The Breadth of Kinokuniya’s Stationery Collection

When descending down Kinokuniya‘s staircase into the lower level, one is greeted by an entire section of the store dedicated to greeting cards, simple to ornate, two-dimensional to pop-up three-dimensional. There is a heap of plush toys, lunch boxes, and children’s school supplies, and a small table displaying Buddha Boards. These features serve as a segue into the stationery section of the basement.

Kinokuniya sells binders, folders, and notebooks, which are neatly organized into shelves that border half of the basement’s perimeter. In the aisles, a glass case showcases different types of pens sorted in respective compartments. Tester notepads contain no empty space, as they’ve been scribbled on by hundreds of people who are curious about the difference between a 0.5 tip and a 0.7 tip. Dozens of washi tapes line the other side of the display, and themed paperclips and office supplies can be found. Unfortunately, we were not able to take pictures of this area as the items came from a different supplier.

Chronicled by The New York Times

Tom Vanderbilt, a writer for The New York Times Magazine, came to visit the store after noticing his friend write with extreme neatness and accuracy. He probed his friend about the pen he was using, who directed him to Kinokuniya. Vanderbilt journeyed multiple times to the stationery section, constantly in awe about the sheer varieties in color, brand, and style. Soon, he came up with an official recommendation for one of his favorite pens: the black 0.38 tip Uni-ball Signo UM-151 (Vanderbilt, 2015). Vanderbilt compliments the pen’s glide but effortless accuracy, and divulges that he’s bought dozens thus far. However, he notes that the pen is comfortably priced, so much so that he isn’t too remorseful if he misplaces one.

Vanderbilt concludes his reflection on Kinokuniya‘s stationery by recognizing that Japanese kanji beckons the use of pens that write easily but carefully. Writing kanji requires immense detail to every stroke. He contrasts the culture of handwriting and calligraphy between America and Japan: in America, pens are usually mass-produced to be functional, yet no attention is paid to the experience of writing. In contrast, Japanese pens are crafted to enhance the sense of control, dispensing the appropriate amount of ink. All in all, these pens are certainly on the rise — with Japanese companies distributing a myriad of pen models, writing no longer remains a passive, tedious task; rather, it transforms into a more personalized experience, one in which the consumer, in this case Vanderbilt, takes joy in writing.