A deep dive into stationery I definitely didn’t need (but love anyway)

While school and studying are a nuisance and a blight to human existence for some, many people cope through various methods to help their grades, productivity, and well-being. One of those methods is stationery. While it sounds and looks nearly identical to the term “stationary,” tools like pencils, pens, and paper get people far from still when it comes to studying.

Stationery, not to be confused with stationary (meaning something still, not moving), refers to items such as pencils, pens, paper, and more that are used for writing and studying. While this may sound unappealing or boring, many advancements have been made in the field. They may not be “ginormous,” but one cannot deny that these improvements and small details have made studying—something known for being difficult and stressful—much more enjoyable. People buy these items to make schoolwork more fun or for features not found in other products. Purposes and needs like these are why stationery from places such as Japan is so popular.

The stationery being reviewed today is Japanese stationery, including various pens, pencils, and other gadgets such as notebooks and more. The items reviewed are:

Pencils: Uni Alpha Gel mechanical pencil 0.5mm; Uni Kurutoga Advance mechanical pencil 0.3mm; Tombow Mono Graph mechanical pencil 0.3mm; Zebra Delguard mechanical pencil 0.3mm
Pens: Zebra Sarasa MarkOn black ink 0.4mm; Uni Jetstream ballpoint pen black 0.3mm; Pilot Dusty gel pen set 0.5mm (set of 6)
Paper: Kokuyo Campus notebook set B5
Miscellaneous: Zebra Mildliner highlighters; Midori Multi Ruler; Kokuyo Campus Daily Study Planner

One of the most utilized tools ever is the pencil, both wooden and mechanical. Whether used for drawing, illustrating, learning, or studying, pencils are crucial for almost everyone. That is why the mechanical pencils being reviewed have some remarkably interesting and unique features.

The first pencil is the Uni Alpha Gel mechanical pencil in 0.5mm. While it doesn’t have many special features compared to the others, its main one is its soft and squishy grip, which is great for long writing sessions. It is also a shaker pencil, meaning you can shake it for the lead to come out. This pencil might not seem crazy, but it is a good pencil overall. Some complaints are that the grip gets dirty easily if you drop it, and the lead button at the top looks like a pen. The eraser is hidden under a cap, and the pencil is a bit expensive for its more basic features. I would recommend it if you write a lot and your hand hurts during long sessions.

The next pencil is the Uni Kurutoga Advance mechanical pencil in 0.3mm. Made by the same brand, this one is part of a more premium line. It uses a mechanism where the lead rotates slightly each time you lift the pencil, keeping the tip consistently sharp. While I like the pencil, I still have some reservations. It feels weird and flimsy at first, and the eraser is hidden under a long metal cap. It is also expensive, and the cheaper versions in the same line honestly feel better because their mechanism is slower but more stable. Instead, I would recommend one of the cheaper versions, like the Uni Kurutoga KS, if you want the Kurutoga rotation mechanism.

My third pencil is the Tombow Mono Graph mechanical pencil in 0.3mm. While more basic than the previous two, it is cheap, reliable, and functional, and it comes in stylish colors and designs. Its main feature is that it is a shaker pencil, but you can lock the shaker so the lead doesn’t come out every time you move your hand. It also includes a twist-up eraser that is surprisingly good and refillable. If you want to experiment with writing instruments, this is a great place to start. It’s affordable, and if you want a cheaper version with no shaker mechanism, try the “Lite” model.

My last pencil is the Zebra Delguard in 0.3mm. Its main feature is that it is supposed to prevent lead from breaking. When pressure is applied, the pencil’s internal mechanism absorbs it to protect the lead. While this is a cool feature, it is not perfect. When I first started using it, the lead still broke often. It has gotten better, but it’s still not foolproof—especially since I prefer small lead sizes. Overall, I like these pencils and would recommend them, especially the Tombow Mono Graph, because it’s functional and comes in many designs and colors.

For the pens, I’ll start with my favorite: the Uni Jetstream Ballpoint in 0.3mm. While most ballpoint pens have a bad reputation compared to gel pens, this is the best ballpoint I have ever tried. It is smooth, consistent, and does not smudge—even under a highlighter or your finger. It’s cheap and comes in several ink and body colors.

My next pen is the Zebra Sarasa MarkOn gel pen in 0.4mm. It is one of the best gel pens, but it has one problem. It is advertised as quick-drying and smudge-proof, but there have been times where it did smudge a lot. It is cheap but only comes in a limited number of tip sizes. The regular Sarasa gel pens are slightly cheaper and honestly feel almost the same.

The next pens are a set: the Pilot Dusty Gel Pen Set in 0.5mm. They come in beautiful pastel colors—orange, pink, green, yellow, blue, and purple. While the colors are great, the pens have issues. The orange looks more like salmon, and the biggest problem is the ink flow. They are very streaky, and writing or drawing with them is difficult. I like the idea of the set, but there are much better colored gel pen sets available.

Next are the miscellaneous items. My stationery item here is the Kokuyo Campus set of five B5 notebooks. These notebooks are cute, lightweight, compact, and cheap. The paper is smooth, and writing in them is a joy. My only complaint is that they are a bit fragile because of their size and only come with 30 pages.

The next product is the Zebra Mildliner highlighters. These are probably the most famous items on this list. Everyone either knows about them or has them. They come in cute colors and are easily found at stores like Target and Walmart. However, they smudge a lot and are more expensive than other highlighters. Whether you use pencil or pen, there is a good chance they will smudge your writing. One could say they’re overrated.

The Midori Multi Ruler is next, and it is one of my most used and functional stationery items. It folds to save space, and you can use it as a protractor or even a compass (though it is difficult). It’s functional, compact, and one of the most convenient rulers I’ve found.

My last item is the Kokuyo Campus Daily Study Planner. Made for students, it helps track assignments and study time. While useful, it depends heavily on the user. They also have weekly and two-week versions. I like how you can track studying and goals. If you like to see what you need to do each day individually, this planner is perfect for you.

While studying and work can be a nuisance and a pain, it never hurts to have tools that make things easier or more enjoyable. That is the magic of stationery: wherever you go, you can find unique, cute, or functional products that make your tasks feel more fun. You can experiment with pencils and pens with niche but practical features, or find entirely unique items. Even if they don’t change your grades or work performance, it never hurts to have functional items that brighten your mood.