Kumada Moe

Ms. Kumada is an employee of the Starts Co. editorial department. Her main job is to create the "Yorimichi" (means “detour”) article of the Oz magazine that features information about restaurants and places to enjoy. She is the "stationery maniac" of her department, making various articles about stationery events and stores.

Ms. Kumada created the "Yorimichi Note", a celebration product made for Oz magazine's 30th anniversary.

The connection between Copic Multiliner SP and Ms. Kumada’s job

What kind of work do you do in the editorial department?
Oz is a monthly magazine. We decide on a line of work based on the month's theme and go out to Tokyo or the vicinities to look for materials to cover later. It's not writing a piece about a location but providing tips to the readers by adding information about the place's surroundings and recommending the most scenic route to provide the best time in that place.

After I got a rough idea about what kind of article to put in the magazine, I start to plan the layout and look for the best writer and photographers for that feature. Every member of the department covers 20-25 pages a month.

Over 20 pages a month? That's quite a tight schedule. Is it a common practice to use analog art supplies, such as the Multiliner SP, in the page design process? 
Many people find typing more efficient than handwriting. However, I found the latter the best fit for my job. I can make tiny corrections with ease directly on paper and project the page layout without losing the feel of how the readers will see the magazine with handmade memos.

It's possible to revise your workflow and corrections by seeing the previous notes. When you make a mistake while typing on a device, you only erase it. But in the case of handmade notes, the revisions and corrections remain there.

I stock ideas for future articles, information of shops that I visited, about movies, and brainstorming in my notebook.

I see there is a Multiliner SP beside your notebook. Do you like using it?
I have many Multiliner pens to use with Copic markers, such as the Sepia color and the model with the brush-type nib. The Multiliner SP is my main writing tool for my work and everyday task. I love the 0.1 and 0.2 models.

Why the Multiliner SP?

The SP is on sale in a limited number of places and is a bit more expensive than the original Multiliner. Can you tell us why you like this product in particular?
I have always not been very good at pressing while drawing. My HB pencil sketches are so light, so I cannot use them for work. The SP body's weight fits perfectly for me, and they are great for drawing the first drafts without worrying about the details.

The SP's particular width and weight give you a firmer drawing.
Yes. I used various millimeter pens before, but the SP was the most comfortable one. The Multiliner SP is not expensive compared to other stationery sold around here, so it never felt pricey for me.

"I can make incomplete images with handmade drawings."

So, you made the sample illustration for the "Yorimichi note."
Yes, I projected and made the "Yorimichi note" based on my discoveries on things like the Oz magazine articles. I want users to enjoy exploring and drawing their findings freely in this notebook.
For the announcement of the "Yorimichi note", I made the sample pages with just one Multiliner　SP pen to let the users imagine how to use the notebook. I leave the images uncolored on my note because I prefer to use Copic on "serious" drawings. Rough drafts are made for analysis and review, so one black SP is enough for my notes. I use a notebook and one 0.1 Multiliner SP only.

You have used Copic since middle school until now. A lot of people stop drawing because they get busy in college or vocational school. Did this ever happen to you?

I continued drawing illustrations even during college because my major was in design. Even now, I still do small projects, such as a welcome board illustration for a friend’s wedding. I'm a regular customer of Copic counter at Tokyu Hands store, and I always end up buying some colors before realizing it, even in other shops.

What's the great thing about handwritten notes for you?
The ability to easily remember the things written on paper, and to scribble randomly are the advantages of handwritten notes for me.

However, when skimming through my notebook, there are times when I don't even have a clue of what the meaning of the scribbles are (laugh). For example, I have "Tokyo's regionalization" noted here, probably written when I was doing the "Yorimichi note" research. Handwritten notes are filled with these kinds of small pieces of my ideas.

Today we had the occasion to hear Ms. Kumada's unique experience using the Multiliner SP as a tool for her everyday writing. During our interview with her, we got the impression that she regards Copic as an art tool that has always been with her since her middle school days. We would be really happy if everyone could feel the same way as her. Check out the Multiliner SP that she recommended at our stores.

■About Copic Multiliner SP
Copic Multiliner SP is a pigment-based ink drawing pen that is water and alcohol resistant and ideal to use with Copic markers. The nibs and cartridges can be easily replaced, and the pen body is encased in a solid metal sleeve for long-term durability.