My Favorite Stationery | Kaeko Yamashita (Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care)
2008.04.10
I feel that the word "stationery" is being used less and less in our daily lives. Perhaps this is because the items we associate with the word "stationery"—tools necessary for writing, such as pens, ink, fountain pens, ballpoint pens, brushes, pencils, erasers, notebooks, paper, and rulers—are being replaced by computer keyboards and mice. Come to think of it, if stationery is defined as "tools necessary for writing," then the computer keyboard, mouse, and printer that I use regularly, which are devices for writing, must surely fall under a broader definition of stationery.
When I hear the phrase "my favorite stationery," three items come to mind. The first is a "bamboo ruler," something I imagine no one uses anymore. This is something my mother used when sewing kimonos when I was a child. Looking at it seems to convey her warmth and meticulousness. I use this slightly worn ruler to draw lines when I'm creating a new plan or making a chart that I want to finish with great care. The lines are never perfectly straight, but perhaps because I believe that when I concentrate and manage to draw a good line, my new plan will proceed smoothly, I find myself using this ruler, even though I know it's irrational.
The second is a 2B "MITSUBISHI-uni" pencil. The soft feel of the 2B lead unconsciously embodies my various thoughts into the act of writing, leaving them as text. It has become an essential item for jotting down favorite words or someone's poem I like in a large notebook on my desk, noting my own haiku (?), or drafting letters I want to write with care (though this is rare recently) and organizing my ideas. I remember my first encounter with 2B or B pencils was during my adolescence, and captivated by their soft writing feel, I continue to use them to this day. Incidentally, the company that makes this pencil was founded in 1887.
The third is the computer mouse I am using to write this manuscript. This mouse fits perfectly in my palm, has a good balance of firmness and softness, is stable, and helps my thought process without me even noticing. It's one of my favorite items. My concern is that its connector is not universal, so when the time comes to replace my computer with a new model, the future of my relationship with this mouse is uncertain. However, I hope to continue using it for as long as possible.
Looking back, I realize that my "favorites" are rooted in sentiment and function (familiarity). When I look around at the stationery-related items I have, I see a mix of old and new things on my desk, creating an environment where the conditions for "learning from the past to understand the new" (a concept known as *onko-chishin*) are in place. As the new academic year begins, I have renewed my resolve to strive to "gain knowledge and methods to adapt to new things by thoroughly studying the old," just as the saying suggests.
(Published: 2008/04/10)