Here are some unique stationery items for people who want to be a little more particular about the things they use every day, or who want to add a little playfulness to their daily lives.

This set includes a notepad and two types of sticky notes that can be used not only for work and study but also for shopping notes and all kinds of messages.

But these are no ordinary notepads and sticky notes. In fact, they're not made of paper but from natural wood!

Thin wood veneer, known as kyōgi, can replace paper!

These notepad and sticky notes are made of an ultrathin wood veneer known as kyōgi 経木 in Japanese.

Even among Japanese people, it's not such a familiar word, but you've probably seen it if you've ever visited Japan and eaten takoyaki from a takoyaki stand (they're used in the tray), bought a special bento at a train station, or onigiri rice balls from a traditional specialty shop.

Kyōgi is made by slicing wood such as Japanese red pine into thin sheets between 0.15 to 0.25 millimeters thick. In Japan, it has been used for wrapping food since ancient times.

Wood from conifers such as the Japanese red pine is said to have antibacterial properties. Since it absorbs excess water on the surface of foods and is a breathable material, kyōgi has long been considered the best way to preserve the taste and freshness of meat and fish.

Since the 1960s, synthetic materials such as plastic wrap and Styrofoam have become mainstream, and the demand for kyōgi has decreased dramatically, but it can still be found today, as mentioned in the examples above.

It's this material, still a familiar sight in Japanese life, which is featured in the KIZARA wood memo pad and sticky notes.

What it's like to use KIZARA

These wooden memo pads and sticky notes are handmade one by one by craftsmen using natural wood. No two pieces of wood have the same grain and feel.

These items are very unique and eye-catching, but you must be wondering how it feels to use them.

A writer at our sister site Grape tried it out in their office!

She wrote messages on one of the sticky notes, and it looked great! Her co-workers were surprised to receive them!

They said, "These sticky notes are interesting! Are they real wood?"

You can enjoy the slight scent and feel of wood, and it's unusual, so it was very popular! Some people said they wanted to try using them themselves.

When writing, if you follow the grain, you can write easily.

Here is a sample of her jottings:

The writer was worried that it would bleed since it's made of wood, but it wrote beautifully! Oil-based pens don't bleed through, and you can even draw lines with markers.

Apparently, inks with high water content, like Japanese brush pens, may bleed but it seems to be fine for daily use.

Since the wood is carved, each sheet is unique, and there are some inconsistencies but that's part of the natural charm of this product!

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Available in small, medium, and large sizes!

These unusual wooden memo pads and sticky notes are available in three different sizes at grape Shop. Each set includes one memo pad, and two types of sticky notes.

Small set

The size of the notepad is 11 cm long x 7.4 cm wide. It can be used for simple memos.

Medium set

The notepad 15.4 cm long x 10 cm wide. Just the right size for daily use.

Large set

With a size of 18.4 cm in length and 12.6 cm in width, you can write a lot just like a conventional notebook.

The memo pad doesn't have perforations for cutting. This is because the sheets can be cut out from anywhere along the grain of the wood. That's another unique feature that distinguishes this from normal paper memo pads.

Two types of sticky notes

The sticky notes come in two sizes: 70 mm x 70 mm and 23 mm x 70 mm.

It's easy to stick them on surfaces, but be a little careful when peeling them off. They're delicate, so if you try to peel them off too vigorously, the adhesive part may tear off!

The Grape writer made a mistake at first when she was first using it the memo pads. The key is to turn the pages over gently and slowly.

The sticky notes can be attached anywhere and arranged as you see fit. Enjoy using them in your own way.

The KIZARA wood memo pads and sticky notes will let you feel the warmth of wood. The product is also environmentally friendly, as it decomposes and returns to the soil.

Why not incorporate these new yet nostalgic items, created by nature and the skill of Japanese craftsmen, into your daily life?