2024 Japanese Stationery Store Award: A Retrospective Review

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What is the Japanese Stationery Store Award?

The Japanese Stationery Store Award (文房具屋さん大賞, Bunbougu-ya san Taishou) is a prominent annual stationery contest in Japan, typically held in early each year. Launched in 2012, it recognizes the most popular and innovative stationery products from the previous year.

The jury comprises stationery store owners, staff, stationery bloggers and influencers, and stationery enthusiasts from across Japan, blending professional insight with consumer preferences, making it a true industry benchmark and a market trendsetter.

The award structure includes one Grand Prize, which is the highest honor. Additionally, there are three specific awards: the Design Award, the Functionality Award, and the Idea Award, each given to one product. The competition also features Category Awards for different types of stationery products, as well as Judges' Special Awards. This diverse range of recognitions allows for the celebration of excellence across various aspects of stationery design and innovation.

This award is significant as it directly reflects consumer and retailer preferences. For consumers, it serves as a reliable buying guide. For manufacturers, winning enhances product credibility and brand awareness.

It's worth noting that due to this award's high recognition among stationery enthusiasts worldwide, non-Japanese speakers sometimes simply refer to it as the "Japanese Stationery Award." This abbreviation can occasionally lead to confusion with another award - "The Stationery of the Year" (日本文具大賞, which directly translates to Japanese Stationery Award) selected by ISOT (International Stationery and Office Products Fair Tokyo). While both focus on the stationery industry, the Stationery Store Award emphasizes retailer and consumer perspectives, whereas the ISOT Stationery of the Year Award is more industry-oriented, based on professional judgement. Together, these awards form a comprehensive evaluation system for Japan's stationery industry, reflecting market trends and product innovation from different angles.

Why Review After Several Months?

The 2024 awards were presented in February, this review and recommendation of the winning stationery was written at that time. Though it’s been half a year since then, I’ve decided to post this article as the first blog at Paper Whisper. Because I believe that while the awards press may be dated, good stationery never goes out of style.

 

Content

• Grand Prize - Pentel Mattehop Gel Roller Pen
• Design Award - Uni Mitsubishi Uni-ball ONE P
• Functionality Award - Kokuyo Campus Flat Notebook
• Idea Award - Sun-Star Ukanmuri Clip
• Category Awards

• Judges' Special Awards
• Conclusion

 

Grand Prize - Pentel Mattehop Gel Roller Pen

Mattehop has won the top prize this time. Its standout feature is its matte, vibrant, and highly opaque ink. Unlike typical oil-based and water-based ballpoint pens, it can write on photos, posters, dark-colored paper, and even glass, producing bright and clear notes. Its performance is comparable to paint markers, but with a finer 1.0mm tip and a slimmer body, making it easier to write in small fonts and carry around.

The full series includes 14 colors, divided into two seven-color sets: the Original Set and the Sweet Set.

"Perhaps it would be better to describe it as a 'paint pen' rather than just a colored ballpoint pen. The once hugely popular Hybrid Milky 'layerable pen' has finally been re-released in vivid primary colors, quickly earning high praise on the sales floor. As the name 'Matte' suggests, the ink comes out thick and rich, much like poster colors. Now that it's available in this slim design, you can easily carry a bunch of them in your pen case—a real treat for those who love decorating photos and more. Unlike previous pigment ballpoint pens, its ability to fill in color is on a whole new level, making it safe to say that this 'new art material' will pave the way for a fresh field of expression."
— Takagi Yoshinori （高木芳紀）, Chair of the Judging Panel / Novelty Lab

"I love using it because the colors stand out clearly, even on photos or masking tape!"
— Takuya Takahashi (髙橋拓也氏) / Stationery Media Professional

"Once you try it, you'll be hooked on its dense ink and vibrant colors!"
— Misato Suga（菅未里氏） / Stationery Media Professional

 

Design Award - Uni Mitsubishi Uni-ball ONE P

In 2023, stationery enthusiasts would notice something exciting: the famous Uni-ball One F has “got shorter and a bit chubbier"! That’s right—this is the design concept behind the Uni-ball One P (the "P" stands for "pocket"). Its shorter size makes it easier to carry around, the thicker barrel makes it more impressive. and the low center of gravity enhances the writing experience. Don’t worry—the Uni-ball One F refills are compatible with the P. So it’s easy to access and also offers a smooth and dark writing experience.

