About Paper Bento

I was born and raised in Japan, where high-quality stationery isn't a luxury—it's just what you find at any convenience store, bookstore, or stationery shop. The smooth glide of a ballpoint-ink pen, the perfect fountain pen paper, the thoughtful design of every tool—I grew up taking it all for granted.

Then I moved abroad.

Suddenly, the pens I'd used daily were nowhere to be found. The notebooks that never bled through became rare treasures. I found myself hoarding my favorite items, treating them like precious artifacts because replacing them meant waiting for my next trip back to Japan.

"Mottainai" (もったいない) - that Japanese sense of "too good to waste" - became my relationship with stationery. I couldn't bring myself to use my favorite pens freely because what would I do when they ran out?

But here's what I realized: this feeling was the opposite of how these tools made me feel growing up. Back then, opening my school bag and pulling out my pencil case felt like opening a bento box—that little spark of joy when you lift the lid and see your favorite foods arranged just for you. It wasn't fancy or expensive, but someone had thought about what would make your day better. Your needs were seen. It felt special.

That's the feeling I want to recreate with Paper Bento. Not stationery as something precious to preserve, but as a source of daily joy—tools that make you smile when you reach for them, that make your creative work feel cared for. Like opening a box full of thoughtfully chosen goodies that are meant to be enjoyed, not just admired.

The Suitcase Tradition

Every time I fly back to Japan, half my suitcase is dedicated to stationery—not just for me, but for friends who've made the same discovery. "Can you bring back those gel pens?" "Do they still make that eraser?" The requests pile up. My suitcase gets heavier.

And I realized: there has to be a better way.

Why Paper Bento?

Paper Bento is my answer to that problem. It's the subscription box I wish existed when I first moved to the US—a reliable way to access high-quality Japanese stationery without rationing your favorite tools or waiting for someone's next trip to Japan.

I wanted to create something that solves three problems:

1. Access: No more hoarding or treating great tools like museum pieces
2. Discovery: Experience the breadth of Japanese stationery culture. Not just the few brands that make it to US retailers 
3. Curation: Cut through the overwhelming abundance of choices to find what actually works for you

Here's the thing: Japanese stationery culture is incredibly rich. There are hundreds of pen brands, thousands of paper types, and endless variations of the same product refined to perfection. It's wonderful—and completely overwhelming, especially if you're just starting out or shopping from overseas.

Just like a traditional bento box arranges diverse, quality ingredients with care and intention, each Paper Bento box is thoughtfully curated to give you variety, functionality, and that distinctive Japanese quality I grew up with. I do the research, testing, and selection so you can skip straight to the joy of using tools that actually enhance your work.

What Makes Us Different

🎌 Japanese Heritage
I'm not discovering these products through research—I grew up with them. I know which brands Japanese students swear by, which tools artists actually use, and which items are worth the suitcase space.

✍️ Creator-Tested
Every item is tested for real use. Fountain pen friendly? I check. Smooth writing? I test it. Worth your money? I'd pack it in my suitcase.

📖 Cultural Context
Each box includes the stories, usage tips, and cultural context that make these tools special—the stuff you'd learn growing up in Japan.

🎁 Curated with Care
No random filler. No mass-market items you can find anywhere. Just thoughtfully selected tools that represent the quality and functionality of Japanese stationery.

The Beta Launch

Right now, I'm starting with just 10 beta boxes. Why so small? Because I want to get this right.

I'm testing what resonates with fellow stationery lovers, what items delight creators, and how to best share the joy of Japanese stationery culture. Your feedback will directly shape the monthly subscription boxes launching soon.

Think of it as the first 10 friends asking me to bring back stationery from Japan—except this time, I'm building a whole business around it.

What's Next

My goal is to make Japanese stationery accessible and enjoyable—not precious and hoarded. I want you to actually use that beautiful notebook. Write with that smooth pen. Enjoy the washi tape without guilt.

I also want to introduce you to items you wouldn't have chosen for yourself—the cult-favorite eraser that changes how you think about corrections, the specific paper weight that makes your handwriting look better, the pen grip style you didn't know you needed. Some of the best tools in my collection are ones I initially overlooked or didn't understand until I tried them.

That's the magic of a curated box: you get to experience the depth of Japanese stationery culture through fresh eyes, discovering new favorites while building confidence in what works for your creative practice.

Because great tools should be part of your daily routine, not collector's items gathering dust.

Monthly subscription boxes coming soon. Join the journey from the beginning.

 

About the Founder

Natsuki Kimura

Born in Osaka, raised in Yokohama and Kobe. Currently based in the Bay Area, California.

Reformed stationery hoarder turned subscription box curator. Still can't pass a Japanese stationery store without going in "just to look." Mother to a 2-year-old who's already mastering his coloring books with teardrop-shaped Coron crayons (designed for little hands to grip easily).

Favorite Japanese stationery item: Hobonichi planners—I'm not consistent about writing every day, but I love them anyway

Most-requested item from friends: Uni Jetstream ballpoint pens (the cult classic for a reason)

Suitcase space dedicated to stationery on Japan trips: "Let's just say my clothes get vacuum-sealed"

 

Let's Stay Connected

📧 Email: hello@paperbento.store
📸 TikTok: @paper.bento
🌐 Website: paperbento.store

Have questions? Want to share your own Japanese stationery story? I'd love to hear from you.