The Christmas mood is over, and there are only a few days left in the year. I have finally started writing my New Year's cards, and writing messages with my beloved fountain pen is a blissful experience.

The Enuchi editorial team, which is made up of many stationery lovers, including myself, has been paying close attention to a variety of stationery items this year. So, we thought we'd take a look back at the stationery scene this year, along with the "Top 10 Stationery Items of 2014" announced by Ishizu Dai, owner of the "Stationery Market Namba Walk Store" (Namba, Osaka) and a "stationery sommelier" who appears on TV and in magazines. Stationery sommelier Ishizu Dai's "Top 10 popular stationery items of 2014"

1st place: Pentel "Orenz" 540 yen


Among the "unbreakable lead" mechanical pencils that we previously compared, the Orenz achieves an ultra-fine writing feel of 0.2mm. The idea of writing without extending the lead was a shock to me.

2nd place: Zebra "DelGuard" 486 yen


Next on the list is a mechanical pencil that features a structure that protects the lead. It is designed to protect the lead from various writing pressures and angles. It seems that we are now in an age where mechanical pencils that do not break are the norm...

3rd place: Pilot "Frixion Colored Pencil" 1,080 yen


These erasable colored pencils are part of the FriXion erasable ballpoint pen series. The FriXion erasable stamps were also released in December from this series, so we're looking forward to seeing what comes next!

4th place: Catharos "File Notebook Cover" from 3,240 yen


This notebook cover from an Osaka manufacturer features a variety of interior pockets. With optional accessories, it can be used to cover everything from report pads and loose-leaf paper to college notebooks.

5. Kokuyo " Harinacs Press " 1,188 yen


This stapler doesn't require staples and can bind paper without punching holes. We tried it out ourselves and were impressed by its excellent clamping power, which shows the evolution of stationery.

The rankings from 6th place onwards are as follows:

6. Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen, 1,080 yen
7. Beverly Sticky Notes "Cocosus" from 388 yen
8th place: Harimouse Tape Cutter "Harimouse" 756 yen
9th place: Shachihata Personal Information Protection Glue " Kespeta " 324 yen
10th place: Platinum Fountain Pen "Fountain Pen #3776" 10,800 yen

"2014 was the year that revolutionary stationery products were born. It was a year that condensed Japan's technological capabilities and innovative ideas, further cementing Japan as the world's number one stationery powerhouse," says Ishizu. He also personally produces many of the products. This shop has a stationery sommelier who can help customers find the stationery they need, and I would definitely like to visit next year!


*All prices include tax