Uni-ball One P also offers a limited edition with rose gold pen clips and tips, elevating its style even further.

"The Uni-ball One is known for its functionality, allowing thick writing, but with the 'P,' it's a triumph of design. A quick look at social media shows how popular this pen is, especially among influencers. Its cute, round form is truly love at first sight—something you wouldn’t expect from a pen. Additionally, many users have bought multiple barrel colors and mixed the upper and lower barrels to create bi-color pens, enjoying the creativity this allows, which has seemingly boosted sales. The ease with which the colors combine is also impressive. On the functional side, the pen tip is equipped with a metal stabilizer, and the smartly shaped, revolutionary clip is also made of metal, ensuring it maintains its excellent functionality."
— Takagi Yoshinori

"The rounded design of the whole pen and the rounded knob are soothing. The rich, vivid colors are amazing!"
— Fumihiro Iguchi (猪口フミヒロ氏) / Stationery Media Professional

"The combination of the plump, round shape and matte, powdery color is exquisitely cute."
— Kazumi Udagawa (宇田川一美氏) / Stationery Media Professional

 

Functionality Award - Kokuyo Campus Flat Kimochii Notebook

Kokuyo Campus Flat Kimochii perfectly embodies the spirit and craftsmanship of Japanese artisans, yet, as a member of the Campus series, it remains understated and simple. The designer spent three years ensuring the notebook could lay completely flat and seamlessly transition across pages, even when you open to the first page. This was no easy feat, but it significantly enhances the writing experience in ways you might not even realize. That's why it fully deserves the Functionality Award.

"With the launch of 'Flat' by Campus, the leading name in study notebooks, it seems that notebooks will now be judged on how completely flat they can open (180 degrees horizontally). Until now, notebooks used perfect binding that allowed them to open flat, but achieving a fully horizontal layout was difficult because a 'valley' would inevitably form in the middle when opened. It took three years of development to achieve a notebook that lies completely flat from the first page. This new product introduces the concept of full-page usability to notebooks that were previously divided into left and right pages, truly expanding the Campus lineup. It is said that a large writing surface is necessary for free thinking, and this new Campus might just revolutionize that."
— Takagi Yoshinori

"It opens beautifully, so you can draw lines across the pages! It's so much neater without the spine of the notebook."
— Dai Ishizu (石津 大氏) / Stationery Media Professional

"It opens flat, so it's not only easy to write on but also easy to take photos."
— Takuya Takahashi

 

Idea Award - Sun-Star Ukanmuri Clip

Sun-Star Ukanmuri clip is a brilliant example of how a small, clever design tweak can solve a longstanding practical problem. The clothes hanger-shaped clip has two "legs" that avoid the book's spine while securely holding the pages, helping to flatten them with minimal obstruction. Available in five soft pastel colors and a transparent option, it has become a social media sensation over the past months.

