Kokuyo x Yanagi Sori Rotary Tape Dispenser
Last updated: 11 October 2026
The Yanagi Sori tape dispenser is a reissue of a desk object Yanagi Sori designed in the 1960s. Kokuyo, the Japanese stationery company, made it with Yanagi Design by 3D-scanning the original.
It has a cast iron base and a body that turns a full 360 degrees, and it weighs 2kg. Japan House London sells it for £355 with free UK delivery. Kokuyo has now ended production, so the UK stock is what is left. I checked the price and stock on 11 October 2026.
Who Yanagi Sori was
Yanagi Sori (1915 to 2011) was a Japanese industrial designer. His best-known piece is the Butterfly Stool, designed in 1954 in rosewood-faced plywood. The V&A has one, and its record for the Butterfly Stool adds a family detail. His father was a leading figure in the Japanese Mingei folk craft movement.
So this tape dispenser is a much cheaper way to own a piece of his work than the stool.
What the Kokuyo reissue is
Japan House London says the original is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. To make the reissue, Kokuyo and Yanagi Design 3D-scanned that original rather than redrawing it.
The reissue went on sale in Japan on 25 February 2020 at ¥25,000, as Impress Watch reported. Since then, Kokuyo has moved it onto its end-of-production list. So the stock in shops now is not being replaced.
How the Yanagi Sori tape dispenser works
| Size | 16 x 11.5cm, 13.5cm tall |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2kg |
| Base | Cast iron, with a non-slip pad underneath |
| Body | Melamine resin, turns 360 degrees |
| Tape | Rolls up to 24mm wide and 100mm across |
| Blade | Removable and replaceable |
At 2kg, it stays put when you pull tape with one hand. Meanwhile, the body turns so you can face the blade whichever way suits the desk.
It also takes large tape rolls up to 100mm across, not just the small rolls cheap dispensers use.
The limits
It is £355 for something that cuts tape. So it makes sense for someone who already cares about Yanagi Sori or Japanese design. Otherwise, a plain weighted dispenser does the same job for far less.
Also, Kokuyo has ended production. Replacement blades may get harder to find as a result. And once Japan House London sells out, the UK stock may not come back.
Delivery and returns
Japan House London delivers free on orders over £50, to UK addresses only. Orders placed before 3pm on a weekday aim to dispatch the next working day.
You can return it within 14 days if it is complete, unused and in its packaging. The return label is free because the order shipped free. Alternatively, take it back to the shop at 101 to 111 Kensington High Street.
Buy the tape dispenser at Japan House London
FAQs
How much is the Yanagi Sori tape dispenser in the UK?
Japan House London sells it for £355 including VAT, with free UK delivery. I checked this on 11 October 2026.
Is the Kokuyo Yanagi Sori tape dispenser still made?
No. Kokuyo has listed it as ended production, so the stock left in shops is not being replaced.
How heavy is it?
It weighs 2kg and has a cast iron base, so it stays still while you pull tape.
What size tape does it take?
It takes rolls up to 24mm wide and 100mm across, which covers the large office rolls.
Where can I see it in person?
Japan House London on Kensington High Street sells it, and you can also return an online order there.
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- Jasper Morrison table clock: another quiet, well-made object for the same desk.
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Prices and stock change, so check the shop before you buy.
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