Why I chose these pieces for May
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Last newsletter I wrote about the feeling behind the May box. That quiet exhale after April's rush, the 新緑 (shinryoku) moment when the cherry blossoms have fallen and the new green takes their place.
Today I want to walk you through the pieces themselves and why each one made it into the box.
If you have been around for a while, you know I like to share the thinking behind every item. I hope this section feels less like a reveal and more like a continuation of a conversation we have been building.
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Pentel Floatune Gel Pen 0.4mm, Savon Purple (Limited Edition)
The Floatune was engineered to require almost no pressure. The ink does the work, your hand just guides it. I tested mine during a late evening journaling session when my hand was already tired from the day, and what struck me was that I could keep writing without thinking about my grip.
It also took second place in the Ballpoint Pen category at the 2025 Stationery Awards (文房具屋さん大賞, Bunbouguyasan Taisho), which is essentially the people's choice award of Japanese stationery. Stationery shop staff across Japan vote on the pens they actually loved selling and using that year. If you trust the people who handle every pen on the shelf, this one earned its place.
That softness felt right for May. A pen that does not ask much of you.
This Savon Purple is a limited edition body color, soft and dusty and a little muted. It pairs with classic black ink so it still works for everyday notes and letters, not just journaling.
2. WACCA Washi Letter Set (Sakura or Sumire)
WACCA letter sets are made from 100% recycled Japanese washi, layered so a hint of color shows on both sides of the sheet. The texture is fibrous in the way traditional washi is, but smooth enough that fountain pens, brush pens, and gel pens write cleanly without bleeding. To be honest with you, these sit on the pricier end of what I can fit into a box. I went back and forth on whether to include them. But they are that good, and that beautiful, and once I had them in my hands the answer became obvious. Why not, right? You deserve to write your letters on something you love holding.
Letter writing is something I keep meaning to do more of. There is a small list in my notebook of people I owe a real letter to. A friend in Kobe. My aunt who sent flowers when my son was born. An old colleague from Ireland. I included this set partly because I wanted to give you (and myself) the materials to actually sit down and do it.
You will receive one of two colors: Sakura (soft pink) or Sumire (muted violet).
3. Penco Clamp Clip
A sturdy plastic clamp clip with a clean, retro feel, and one of those quiet desk tools you do not realize you needed until you have one. I use mine to hold my journal pages down so it stays open to the spread I am working on, no matter how many times I look up or get distracted. The absence of small frustrations is what makes a desk feel calm. Comes in one of four colors: Clear, Ivory, Brown, or Green.
4. Hightide Retro Washi Tape (Coffee) or Emotional Human Flake Stickers
Both of these lean into Showa-era design. That warm, slightly nostalgic Japanese aesthetic from the mid-20th century, all soft browns and gentle illustrations. I went back and forth on which to include and ended up doing both, with each box receiving one or the other.
I like things you can layer without overthinking. A strip of tape across a corner of a journal page. A flake sticker on the seal of an envelope. They do not ask you to be artistic. They just add a little texture and warmth.
5. Marumo Printing Die-Cut Stand Message Pad (Animals)
These are die-cut cards illustrated with animals (Chihuahua, Red Panda, Orca, or Whale, one design per box). You fold along the perforation and the card stands up on its own, so a short message stays visible on a desk instead of getting buried under a pile of mail.
The paper is Cosmo Air Light, which is the same paper a lot of fountain pen people swear by. It takes ink without feathering and feels soft in the hand.
I included these because I have been thinking about how easy it is for small notes to get lost. A thank you written on a sticky note ends up at the bottom of a stack. A reminder to yourself slips off the fridge. These cards solve a small problem in a way that is also a little joyful.
A quick note before I sign off. As I am writing this, we have three spots left in the May box. The official order cutoff is May 20, but the box will likely close before then.
Thank you, as always, for being here. It means something to me that you let these small parcels into your home each month.