Zebra (ゼブラ)

Founded in Tokyo in 1897, Zebra takes its name from a founder's observation: zebras live in tight herds, an image of the company he wanted to build. The firm first made its name with metal nibs, before becoming one of the big three of Japanese pens alongside Pilot and Uni.

Two products spilled beyond Japan. The Sarasa, a gel pen with dense ink in dozens of shades, became the notebook standard; and the Mildliner, a highlighter in deliberately washed-out tones, single-handedly built the pastel aesthetic of 2010s bullet journals. It is a rare case of an office product turned subculture object.