ZenPop November 2018, Japanese Stationery Subscription Box

ZenPop November Stationery Box 2018, Winter Magic Pack

This box actually made really good time this month getting here, arriving early last week, but I was in California.  It arrived around the 12th, which is really good.

ZenPop Japanese Stationery Pack has 10 or more stationary items per box.  You can make a one time purchase, or select a subscription plan of 3 or 6 months.  One box per month and those who get a subscription receive a bonus item.  A single box is $29.50, 3 months is $28x3 = $84, and 6 months is $27.50x6 = $165.  Shipping is free (boxes come from Osaka Japan so this is a great deal) and plans don't automatically renew (which is fantastic).

All quotations throughout this post come from the info paper.

November 2018: Winter Magic Pack

"2019 is a special year for Japan because the current emperor will abdicate in May.  The abdication will mark the end of the Heisei era, and the government will announce the name of the next imperial era in April 1, 2019.  We are so excited to welcome this special year with you.  We hope you like the adorable stationery in this pack.  And we hope your new year will be filled with peace and positive growth!"

I actually really like this box.

I'm starting with my favorite item.

It's so cool.

 Kokuyo Harinacs No Staple Stapler

"This is one of our most unique stationery items we have ever included.  You can staple papers without any staples!  Can you guess how it works?  This works great for about 5 sheets of paper or less.  It punches a hole and folds in on itself.  Perfect for keeping notes or receipts together.  And there are no staples if you have children around or you need to shred stuff.  Cool, right!?"

I'm constantly trying to find staples when I staple things together, and have since just resolved to folding paper in various ways to keep them together, which never works.  This little paper-less stapler does the job well and easily.  I'm so glad this was included in the box.  This will probably get the most use.

It's neat how the paper is punched out and then tucked back in.

 Doggy One Point Markers

"2018 was the year of the dog.  But dogs are cute no matter what year it is, so use these adorable sticky notes when you need a smile or for a little extra boost in your life."

Being a 1982 babe, I was born in the year of the dog.  This box is nice because they're celebrating the end of 2018 and beginning of 2019, having both dog and boar items.  I love these cute little doggies.  So adorable.

Otoshidama Pochi-bukuro

"Pochi-bukuro is a special envelope used to give Otoshidama.  Otoshidama is a custom where money is given from Parents and relatives to children on new year's day.  Children in Japan really look forward to getting their Otoshidama every year.  Make someone smile and give them something nice in these gorgeous little envelopes."

I've heard of this tradition, giving money in small envelopes.  I'm trying to figure our how to use them.  This pack comes with 3, and 2 of my nieces and my nephew are old enough to get excited by small amounts of money, so I should practice this tradition with them.  Or maybe I'll get gift cards or something.  Just the right size for that.  We'll see.

Winter Ippitsusen

"Ippitsusen literally translates as "one stroke paper," and it's meant to be used to write a quick note to yourself or someone else.  Of course you can use this pretty pad of paper any way you wish!"

This is really pretty paper.  These are suppose to be Winter themed, but with polar bears being in the north, and the nice constellation theme, I can use this all year long.  Sample pages are shown a few images below.

Kokuyo Beetle Tip Highlighter

"This highlighter has a tip that looks like a beetle horn, and you can use it 3 ways!  Make thin strokes, make double lines using two tips at once, or use the fat tip to highlight normally.  I'm sure there are more creative ways to use it as well, just gotta try it and see!"

This is an interesting highlighter.  Never seen one like it.  With the different shaped tip you do have to look before you mark, but getting different types of lines from a single tip is a neat feature.

Sakura Knock Ball Pen - Lamé

"This ball point pen has sparkly colored ink.  It's not lame it's lamé!  It has a translucent body, a unique shape and a handy little clip.  Use this pen anytime you need to add some color or sparkles to your day."

A nice sparkly pink pen.  I'll have fun using this.

Winter Washi Tape

"You'll get one of 8 different possible winter patterns of washi tape in this pack.  Cozy crafting time is coming!"

