If you tell most parents to hand their kid a crayon and point them at the living room window, they will look at you like you’ve lost your mind. Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd. (日本理化学工業株式会社) built an award-winning brand by encouraging people to do exactly that.
Founded in 1937, the Kanagawa-based manufacturer is best known in Japan for its dustless classroom chalk and its standout eco-art medium: Kitpas (キットパス). Rather than using petroleum paraffin, Kitpas reformulated its core drawing sticks around domestic rice bran wax, producing buttery, highly pigmented crayons that mark smoothly on paper, write directly on non-porous surfaces like glass and mirrors, wipe off cleanly with a wet rag, and dissolve with a wet brush to function as watercolors.
The format proved so versatile that in 2024, the series' design collaboration kitpas by ARTIST ecru took home the Grand Prix in the Sustainability Category at the 33rd Japan Stationery Awards (日本文具大賞).
Grand Prix winner Nihon Rikigaku Industry's Kitpas by Artist ecru in 2024
To celebrate "Kitpas Day" on November 11, 2026, Nihon Rikagaku is dropping the fourth entry in the series: a two-box collaboration with cult-favorite Japanese illustrator and soft-vinyl designer Monyochita Pomichi (モニョチタポミチ).
The Allure of Monyochita Pomichi's Retro-Pop World
Monyochita Pomichi has built a devoted following across Tokyo gallery circuits and designer toy shops with her signature characters: cool, deadpan, slightly mischievous girls with bold eyes, retro haircuts, and pet companions rendered in bright, graphic shapes.
For this release, the packaging features custom colored pencil and Kitpas illustrations on natural kraft stock, wrapped with an elastic cord closure that doubles as a hanging loop. Inside, each compact slide box houses six rice-wax sticks wrapped in eco-friendly paper sleeves, hand-curated to reflect two distinct color temperaments.
Two Palettes: Lavender vs. Orange
Rather than dumping random primary shades into a tin, each set is curated around specific mood palettes designed for quick sketchbook doodles or mirror drawings:
Monyochita Pomichi LAVENDER
The Concept: A cool, clear palette with high translucency and soft pastel tones.
Included Colors (6 Sticks): Indigo Blue, Ice Blue, Mint Green, Lavender, Salmon Pink, Magenta.
Monyochita Pomichi ORANGE
The Concept: A warm, punchy, retro-pop colorway with high contrast.
Included Colors (6 Sticks): Midnight Blue, Pale Purple, Yellow Green, Blue Green, Orange, Pink.
Ethical Manufacturing: The Story Behind the Box
Beyond the retro packaging and non-toxic food-grade rice wax ingredients, Nihon Rikagaku operates with one of the most respected inclusive employment models in Japan.
Approximately 70% of the workforce across the company’s Kawasaki and Bibai factories are individuals with intellectual disabilities. From rolling the individual paper sleeves around the wax sticks to hand-folding the cardboard cartons and packing the retail counter displays, the physical assembly of every Kitpas box is handled by long-term factory staff under specialized, adaptive workflows.
Product Specifications & Japanese Retail Availability
Product Name: kitpas by Artist Monyochita Pomichi (kitpas by Artist モニョチタポミチ)
Brand / Manufacturer: Nihon Rikagaku Industry Co., Ltd.
Collaborating Artist: Monyochita Pomichi (モニョチタポミチ)
Release Date: November 11, 2026
Retail Price: ¥880 (tax included / ¥800 before tax) per set
Core Ingredients: Domestic Japanese rice bran wax, color pigment
Where to Buy: Major Japanese stationery boutiques, Loft, Hands, museum gift shops, and online via the official Nihon Rikagaku web shop (rikagaku.co.jp).
