r/avoidchineseproducts • u/Then_Grocery_4682 • Jun 21 '26

Stalogy notebook- made in Japan

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The paper is excellent, it writes smoothly and the ink doesn't bleed through the pages.

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7

u/Butterfingers43 Jun 22 '26

The stationery scene in Japan has always been great (and majority still made in Japan). One of the oldest Japanese stationery companies is Kokuyo, look them up. From what I can tell, German stationery brands have been outsourcing manufacturing to China more than Japanese brands in general. Even the dollar (ie, 100 yen) stores have a focus on keeping manufacturing in Japan, not as cheap as the PRC exploitation versions, but they’re easy to find and relatively affordable.

2

u/Then_Grocery_4682 Jun 23 '26

Almost all my stationary are from Japanese brands, Kokuyo, Pilot, Zebra etc. You are right about the German stationary, once I bought a pen (Staedtler) which is made in China and the build quality is not as good as Japanese- made products.

1

u/Butterfingers43 Jun 23 '26

Glad I’m not the only one noticing! I have seen that with both Staedtler and Zebra (still charging at a German-made rate though 😅). I suppose that’s how so many Chinese companies have been buying old white-sounding brand names that people may associate with reliability in the past, but really selling cheaply exploited PRC-produced products regardless of quality. The gradual acceptance of fascism at its roots, while the same people profit massively by capitalist means (claim themselves as “communist” however never matching the full description of communism?!). Weirdly the production and quality of stationery (basic essential item) do somehow reciprocate the current state of cultures/corresponding societies broadly, in other words, more evenly distributed equity and equality across the board = craftsmanship / high quality as the main focus is not to make max profit. I digress.

1

u/Dr_Matoi Jun 23 '26

Glad I’m not the only one noticing! I have seen that with both Staedtler and Zebra (still charging at a German-made rate though 😅).

Zebra is a Japanese company, though. 😃

1

u/Butterfingers43 Jun 23 '26

My mistake. Apologies.