"Traditional comb-shaped clips have been the norm for keeping books and notebooks open, but this new clip easily outperforms them. The key is its 'crown' shape, which securely holds both ends in place with precision, making it easy to handle. With more visible areas, it's incredibly user-friendly. In addition to fulfilling traditional needs like keeping recipe books and sheet music open, there’s been a recent increase in sharing planners and decorated notebooks online. From an aesthetic standpoint, this pop design is both fun and eye-catching, and the fact that it also comes in a clear color adds to its popularity by allowing everything to be fully displayed. The only drawback is that it’s slightly bulky to carry around, but the benefits far outweigh this minor inconvenience."
— Takagi Yoshinori

"The shape is genius! I was looking for a clip like this. The color is stylish and easy to match with any stationery or desk setup."
— Makiko Fukushima (福島槙子氏) / Stationery Media Professional

"Thick books and notebooks can be handled easily! This has never been done before!"
— Dai Ishizu

 

Category Awards

Ball Point Pen Award - Pilot Frixion Waai Erasable Gel Pen

You may already be familiar with Pilot's Frixion erasable gel pen. Its special heat-sensitive ink can be easily erased by rubbing with the "eraser" at the end of the pen. 

Waai is a new version of Frixion with the concept, "A new Frixion that brings a little joy to your everyday life." As the slogan suggests, Waai offers more delightful colors, and the sleek design with rounded pen tip and end adds a touch of relaxation to your desk. The limited edition Waai pen + highlighter set is now available in our store. 

Mechanical Pencil Award - Uni Mitsubishi Kuru Toga Dive

Kuru Toga Dive, this awarded mechanical pencil is packed with innovative, high-tech features! It is the premium version of the popular Uni Kuru Toga mechanical pencil. In addition to the Kuru Toga mechanism—which automatically rotates the lead as you write, ensuring even wear and neat, dark lines—the Dive series introduces an automatic lead advancement feature with five adjustable settings. This allows you to fine-tune the length of the lead advancement based on the hardness of the lead and your writing habits. The metal body, magnetic cap, and the design that advances the lead automatically when the cap is removed, all make the Kuru Toga Dive a luxurious and top-tier choice.

Multi-function Pen Award - Uni Mitsubishi Jetstream 4&1 Bamboo Grip

The Jetstream Series ballpoint pens have always been popular for their rich and ultra-smooth writing experience. The Jetstream 4&1 is a multifunctional pen that combines black, red, blue, green ink, and a mechanical pencil. Despite having five pen tips in one body, it still offers excellent writing stability and a comfortable grip. This award-winning version, Jetstream 4&1 with Bamboo Grip upgrades the grip to bamboo material, enhancing both comfort and aesthetics. Paired with a matte pastel barrel, the pen exudes a natural vibe, making it a stylish must-have for stationery enthusiasts.

Fountain Pen Award - Platinum #3776 Century Fuji Cloudscape Series "Scale Clouds"

This is the debut model of the #3776 Century Fuji Cloudscape Series. As the name suggests, the design is inspired by the stunning view of Mount Fuji beneath mackerel sky. The irregularly engraved transparent barrel creates a shimmering effect, mimicking these fish scale-patterned altocumulus clouds, while the cap represents the blue of the sky. Due to the complexity of the craftsmanship, this pen is limited to 3,000 pieces worldwide, with each one engraved with a unique serial number.

Color Pen Award - Sun-Star Ninipie Deco

This pen's dual-tip design is truly unique and leaves a lasting impression on anyone who sees it. Unlike traditional double-sided pens, both tips are positioned at the same end, allowing you to switch between them by simply rotating the barrel. This eliminates the need to remove or replace caps, making it more convenient to change writing styles. One tip is a fineliner, perfect for writing and precise drawing, while the other is a fine felt-tip, ideal for highlighting and coloring—making it popular among journal enthusiasts.

The Sun-Star Ninipie series also includes the Ninipie Pen & Marker type (available in 3-color set and 6-color set), which features a fineliner and a highlighter, making it great not only for journaling but also for note-taking.

Eraser Award - Pentel Ain Eraser (Sticking Type)

The key feature of this award-winning Ain Eraser is that it doesn't produce messy eraser crumbs during use. Instead, it forms a single, continuous strip that is easy to remove, keeping your desk clean. Additionally, there are grooves at the corners of the paper case to prevent the eraser from getting damaged by the edges of the case during use.

