Overview: It is said that every year over 1,000 new stationery items are developed in Japan. From erasable ballpoint pens being wildly popular among students in France, to colorful masking tape made of washi becoming a big hit in Germany, Japanese stationery has a global reputation for combining functionality with design flair. How are these writing implements evolving in the digital age? We explore the world of stationery design along with our guest, stationery designer and collector Masayuki Takabatake.