Test Writing Day

What Is Test Writing Day?

November 22 is Test Writing Day (Tameshigaki no Hi) in Japan. According to the Japan Anniversary Association, it was established by Hiroki Terai, a collector of pen test-writing sheets, to share the hidden appeal of the test-writing sheets for writing instruments in stationery stores.

Inspired by a Song Made Only From Test Writing

The date comes from the day (November 22, 2017) a song became available for digital download created in a collaboration between Terai and the three-piece rock band the peggies.

• Song title: "I Onchu: Bunbouguya-san ni Atta Tameshigaki Dake de Uta o Tsukutte Mimashita" (I made a song using only test writing found in stationery stores)
• How the lyrics were made: Under Terai's supervision and production, more than about 12,000 test-writing sheets were collected from stationery stores across Japan, and the lyrics were written using only words found on them.
• Establishing the day: The song's download release date, November 22, was named Test Writing Day to commemorate the project and was recognized by the Japan Anniversary Association.

Test Writing Reveals the Writer's Personality

An article on the lyrics site UtaTen introducing the song describes test writing, which people do to check how a pen writes, as an act that can unintentionally reveal a writer's personality and the unspoken cries of their soul.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Stop by a stationery store and look at the words written on the test-writing sheets
• Try out new pens and compare how they write
• Think about what you usually write when you test a pen
• Listen to "I Onchu" and see which words became lyrics

A Day to Notice Everyday Words

Test Writing Day shines a light on the test-writing sheets tucked away in stationery stores. The next time you try out a pen, it might be fun to think a little about what you write.