Pencil Case Award - Sonic Kakusta Portable Pen Holder Silicone Type

The standout feature of this Sonic quadrilateral pencil case is that when opened, it forms a triangle that can stand stably on the desk. The interior is divided into three compartments of varying depths, making it easy to store stationery and miscellaneous items of varying shapes and sizes. The compartments are slanted, so they provide a clear view of the contents and making everything easily accessible.

Desktop Storage Award - Lihit Lab Roomy Desk Tray

The storage supplies of Lihit Lab Roomy series has a relaxed, simple, and stylish feel, available in four soft matte colors—pink, beige, gray, and black—that evoke a sense of calm. As the name suggests, these boxes are perfect for keeping in your room. The award-winning desk tray line comes in three sizes, making it easy to organize everything from small desktop items to A4-sized papers. The smaller trays can nest inside the larger ones, helping you efficiently plan your storage space.

Pouch & Bag Award - Midori Notebook Bellyband

This is a product that brings a warm feeling, like "putting a sweater on your book." The knitted cover fits A6 and B6-sized books and notebooks, providing protection. It features three pockets of varying sizes on the outside, and because of the stretchy knit material, it can hold many small items like pens, stickers, sticky notes, cosmetics, chargers, cables, and more. The top part can be folded over to cover the pockets, preventing items from falling out during transport.

File Award - Maruman Smart Binder

Many office workers, students, and journal enthusiasts are looking for an all-in-one notebook, and a binder's flexible organization makes it an excellent choice. The Maruman Smart Binder features a leather-texured cover and metal rings, making it both stylish and durable, suitable for the office, school, and various other settings. This product comes equipped with card slots, inner pockets, a pen holder, and a loose-leaf clear pocket. It also includes various inner pages including lined, grid, half-sized to-do list, and three index sheets, offering powerful functionality. With the addition of Maruman's extensive loose leaf refills and accessories, this notebook can fully meet all your customization needs.

Sticky Notes Award - Sun-Star Soft and Chewy Bread Sticky Notes

This series of sticky notes is inspired by wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) and sandwiches. The most impressive feature is the soft, puffy cover that feels just like real bread when you squeeze it—so much so that it's hard to put down.

Letter Award - Midori Flower-colored Washi Letter Writing Set

This product uses soft Echizen washi paper, featuring delicate colors, a textured surface, and a slight translucency that provides a comfortable, relaxing, and immersive writing experience. Each sheet is adorned with a finely detailed floral pattern created through letterpress printing, an ancient technique that requires special custom-made plates and manual printing of each sheet. This method reflects a traditional craftsmanship and a high level of artisanal skill.

See more Midori Letterpress paper products.

Card Award - Hallmark Fleurir Multipurpose Card with Bookmarks

These greeting cards from the Hallmark Fleurir series features a transparent bookmarks on the cover. The bookmark is adorned with an elegant floral pattern and accented with a tassel that carries an air of classic Eastern charm. This clever and innovative design adds a touch of practicality to the card, offering a small yet delightful surprise along with your heartfelt message. The series offers four different floral themes, each with its own flower language.

Memo Award - Pilot Couleur Fonce BOX Memo

This memo set is housed in an elegant, book-shaped hard paper box that not only makes it easy to access but also adds a decorative touch to your desk. Inside the box are 150 sheets of A7-sized memo paper in three colors: black, navy, and green. These deep, rich tones create a refined and sophisticated look and can enhance the visual appeal of your writing.

Note Award - Iroha Publishing SUNNY LIGHT Notebook

This lightweight and compact notebook is part of the popular SUNNY series, created with the concept of "Making Your Year Sunny." Available in six vibrant colors, the A6 size is easy to carry, giving you the feeling of packing a bit of sunshine in your bag. The side edge of the leather-textured cover is’nt straight, allowing the pen holder on the back cover to be visible and providing enough space for the pen. This not only gives the notebook a more dynamic and stylish look but also ensures it closes properly.

