Since I have come to Japan I have found stationery stores to be fun. It is because Japanese are really into handwriting and have some of the best pens and pencils on the planet. I remember buying a mechanical pencil that advanced the lead in a new way. Instead of clicking the top one shook the whole pen. There is some neat stuff.
Not that I would ever need it but correcting things have gone through various stages. The first was the white liquid that dried to write over it. The second was a little correction tape cartridge to cover over the mistake. The third was a small roll of Post-it like paper to cover things and writing on the paper. Now, people use a new type of pen with ink that disappears when you rub it. The increase in temperature causes this.
The other thing different about Japan compared to America is the prevalence of plastic sheets put under paper so it is easier to write. Often these sheets have cartoon characters or decorative designs. English has such a simple written language that there is no need for these whereas Japanese characters can have a lot of details and need a better writing surface.
Little children love erasers. And the erasers can be made in any shape. I like the sushi shaped ones myself. (Just to look at.) The kids collect these. When I was young I remember three type of erasers, pink, an eraser with two ends for ink and pencil, and the crumbly art eraser not this.
Have you been to a stationery store recently?
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