How to buy fountain pens from Japan without paying hefty reseller markups.

Hobonichi just sent me a replacement 5-year planner. This one has the new paper with adjusted ink absorbency. I test the new paper and recap the problems with this year’s Hobonichi planners

Ink maker Tono & Lims’s Christmas Party is one of the biggest stationery events in Japan.

Pilot recently introduced their latest addition to the Kakuno lineup - the Madoromi color series.

2022 was the year when stationery got more expensive, a new ink trend emerged, and traditional pen makers joined the dip pen craze.

2021 was the year when people went back to in-store events, Sailor kicked into high gear, Pilot woke up, glass pens became unobtainable, and a North American ink brand challenged Tono & Lims.

Kohei Kubo is over 90 years old and still makes his own nibs, in his workshop in Tokyo. He’s behind some of the most extreme nibs ever made, and also taught Tohma how to make nibs.

I tested Sanzen Paper’s soon-to-be-released Tomoe River successor, using extra broad and calligraphy nibs, with chromo-shading and sheening inks, and compared it to both “old” and “new” Tomoe River.

Epigram is a stylish acrylic pen with a sterling silver band, made by a boutique pen maker in Turkey.

Tomoe River techo, DP (Plotter) paper, Kokuyo Thin Paper (Jibun Techo), and other planner papers compared.