Stamp Award - Midori Penetration Paintable Stamp Half Size

This pre-inked stamp is ready to use—just remove the cap, no ink pad required. The rectangular shape is half the size of the famous Midori square stamps, making it perfect for decorating dates and titles in your journal. Best of all, you can color in the stamped patterns to create unique decorations.

Diary Award - Kokuyo Campus Diary 2024 Monthly Standard Type Half Size

The standout feature of this B6-sized monthly planner is its horizontal layout, which means it has only half the height of a B5 notebook. This design allows it to be opened and placed in front of a computer keyboard, making it more adaptable to modern usage scenarios. In addition to the monthly calendar pages, it includes a three-year calendar, a annual schedule spread, and lined pages for free writing. Lightweight and simple, it's perfect for students and office workers.

Masking Tape Award - Mark’s Masté Masking Tape that Can Be Written on with Water-based Pens, Perforated, Slim, 2 Rolls

This product consists of two washi tapes, one wide and one narrow, each with different patterns but in the same color tone. Both oil-based and water-based pens can be easily used to write on the tape, making it extremely convenient for those who prefer a simple style in their journals. The tape is perforated at regular intervals, allowing you to neatly tear off the length you need. The slim, pen-like shape makes it easier to store and carry.

See more masté washi Tapes that are writable with water-based pens, perforated, and slim-shaped.

Glue Award - Kokuyo GLOO Liquid Glue

The Kokuyo Gloo series of adhesive products has consistently enjoyed a strong reputation in the market. This liquid glue features a square-shaped sponge tip, making it easier to apply evenly along the edges and corners of paper. The sponge material is designed to dispense the glue in just the right amount, ensuring a smooth and consistent application for an enhanced user experience. The yellow version has a special formula that prevents paper from wrinkling when it gets wet with glue. Additionally, the glue bottle is replaceable, allowing the tip to be reused, making it both more eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Seal Award - King Jim HITOTOKI COFFRET Cosmetic Motif Film Sticker

This is another eye-catching product, with a design that resembles an eyeshadow palette, giving these stickers a stylish flair. Each palette contains four to six different shapes of thin, clear PVC stickers. These stickers come in a variety patterns and visual effects such as gold foil, metallic, painting strokes, ink wash, marble texture, and grid patterns, allowing for creative layering and matching. The transparent material is also perfect for decorating surfaces like glass and acrylic. The full series of COFFRET includes five different shapes, each available in four color schemes.

Clip Award - Kokuyo Smart Double Clip

This seemingly unassuming binder clip has actually been highly praised in the industry, as it also won the Gold Award in 2023 Good Design Award. Despite its small size, the product showcases the designer's expertise and creativity. After extensive calculations and experiments, the clip was designed in a right-angled triangular shape. This shape, compared to the traditional trapezoid, minimizes disruption when turning pages, aligning more naturally with the triangular area formed when paper is folded.

Scissors Award - Kokuyo HAKO-AKE 2-Way Portable Cutter & Scissors

This multifunctional box cutter combines three modes: scissors, cutter, and lock, making it simple and safe to use and easy to carry. Unlike ordinary box cutters, HAKO-AKE features thoughtful design details. For instance, in cutter mode, the 3mm blade ensures you won't accidentally damage the contents of the box while opening it. The right-angled groove on the side of the body makes it convenient to open boxes from the side.

Cutter Award - Kutsuwa Foldable Ruler with Paper-Cutting Function

The design feature of this foldable ruler is that it can be used as a paper cutter. The side with the scale is slightly sharp (but safe enough for holding and carrying), allowing it to cut through normal thin paper like test paper, printer paper, and draft paper. By pressing down one side of the paper with the ruler and pulling up the other side, you can neatly tear the paper apart. The foldable design makes it convenient to carry around; and when unfolded, it extends to 30 cm. It also includes a locking clasp to prevent it from accidentally opening during transport.

