Last weekend I visited TSUTAYA Bookstore in Johor Bahru, Malaysia - an hour’s drive up from Singapore. I spotted some relatively new products on display, namely the stationery range under the OBJECT INDEX label.
Sporting muted grey recyclable cardboard packaging with white sans-serif typography and high contrast yellow tape, the line up looked classy, urban and sophisticated. As far as I can ascertain, OBJECT INDEX is a sister brand to Kakimori, a brand that stopped making fountain pens to focus on high quality inks and supplies…
Established in 2023, OBJECT INDEX does not make its own stationery but curates selected goods from various brands and resells them in their own assorted colors and styles. This business model immediately reminded me of Craft Design Technology, although CDT has been marketed with a somewhat higher-end sensibility. OBJECT INDEX on the other hand, claims to be targeting everyday users. I guess they could be thought of as a CDT done by MUJI?
The first item that caught my eye was No. 02 CEDAR POCKET PEN. If you’ve collected stationery for a few years you will immediately recognize that this wooden hex pen is an OHTO original. It has been variously OEM’d for other brands like High Tide/Penco, MUJI, and other smaller labels that I suspect are OHTO subsidiaries targeting specific markets.
Point of note: the bright yellow tape on the package is functional – it holds together the folded halves of the cardboard package and also retains the pen through the cutout slot. It was nice to see two extra needle-point refills included.
Next on my list was No. 09 ELEMENTARY PENCIL SET. I picked the gradient finished yellow version, which showed part of the wooden body. This is another classic OHTO offering, which has appeared under the Kitaboshi and other brands.
3 pieces of yellow tape held the package together, revealing the pencil, a tube of spare leads, a portable lead pointer and a triangular artist’s eraser block.
Lastly, I chose No. 16 TOGGLE PEN. This grey double tipped ballpoint can might be seen as ‘lazy design pretending to be smart’. One press of the red-accented clip knock deploys BOTH the black and red ink tips at the same time. The user simply ‘toggles’ or twirls the pen over to use the other ink color. I guess it is no less practical than the vintage double-ended Scriptos?
Also included in the package are extra black and red refills. I wondered about the original brand and got a possible answer from @KAWEkollektor on X: the Batons pen by Epoch.
Frustratingly, for all its claims to serve everyday users, OBJECT INDEX is not easy to find online. I tried Rakuten and turned up empty handed. Most online sellers tend to be ‘boutique shops’ that have marked up the prices to eye watering levels.
I think, value wise, these are not really that compelling. However, if you are in Japan and happen to see them at a physical store, or perhaps at an airport gift shop, you might find them pretty cool and presentable as souvenirs. I know I won’t be seeking out the other colors for the wooden pen or pencil… but I’m glad I picked up this trio!
