Japan’s beloved stationery giant Kokuyo has planted its flag in Singapore, opening its first-ever dedicated retail store at Ann Siang Hill. The new public-facing shop, which launched at 31 and 33 Ann Siang Road, allows fans to browse and buy the brand’s iconic notebooks, staplers, and glue rollers without booking a flight to Tokyo. Situated within a three-storey office and showroom, the 447-square-metre space also doubles as Kokuyo’s Singapore headquarters and a showcase for its furniture line, Lamex, which joined the Kokuyo Group in 2022.
What’s Inside the Store
The ground-floor retail area stocks Kokuyo’s most famous product line, the Campus range of notebooks. Shoppers can choose from classic ruled, dot-ruled, and flat-opening versions that have become staples in classrooms and offices across Asia. Other must-have items include the needle-free Harinacs stapler, which uses a crimping mechanism instead of metal staples, and the Dotliner glue roller, a precise adhesive applicator beloved by stationery enthusiasts.
Beyond the merchandise, the store offers a glimpse into how Kokuyo thinks about design. The upstairs portion features a “Live Office” where employees work in full view, allowing visitors to see furniture setups in action. Customers can also test different configurations, attend workshops, and observe how the brand integrates its products into real-world workflows.
A Century of Craftsmanship
Kokuyo’s roots trace back to 1905 in Osaka, where it began by manufacturing covers for Japanese account ledgers. The company introduced the Campus notebook in 1975, a product that would become synonymous with Japanese stationery culture. Over decades, Kokuyo refined the design—adjusting paper thickness, binding durability, and ruling patterns—until it became a benchmark for quality. Today, the brand is one of Japan’s leading names in stationery, office supplies, and furniture.
Singapore already boasts a vibrant stationery scene, from independent shops to specialty stores. But Kokuyo’s arrival adds a distinctly Japanese perspective: one that treats everyday tools like paper and pens as thoughtfully designed objects rather than disposable school supplies. The curated selection offers a small window into Japan’s deep-rooted stationery culture, where precision and aesthetics matter equally.
Broader Implications for Singapore’s Market
The opening reflects a growing demand for premium, functional stationery in Southeast Asia. Kokuyo’s decision to combine a retail store with a working office and showroom signals a shift toward experiential retail—where customers can interact with products in environments designed for actual use. For office managers and design professionals, the space doubles as a live lab for testing ergonomic furniture and workflow layouts.
Next Steps for Visitors
The store is open to the public during regular business hours. Stationery enthusiasts should expect a carefully curated selection, not a full catalogue, but the rotating inventory means new items will appear regularly. For those unable to visit, Kokuyo has set up a dedicated page online with more details about the space and its products.
For more information, visit Kokuyo’s official insights page.
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