Talking About LOFT Stationery and Fans
Ep.33 Talking About LOFT Stationery and Fans
Published: June 21, 2025, 23:47
Management / Edit
Preface
This time, Panda forgot to tell ChatGPT to write a reflection,
so ChatGPT stayed quiet.
By the way—everyone—forty-thousand-yen pens may look fancy,
but stationery should always be test-written at the store before you buy it!
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Main Story
My daughter was watching Hajime Shacho’s LOFT Shopping video,
and wow… he was spending money on some pretty questionable stuff.
First up: a luxury fountain pen.
Price tag? 400,000 yen.
Now, Panda is actually a little picky when it comes to stationery.
When my kids were still in junior high,
I went shopping at WonderGOO, which had a fully stocked stationery section.
And I went in with this mindset:
“If it helps my kids write comfortably, I won’t put a price on it!”
So I picked up a 20,000 yen ballpoint pen—
and it was heavy as a brick.
So I asked the clerk:
“Could you call over someone like a stationery expert?
My budget is 20,000 yen max. I want a pen designed with ergonomics in mind—
something truly easy for kids to write with.”
And I added:
“Because I tried this expensive pen, but honestly, it’s way too heavy for a kid who has to write a lot.”
The clerk nodded and said:
“Yes, high-end pens are heavy—on purpose, for that ‘luxury’ feel.
Based on your conditions, the best option is… this Japanese-made pen. Price: 200 yen.”
…What!?
At the time, stylish pens weren’t really a thing yet. Functionality ruled.
So I pushed back:
“Um, I could go up to maybe 1,000 yen. Isn’t there anything a little more stylish?”
But nope—back then, they didn’t exist.
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But rest assured, dear customer!
Panda’s stubborn demands moved the Japanese stationery industry!!
Now, we have them! Stylish and high-function pens! Tons of them!
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Flash forward:
During the COVID years, I went to Disneyland and bought some Chinese-made pens with cute illustrations as souvenirs.
I gave some away, kept one for myself, and…
It broke almost immediately.
We paid good money for this junk!?
Charge 200 yen more and stock Japanese-made ones, please!!
I ranted and ranted…
and guess what? Panda’s stubborn demand was adopted here too!
Now at Tokyo Disney Resort, they sell Made in Japan pens.
And the price? Practically the same as the old Chinese ones!
But smooth, durable, and trustworthy.
Thank you, Japanese products!!
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Next item Hajime Shacho bought:
A “high-power, silent mini fan.”
Hey—look at the battery life!
High power means the battery drains faster!!
Check that before you buy it!!
Don’t just go: “I’ll take this one!”
I get that he doesn’t have time to carefully shop on camera,
but please, don’t recommend trash to viewers.
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Comments (Editorial Notes)
•The core of this piece is Panda’s “life lessons from experience” and “criteria for choosing products.”
•To make it clearer, I emphasized dialogue and key phrases.
•I left some casual tone in—it’s Panda’s style, and it works.
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Afterword
A story about my son:
When he was in elementary school, he begged me to buy a 6,000 yen alarm clock—just because Hajime Shacho recommended it.
It broke in a year.
Please, don’t recommend stuff like that!
We’re not poor, but we’re not rolling in money like you, either.
Even if we were rich, it’s just depressing to see something expensive break that fast!!