This washi tape is very pretty.  I love the deer with the simple Winter backdrop.

2019 Desk Calender

"In Japan, it is said that the animal of the year (from the twelve zodiac signs) will bring the luck to your family and prosperous business if you have the zodiac animal with you.  2019 is the year of the boar, so this desk calendar might bring good luck to you."

A nice simple desktop calendar.

Each sheet is double sided and features an image tied to that month.

Winter Letter Set

"In East Asia, there is a traditional way to think of "seasons", which we divide one year into 24 seasons.  Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter are all divided into 6 micro seasons."  There's some good info of each micro Winter season on the information paper: Rittou, Shousetsu, Taisetsu, Shoukan, and Daikan.  Right now where I live we're in Shousetsu: It begins to get colder and colder.  It starts to snow, although it won't lay at this period."

I'm so glad this stationery set is large enough to send in the mailing system.  Deer again, a theme I don't mind repeating, and the little chickens are cute, too.  Really like this item.

Shibanban Flake Stickers

"Shibanban's washi new year stickers!  Let's say goodbye to the year of the dog.  All the designs of the stickers are something to bring you luck, such as noshi (folded paper), daruma (good luck doll) or inuhariko (papier-mashe dog)."

More cute dogs.  I really like these stickers.

Fun designs, especially the dog on top of Mount Fuji.

BONUS ITEM

Only received by those who subscribe to a 3 or 6 month plan.

Kiguru - Me Eraser

"A cute addition to your pencil case, this eraser comes in black or white and features a costume wearing bird!"

A simple, but nice easier.

ZenPop September 2018, Japanese Stationery Subscription Box

ZenPop September Stationery Box 2018,  Back to School

(So I just realized I've been misspelling Stationery as Stationary, which is still a word, just not the right one, dang it.)

I just got this box a couple days ago, so just shy a month of travel time, but it is coming across the Pacific ocean from Osaka Japan.

ZenPop Japanese Stationery Pack has 10 or more stationary items per box.  You can make a one time purchase, or select a subscription plan of 3 or 6 months.  One box per month and those who get a subscription receive a bonus item.  A single box is $29.50, 3 months is $28x3 = $84, and 6 months is $27.50x6 = $165.  Shipping is free (boxes come from Osaka Japan so this is a great deal) and plans don't automatically renew (which is fantastic).

In the Stationery Pack you can expect pens and pencils, washi tape, cute stickers, paper products, and accessories.   Brands included can be Sanrio, Tombow, ZEBRA, mt masking tape, Platinum, Kuretake, uni-ball, PILOT, and KOKUYO.

All quotations throughout this post come from the info paper.

 Back To School:

"In Japan, the school year begins in April, but September marks the return from summer vacation.  So whether you are going back to school, in the middle of your school year, or just living your life with no school (lucky!) we hope you'll find good use for this month's new items.  Organizing your ideas, and learning new things is important for anyone, student or not.  Please try these cute stationery goods in your daily life, and we hope you will find success in all your goals this year!"

 Hako Fusen

"If you don't like to carry sticky notes in your bag or pen case because they bend or get dirty, Hako Fusen is for you!  This is a set of cute and colorful sticky notes with a box (hako).  The box will protect your sticky notes so that you can carry and use them wherever you go.  (fu-sen = sticky notes)."

These are soooooo cuuute!!!  I just love things with a space theme, and the tiny cosmetics, plus little astro-man, are adorable.  They are pretty small, but that's okay.  I actually used a sticky note in a book I'm reading this morning as a "read to" point.  I'll enjoy using these.

 Word Cards

"Word cards are must need items for studying and memorizing all sort of things!  These word cards from & STUDIUM have cute designs on them, so studying should be more enjoyable!"

Flash cards are always useful.

I like to use these types of cards for language learning.

One of these days I'm going to admit to myself I'm not good at learning language, but today is not that day.

 ZEBRA - Mildliners 5 Pack

"These highlighters are highly coveted and for good reason.  After a while using these we are sure you will enjoy how your notes look.  A pack of 5 mildliners is a useful and fun addition to any organizers arsenal.  Mildliners are popular for the mild color, which won't bother your eyes compared to normal highlighters."

