintage charm, it creates an unforgettable style that's both nostalgic and modern.
- Excellent Awards: Tool Box designed by Eri Masco (Hako de kit)
Hako de Kit, known for their designer storage boxes, has become a favorite among mamy stationery lovers and organization enthusiasts for their stylish collaborations and range of sizes perfect for storing stationery and small zakkas. This award-winning box features illustrations by artist ERI MASCO. While this particular box is no longer available, ERI MASCO's collaboration with Hako de Kit continues, bringing more charming designs to the collection.
- Excellent Awards: Lipno Sticky Note (Kanmido)
Discontinued
Final Thoughts
That wraps up all the award winners since the first Bungu Joshi Haku. I hope you've found some stationery that catches your eye. While preparing this blog, looking back through the years felt like time travel. As a long-time stationery and journaling enthusiast, I realized some of these items have been in my pencil case for years, while others I once loved are no longer in production. Some products that were groundbreaking when new have now grown into rich, mature product lines.
Perhaps this is what stationery and journaling mean to us - They help us record time, while being there with us through all of it.
— Ame, Paper Whisper