 

Judges' Special Awards

This year's Special Jury Prize was awarded to the following products:

Ryu Ryu Aderia Retro Glass Pen Set

A Japanese Showa-era retro-style glass pen set, comes with a glass pen, a bottle of ink, and a mini tableware-shaped pen rest and cleaning cup. Sweet and charming, it’s sure to captivate anyone.

Sonic Time Sense Timer Timer 3, 2, 1!

The progress bar on the electronic timer’s screen visually displays the passage of time. It’s a great tool for students and office workers who value efficiency and focus.

Shachihata Color Patterns Glow Ink Pad

Shachihat Shachi-iro Iromoyo Kosai Series ink pads with a pearlescent sheen that makes your stamped designs look more luxurious and refined! Available in 10 gentle colors inspired by nature and plants.

Sun-Star Oshiri Mouse

A cute hamster-shaped mouse where your fingers click on its round, chubby backside, making work and study fun and delightful.

Sonic Libigaku Rechargeable Pencil Sharpener

A fully automatic rechargeable pencil sharpener shaped like an outdoor lantern, with five adjustable levels for pencil tip sharpness. It’s safe, convenient, and fun for kids.

Raymay Talking Globe and Karuta with Flags Touch Me

A globe that combines flags, a touch pen, and country cards, providing voice-guided information about different countries. It’s a great tool for helping children learn about the world, and though it only supports Japanese, it’s also a good toy for Japanese language learners.

Sailor Dipton Ink for Dip Pens

A luxurious shimmering ink for dip pens. The color changes depending on the viewing angle and light intensity, with polarized glitter that creates a delicate, shifting expression as certain colors appear and disappear.

Kokuyo Wall Magnet

A stylish magnetic hook designed for plasterboard walls. It can hold light items and clip papers like photos or posters, adding a touch of elegance to your room.

Sailor Hocoro Dip Pen with a Fountain Pen Nib (Medium Nib)

As easy to write with as a regular fountain pen but as convenient to clean and change ink as a dip pen. The nib can be swapped with other nibs in the series, simple and versatile.

Uni Mitsubishi Uni Metal Case Pencil Lead

A premium metal case that offers a stylish appearance, a more substantial feel, and a smoother slide-open and close experience.

Sun-Star Mogu Mogu Zoo Tabletop Cleaner

Just give it a gentle push on your desk, and it sweeps away eraser shavings and small paper scraps. The adorable cat design is irresistibly cute.

Sonic Chimney-Roofed Power Outlet House

A house-shaped power outlet with USB ports, where the unused outlet holes can be covered with window and door-shaped protective caps. It’s both cute on your desk and keeps your home safe for children.

Kanmido File Tab

A durable PVC tab for clear files, paired with writable labels. It’s resistant to bending and wear, keeping your labels clear and visible. Washable and reusable, it maintains its stickiness over time.

 

Conclusion

In the 2023 Japanese Store Awards, Sun-Star emerged as the biggest winner, claiming the most awards, including the Idea Award, two category awards, and two special awards. Sun-Star's bold innovation in functionality, design, and aesthetics resonates well with younger users, which explains its popularity on social media. Additionally, Kokuyo stood out for its meticulous attention to detail and high level of professionalism, securing four awards, including the Functionality Award. Both Uni Mitsubishi and Sonic also won four awards each, with Uni recognized for its exceptional aesthetics and craftsmanship, and Sonic for its deep understanding of children's needs. Meanwhile, well-known brands like Pentel, Midori, and Pilot may not have introduced groundbreaking innovations this time, but their new products—built on upgraded functionalities and designs of classic lines—demonstrated the enduring strength and vitality of their iconic products.

The 2023 Japan Stationery Store Awards showcased some truly innovative and inspiring products that continue to push the boundaries of design and functionality in the world of stationery. Whether you're a student, professional, or avid journaler, these award-winning items offer something special for everyone.

 

— Ame, Paper Whisper