Japan Finds

Stationery

Kokuyo Harinacs — the stapler that uses no staples

Instead of metal staples, the Harinacs punches a small slit through the paper and folds it back on itself to hold sheets together (this version handles up to 10 sheets). No sharp edges, no metal to remove before recycling, and no running out of staples mid-task. It's a small, oddly satisfying piece of Japanese stationery design — the kind of thing that ends up on someone's desk and then in their next gift to a coworker.

Kokuyo Harinacs — the stapler that uses no staples

MegRhythm Steam Eye Mask — a 10-minute reset

Shirayuki Fukin — a dish cloth with an 80-year backstory

MUJI Gel Ink Pen — the pen people ask about

Kai Nail Clippers — a boring object, done exceptionally well

Kayanoya Dashi Powder — the shortcut to a real dashi broth

Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion — hyaluronic acid, no frills

Kamenoko Tawashi — a scrub brush that's been made the same way since 1907

S&B Nanami Togarashi — the seven-spice blend worth keeping on the table

Shoyeido Incense — Kyoto craft going back to 1705

Snow Peak Titanium Double-Wall Mug — light enough to forget it's there

Captain Stag Camping Kettle — from Japan's cutlery-and-metalware region

Ippodo Hatsu Matcha — a Kyoto tea house that's been at it since 1717

Zebra Mildliner — the muted-color highlighter behind a whole notebook aesthetic

Marna Shupatto — a tote that folds itself flat in one pull

Hario V60 Ceramic Dripper — the shape behind the modern pour-over

Yanagi Sori Stainless Kettle — an industrial designer's kettle, still in production

Tombow Mono Zero — an eraser shaped like a pen, for erasing one letter at a time

Furoshiki — the wrapping cloth that skips gift wrap entirely

Global G-80 Hollow Ground Santoku Knife — the one-piece knife MoMA put in its permanent collection

Nonoji Cabbage Peeler — a single-purpose tool that's sold 1.5 million units

uni Kuru Toga — the pencil that rotates its own tip

Zojirushi Stainless Mug — from a pioneer of vacuum insulation

Senka Perfect Whip — a drugstore cleanser that went viral by accident

Imabari Towel — a region with its own water-absorbency certification

JapanBargain Onigiri Mold — a rice-ball shaping tool

Global G-2 — the all-steel gyuto that costs about a hundred dollars

MAC MTH-80 — the dimpled blade that shows up in a lot of working kitchens

Misono 440 — a stainless gyuto with a following among serious home cooks

Shun Classic — the gift knife with the Damascus-pattern blade

Hario Cha Cha Kyusu Maru — a glass kyusu you can actually watch the tea in

Kinto Unitea — a glass pot with a lid that doubles as the strainer

Nagao TM-500 — a stainless teapot from Tsubame-Sanjo that won't chip

ITCHU-DO Hakeme Tetsubin — a Nambu cast-iron kettle for the long game

Logos Hangou — the Japanese camp tin for cooking rice over a fire

Nagao Camping Cutlery — knife, spoon, and fork from Tsubame-Sanjo

Silky PocketBoy — the Japanese folding saw people use for firewood

Iwatani Cassette Feu — Japan's household butane stove, taken outside

Maruman Mnemosyne — a twin-wire notebook that lies flat and tears out clean

Midori MD Notebook — paper made to hold up to fountain pen ink

Traveler's Notebook — a leather cover you fill with refills over the years

Pilot Kakuno — the fountain pen made for beginners, for about $11

Pilot Metropolitan — the next step up, with a classic metal barrel

Kuretake ZIG Clean Color — brush pens for lettering and watercolor-style color

S&B Golden Curry — the roux block that turns into curry in about 20 minutes

House Vermont Curry — the milder, sweeter side of Japanese curry

Nagatanien Ochazuke — hot tea over rice, in a sachet

Marukyu Koyamaen Aorashi — a ceremonial-grade matcha from Uji, Kyoto

Eitaro Sohonpo Yokan — small bean jellies in five flavors

Kameda Seika Kakinotane — wasabi rice crackers with peanuts

Ippodo Hojicha — Kyoto roasted tea for slow evenings

ITO EN Oi Ocha Hojicha Powder — the no-teapot version

Daily Aroma Japan Yuzu Hand Cream — a winter citrus from Kochi

Hokkairo Stick-On Warmers — the Japanese winter staple, on your clothes

HIORIE 8-Layer Gauze Blanket — Imabari cotton that gets softer