Most tourists visit Japan, sensibly enough, for the sushi, the sakura, and the swords. I like all of the above, and chased after all of them during our recent trip to Tokyo (a highlight was seeing a ...

Nendo, a Tokyo-based design with a knack for making pretty much everything, designed a ballpoint pen. The Blen — made for the Japanese pen company Zebra — is a subtle, $2.50 upgrade on the everyday ...