Celebrating its' 40th birthday in 2013, Sakura Coupy Pencils is at the centre of what Choosing Keeping thinks of as the "Japanese Stationery Canon". This tin whose distinguishably colourful and geometric packaging has remained unchained since 1973 could easily belong to any Japanese person's childhood time capsule.
A smaller set, less opulent, was part of our standard issue stationery pack given by Tokyo school ISSH in the 80s and preciously guarded as not to break one or lose a colour.
Beyond childhood it can be a very useful set for landscape architects (because they are waterproof) or anyone wanting colour blocking and vivid tones as part of their art practice. Manga artists in particular have been known to make use of Coupy pencils.
They are erasable, sharpenable, and do not leave any colour marks on fingers.
