Stationery essential to everyday life
Even today, as digitalization advances in schools and workplaces, there are still many situations where analog stationery plays an important role.
KURABUN Co., Ltd. provides comprehensive office planning, including proposals for office supplies, and operates Usagiya, a large stationery specialty store boasting one of the region’s largest selections.
Rooted in the local community, Usagiya Kurashiki Store will celebrate its 30th anniversary in November 2025. There, a young employee in her twenties works with the desire to “support someone’s life through stationery.”
Meet Aoi Yurika, a young employee at Usagiya Kurashiki Store.
The information provided was accurate when this article was published in October 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About KURABUN Co., Ltd.
KURABUN Co., Ltd. (hereafter, “KURABUN”) sells office essentials such as stationery, IT equipment, computer systems, and office furniture, and also provides services such as spatial and web design. The company provides comprehensive planning for comfortable office spaces.
KURABUN began in 1951 as a privately owned wholesale paper products business. In 1961, Kurashiki Bungu Co., Ltd. (its former name) was established, and the company began handling office equipment as well. In 1978, it changed its trade name to the current KURABUN Co., Ltd.
For more than 70 years since its founding, the company has continued to contribute to the local community by creating workplaces focused on comfort.
Its main businesses today are as follows:
- “Office Supply Support Business,” supplying and proposing approximately 30,000 office stationery items
- “OA Equipment Production Business,” providing comprehensive planning for office information systems
- “Environment Creation Business,” designing optimal office and facility spaces
- “Personal Business,” operating and managing the large stationery specialty store Usagiya
KURABUN President and CEO Izawa Masanobu’s dream is to “become Japan’s number-one stationery store.” Through stationery, KURABUN enriches the lives of people throughout the region.
Usagiya, a stationery specialty store rooted in the local community
Usagiya is a community-focused large stationery specialty store operated by KURABUN.
With the concept “Excitement and fun—get excited about stationery,” Usagiya offers more than 40,000 items.
Alongside basic office supplies and stationery, it offers art supplies, calligraphy supplies, school backpacks, and original items created in collaboration with local businesses, providing one of the largest selections in the region. One of Usagiya’s attractions is the excitement of searching for a treasure.
As of 2025, there are six stores: Kurashiki Store, Okayama Store, Konan Store, Okayama Higashi Store, Kurashiki Nishi Store, and Fukuyama Minami Store.
Among them, Usagiya Kurashiki Store, the first to open, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in November 2025. Kurashiki Tocotoco has also introduced the appeal of Usagiya, which continues to put down roots in the community, so be sure to check it out as well.
So what exactly does Usagiya do to deliver this excitement?
Aoi Yurika, who works at Usagiya Kurashiki Store
Our interviewee was Aoi Yurika, who works at Usagiya Kurashiki Store. Born in 1999, she is from Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture.
Aoi became interested in customer service after working part-time at a restaurant while she was a student. She attended information sessions at various companies, including manufacturers and financial firms, but her desire to support many people’s lives through stationery led her to join KURABUN, her first-choice employer, in 2022.
Aoi says she was already familiar with Usagiya because she used to visit with her family as a child. Since she could only get there by car with her parents at the time, she recalls, “It felt like a slightly special outing, and I looked forward to every visit.”
About Aoi’s work
Retail work is often associated with standing on the shop floor, operating the register, and assisting customers. But Aoi’s duties go beyond that.
She is involved in the entire process of getting products to customers, from ordering and purchasing new products to creating in-store displays.
She sometimes travels on business, selecting and purchasing products that customers might like at exhibitions and trade fairs outside the prefecture. Usagiya also has specialist buyers, of course, but purchases made from the perspective of store staff help create a product lineup that lets even more customers discover something exciting.
When asked, “Is it difficult to choose which products to purchase?” Aoi replied, “I get a little nervous when buying products we haven’t carried before. Since I have to work hard to sell what I’ve purchased myself, I feel some pressure, but I enjoy bringing new products to our customers.”
Aoi also says that her favorite part of the job is creating displays.
When you enter Usagiya Kurashiki Store, there is a limited-time section near the entrance whose selection changes with the seasons. It features stationery themed around seasonal occasions such as Respect for the Aged Day and Christmas, creating a colorful display that makes you stop and look.
When creating displays, everyone—from the deputy store manager to part-time staff—shares ideas and works together. Aoi says this is her favorite job because it brings about so much exchange.
At Usagiya, staff work together and come up with all kinds of ideas so customers can continue enjoying discovering stationery without getting bored.
How she came to KURABUN
Drawing on her experience working part-time at a restaurant as a student, Aoi began her job search wanting to “work in a role that involves interacting with customers.” At the time, she attended company information sessions across a range of industries, including retail, finance, and manufacturing.
Among them was KURABUN. Aoi knew about Usagiya, but when she attended the company information session, she did not know that KURABUN operated the store.
The speaker at the company information session was KURABUN President and CEO Izawa Masanobu.
Impressed by President Izawa’s personality, Aoi came away with a strong first impression that it seemed like an “interesting company.” She was also struck by President Izawa’s words: “Stationery is always part of life’s turning points.”
For example, documents recording major life events, such as birth and marriage registrations, always require stationery such as writing instruments and personal seals.
Aoi related to Usagiya’s theme: “Stationery lives alongside us throughout our lives.” Wanting to handle stationery that could accompany someone through life, if she was going to do it, she decided to join KURABUN.
From Aoi’s perspective, what makes Usagiya appealing as a workplace?
Aoi believes that the greatest appeal of Usagiya from an employee’s perspective is its “people.”
She recalls that President Izawa’s personality, which had impressed her at the company information session, was what prompted her to join, and that she has continued to receive support from many employees since then.
At Usagiya Kurashiki Store, each employee meets individually with the store manager to discuss “how they want to grow” and set annual personal goals. She says that while everyone works toward their own goals, the workplace is full of consideration, with people supporting one another, so they are able to work with high motivation.
Before the interview, the writer read KURABUN’s recruitment website and was struck by how employees described being “close to George (President Izawa’s nickname).”
So when the writer asked Aoi, “Do you have opportunities to interact with President Izawa?” she replied, “Yes. I think it’s a company where the distance between employees and the president is relatively close.”
President Izawa sometimes visits “Georges Lapin,” the cafe attached to Usagiya, and apparently takes the opportunity to ask employees, “How have you been lately?” and chat with them about what’s new and everyday topics.
During the interview, Aoi said several times, “I’m fortunate to be surrounded by good people.” Perhaps a comfortable workplace is one where you can rely on others and support one another.
In 2025, Aoi entered her fourth year at KURABUN. We interviewed her about the joys of working at a stationery specialty store rooted in the local community and the appeal of KURABUN’s people.
KURABUN Co., Ltd. Information
| Organization name | KURABUN Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sales of office furniture, OA equipment, and office supplies Design and construction of logistics equipment, air-conditioning equipment, and interior work Operation and management of large stationery specialty stores |
| Representative | Izawa Masanobu |
| Year established | 1961 |
| Address | 2nd Floor, FJK Kurashiki Ekimae Building, 2-9-10 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-9595 |
| Website | KURABUN Co., Ltd. Website |
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