The Stationery Newsbox #1
Wagashi, taiyaki, and other delicious stationery
Hello there! As some of my readers might know, I am also the host of a stationery-themed podcast, The Stationery Cafe. In the podcast, my co-hosts and I share the latest in the stationery world, and sometimes things on our wishlist. For a year or so, we also ran a Patreon that includes a monthly newsletter with stationery news and the latest on our desk. I kind of miss that kind of casual shares, so I’ve decided to start that here on The Penguin Post. Essentially, my takes (hot or not) on new stationery in the Western and Asian markets. Each of these posts will include 3 - 5 things that I’m interested in, and I hope you do too!
Sailor releases the Wagashi series (overseas exclusive)
It’s like Sailor listens to our podcast!
For years, my podcast co-host Kelly and I have been shouting into the void about how a cherry blossom/matcha/dango-themed fountain pen will be a top-seller (and unlock my wallet automatically). It looks like Sailor finally arrived at the same wavelength, but I can’t help but think it still missed the mark a little.
As Sailor does, they released yet another 5-pen series with an overarching theme. From rain sounds to smoothies, they continue the colorful trend to capture fans’ hearts (or tire them out, as they did to me). Finally, the recent release of Wagashi (or Japanese dessert) is a refreshing theme for their Sailor Pro Gear slim 14K fountain pens. However, my first impression of their official photos was that the lighting makes the pen look quite…dull. The topics are on point: Sakuramochi (cherry blossom mochi), Nerikiri (white bean paste with colorful presentation), Kohakuto (crystal candy), Manju (chestnut paste), and Tsukimi Dango (moon-viewing dangos).
I’m obviously attracted to Sakuramochi, and I wish real-life photos could do it justice. Please let it be a warmer green against more pink finials. Otherwise, I would be very sad that they didn’t fulfill the full potential of the motif. It is the most spring-like pen of the series.
TRAVELER’S COMPANY - TOKYO EDITION
TRAVELER’S COMPANY drops another amazing collection of TRAVELER’S notebook and accessories. Announced on March 7th, the new TOKYO EDITION is making stationery enthusiasts scream from all corners of the world. I also screeched when I first saw the release. Especially the sliding Taiyaki charm, how can you not?!
Although TRAVELER’S COMPANY comes out with themed collections frequently, a lot of them are confined to local regions or collaboration partners within Japan. It’s a treat (taiyaki pun) to see this release being available world wide. This collection honors Tokyo, the main city to explore in Japan, as well as the hub for TRAVELER’S COMPANY themselves.
I love the whimsical typography that spells out “TOKYO” on the cover of the black TRAVELER’S notebook, as well as the holographic foil expression. The sticker sets are going to be great customizing tools for my refills and notebooks, and the notebook refill designs are also amazing. I don’t know what use I’ll have out of a TRC BRASS PENCIL, but the adorable design and unique eraser color reel me into its allure. I’ll be getting one of each, thank you very much.
If you look closer at the motifs, I love that the company highlights a lot of food elements: melon soda, anmitsu, sushi, taiyaki, ramen,…and more. I’ve been to Tokyo several times in the past few years, and I still feel like there is a lot yet to be explored. I think I’ll look forward to my next Tokyo trip while using these items.
Sunday Morning Stroll by a kind of cafe
Illustration Taipei is right around the corner, happening in early April. This is an event that highlights a lot of local illustrators, artists, and creators to showcase their designs and sell related stationery items.
a kind of cafe is one of my favorite Taiwanese designers in the stationery world. Their style is whimsical yet elegant colorful collages. Some fragmented phrases are combined within their ingenious patterns and are deployed on pouches, socks, and PET tapes.
For Illustration Taipei, a kind of cafe seemed to have a series of releases up their sleeves. This PET tape pattern “Sunday Morning Stroll” caught my eye immediately. The colorful pieces are inspired by a specific stretch of public park in a neighborhood in Taipei (close to my childhood home, actually). It also represents the seasonal changes you can observe when you walk along that park. I am enamored with their creativity and can’t wait to snag a roll when this is released.
“Mood Tracker” (Throwback) from Everyday Explorers Co
The Mood Tracker acrylic stamp set is back! Around early 2020, I worked with Christine from Everyday Explorers Co to develop a special stamp set for my presentation on health journaling for that spring’s Plannercon event. However, March rolled around and you know what happened.
The video of me presenting my topic on Health Journaling in a Hobonichi still lives on YouTube, and the special stamp set became an online release, just in time for the wildest mental health year of our lives. Fast forward to 2024, Christine finally re-released this special stamp set on her site and it’s now available to purchase!
This stamp meant a lot to me, as I had just gone through an anxiety-inducing depressive episode in my career and life’s direction (quarter-life crisis?) I turned to mindfulness, gratitude, and journaling to guide me toward a healthier lifestyle. I’m so thrilled to see that it is available again, and hopefully, more people can find it useful like I did.
Rickshaw Bagworks Retro 51 Asanoha
Rickshaw sent me their latest release — a laser-etched steel barrel Retro 51 pen with the matching Asanoha pattern pen sleeve coozy in green! It is a stunner! I have to commend their excellent choice of green fabric and the interior fuzzy lining. This series of pen cases and coozies feels like the ultimate natural cottage for all of my fountain pens, and I can’t wait to purchase the 3-pen version the next time I catch them at a show!
They replicated the interesting Asanoha pattern on the Retro 51 roller ball pen, and it looks so elegant against my Shiranami Leather PLOTTER leather binder. I also own the previous edition of this collaboration - the Seigaiha, and once I switch out the roller ball inserts, these pens have been my staple work desk companion.
If you’re not a fan of the rollerball insert like me (I think they bleed through too many of my favorite papers), I recommend switching to the Jetstream insert instead!
And that’s a wrap for the first of this series! I look forward to sharing more in the following weeks! Leave a comment to let me know what you’d like to read about for a future piece!
It’s so interesting to learn about the stationery items you introduce. These are things I would not know about. Thank you.
I’m trying to become a paid subscriber to the penguin post but can’t seem to do so. Can you help me? Thanks