I love the fact that we got a pack of highlighters, instead of a single highlighter.

There were three sets available, and it looks like I got the more pastel one, mild fluorescent.

I like the colors.

 And these mildliners are two sided!

 Nice light colors

(The paper they're shown on I got a couple years ago at the Japan shop in Epcot.  Cute, right?

 Big Mouth Sticky Notes

"Sticky notes of cute animals with big wide open mouths!  Write your memo inside their mouth so that you won't forget.  Use these in a textbook for some smiles while you study.  You will receive either panda, pig, frog, or cat."

Cute memo pads.  I like the frog and the rain theme.

 Video Game Washi Tape

"Who likes to play video games?  You can't study all the time, right?  This unique washi tape's design is inspired by a pretty famous game you may know.  You can use this tape to bring a retro feel to any of your projects.  Thank you ZenPop, but our homework is in another castle..."

I love this washi tape!!!

When I saw this washi tape in spoiler from the ZenPop website, I giggled, and hoped everyone was getting it, as sometimes ZenPop will have a variety of washi tape, and the one you get is random.  It's totally Mario themed, and it makes me happy.  That is all.  I smile every time I see it.

 "Animal Memo Pad"

"Cute memo pad from BGM.  This has 2 ways to use!  You can use it as a vertical memo pad, or tear the sheets into 2 pieces across the middle, and use it as square notes.  You will receive either a design of Polar bear, Giraffe, fox, or cat."

So glad I got the fox theme!

I love foxes, and they're so Autumn.  Honestly, if red foxes could safely be domestic pets, I'd want one.  I want a pet red panda, too.  Dreams are good.

(Apparent there are domestic foxes, but they're crazy expensive, and only legal to own in a few states. And there are some issues worth noting, that I haven't looked into yet.  I'll research it for fun.)

 Pentel - Energize Pencil (0.5mm)

"Energize sharp pen (mechanical pencil) has two great things about it.  First, the light rubber grip will help to achieve smooth writing.  Second, it has a "Slide & Sleep style" for the pencil tip.  It retracts to make it easier and safer to store or keep in a pocket."

Click pencils are nice.  And this is a very nice one. Love the purple.

 Shitajiki

"In Japan, it is common to place a plastic board, (shita-jiki), under your paper in order to make a flat and smooth surface for writing, and to prevent marking the sheet below.  A good writing environment is important to maintaining good handwriting!"  

The art is interesting.

Actually, I'll get good use with this, because when I write I sometimes use paper underneath so that the writing is smooth or doesn't transfer ink to another page, and now I can use this.

 Smart Scissors

"To go to school or work, we don't want to carry a big and heavy pen case, but scissors, glue, or other stationery are helpful.  There are so many compact stationery in Japan.  Such as stapler, compass and these smart scissors!  Put scissors in your pen case and use it when you want to cut some notes or craft things for your journals."

I love these scissors.  Very inventive.  They are nicely compact, and I like the protection.  When you pull off the protection, open it up, move the gray thing in the handle down, these scissors work well, and they don't take up a lot of space.

 Science Boys Stickers

"Students who have a background in science or tech are called Rikei in Japanese.  Rikei boys are called Rike-dan (Rikei danshi), are Rikei girls are Rike-jo (Rikei Joshi).  Are you a Rike-dan or Rike-jo?"

These are fun.  Yeah, nerdy guys are sexy.

BONUS ITEM

(Subscription Pack Only)

Pentel - Petit Correction Tape

"No one can write without any mistakes.  Even if you have an erasable pen from a previous pack, there might be cases you need correction tape.  Petit-Corre from Pentel is small but the length of the tape is 3m, so it is enough to correct all your mistakes!"

I actually wanted to get correction tape a couple weeks ago.  I have a habit of making mistakes when I write, so instead of coloring in circles or hearts, I can use this.

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So overall a nice box with a good mix of fun and useful items.