Japan Today Get your ticket to GaijinPot Expo 2024
business

Japan's stationery sector rocked by pencil supply crisis

33 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2015 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

33 Comments
Login to comment

Japan's stationery sector rocked by pencil supply crisis

Someone needs buttering up.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Just another day in the world of Japanese headline news. "Rocked" indeed. What a crisis! ,

6 ( +9 / -3 )

This is a pen...cil

1 ( +6 / -5 )

1st world problems!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

What's next, Butter ?

18 ( +21 / -3 )

Justifiable panic, because apparently no one, in the whole entire world, makes a coloured pencil.

Strange, because I do not hear of architects in other countries panicking.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

So, what... are they imposing a major choke-hold on the pencil industry like they are with butter? Are pencils now going to be five times what they cost in other countries and the government will impose massive tariffs to protect companies that can't meet demands? If not, what's the big deal? they'll still be 108 yen at the dollar store.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Japan really is hopeless. Can't even do pencils!

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Ok everyone start bringing back the pencil they have taken home, Problem solved.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Justifiable panic, because apparently no one, in the whole entire world, makes a coloured pencil.

Try Derwent Artists' pencils.

http://www.pencils.co.uk/en/gb/home

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

While it would seem ridiculous that these pencils are only available from this manufacturer, it is, in fact, not as ridiculous as it seems.

Keep in mind that the manga/anime industry developed in Japan and was built upon a reliance on specific colours, which were predicated upon specific colour pencils, where the shades and textures are known and artists/animators have developed their experience using these specific pencils.

Now, get rid of them. And then tell these individuals to replace them with pencils they have never used, where the shades and textures are unknown. This is the equivalent of taking away the clay that a potter has used his whole life and asking him to go find a substitute that will allow him to create work of the same quality in every aspect.

This is not a small thing, despite what some may think.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Noble pencils as it seems

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A good opportunity for the TPP advocates. There are several very good colored pencil manufacturers in the world. I bought my daughter thousands of them throughout her school years and she still uses them to color those fancy adult coloring books. And I've still got a shoe box full of them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Too funny!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I don't know whether to take this article seriously or not.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"pencil supply crisis"

Only in Japan.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Haven't use pencil for a while even since I was still in elementary school (used those refill lead ones). Only time I use is to mark a line on a piece of wood before cutting it which one could pretty much last for years in my case.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

There are several very good colored pencil manufacturers in the world.

I'm sorry but this is a difficult option. Our delicate hands require pencils of the highest quality that can only be supplied by authentic Japanese pencil manufacturers, envied by the world.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Ohh Nooo! It can't be true, how horrible. "Japan's Stationary sector Rocked", this is global news, why didn't I read about it elsewhere?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And next will come a tsunami of butter? I can't believe it's...oh, never mind.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

let me know what you need and I'll ship it to you. I'll take your business, thanks Japan

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Some people will just read the headline and buy a lot of pencils. Great marketing tool to increase demand just like how they said there was a toilet paper shortage last year.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Okay, so buy some pencils from overseas! Problem solved.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

deadbeatles, ill ship them out to you in a plain brown wrapped box, they will never know!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A pencil shortage?! Oh my.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dread to think what next... Fax-paper shortage perhaps?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The pen(cil) is mightier than the sword...apparently supply and demand killed it ;)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This is the problem when the private sector controls supply and demand.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Toilet paper, pencils next it will be rocks!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Try Caran D'Ache or Holbein coloured pencils instead.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites