The Good Stuff
Been back in the Philippines for a month now, but reminders of our life in Japan are trickling in one balikbayan box at a time. Some of my favorite stuff:
Plotter notebook refills - I swapped my passport-size Traveler’s Notebook for a Mini 5 Plotter binder system. It’s truly pocket-sized so when I really need to take notes I can fish it out my pocket instead of rifling through my bad. It’s paired with a Kaweco Lilliput fountain pen as well as an XTE-Ink 3 mini e-reader so I can read and take notes anywhere.
Correct 5x3 index cards - I use the Zettelkasten method for my academic writing workflow, and while the method can be implemented digitally (as I do through Obsidian), I usually default to writing on index cards. I found Correct C-532 index cards on Amazon Japan and enjoyed it so much that I have hoarded boxes of the stuff. The stuff is not even available in most brick and mortar stores there. It’s good card stock (reasonably firm, and provides a smooth, quick-drying surface for the fountain pens that I use)
DeAgostini Star Wars Ship Models - I used to collect Armada Star Wars ship miniatures but they stopped making new ships, and the current ones are so rare that even used ones are out of my budget. The Deagostini models are cheaper despite being made of better materials and are just as detailed.
Zento Pens and refills - I usually just use a fountain pen for most of my writing. When a ballpoint pen is required (for most government forms) I usually use Jetstream pens with oil-based ink. I am replacing my lineup with gel-based Zento pens which are darker and smoother.
Zojirushi rice cooker - The last, heftiest purchase before going back home was a Zojirushi rice cooker. After 3 years of perfect fluffy white rice we just couldn’t go back to the dry/burnt atrocities crapped out by Hanabishi or Asahi rice cookers (which is not a Japanese brand, by the way).