This week’s addict is someone I found on Pinterest, who uploaded this photo: I love the tidy organization and uniformity of these notebooks, as well as the labeling! Hiro’s Pinterest account is in Japanese, so I can’t tell you much more, but there is lots of notebooky good stuff to look at in this board!
A very interesting article about the history of the iconic Tsubame notebook, created by Watanabe Hatsusaburō. In the heady days of the early postwar era, Watanabe Hatsusaburō, founder of the Tokyo-based stationery maker Tsubame, had one thing in mind: to make a high quality, inexpensive notebook. In 1947 he launched the Tsubame nōto, a simply … Continue reading The History of Japan’s Tsubame Notebook
I don’t focus a lot on diaries and planners on this site, mainly because I haven’t used a paper planner myself for many years. But every once in a while, I see something that I have to have. I spotted this pocket size Nolty planner at the Kinokuniya bookstore in NYC, amongst a few other … Continue reading 2018 Nolty Diary from Japan
I was not familiar with Japanese author Shunei Fujisawa, but the publication of some of his notebooks was a notable event in Japan. Shuhei Fujisawa (1927-1997) recorded the deep sorrow he felt over the loss of his wife, Etsuko, in a pocketbook, excerpts of which his sole daughter, Nobuko Endo, has published in a magazine … Continue reading Shunei Fujisawa’s Notebooks
The Hobonichi Techo has become a cult favorite over the last few years, but it’s not the only Japanese planner system out there. I noticed the Jibun Techo at the Baum-kuchen website: “JIBUN TECHO will be a good fit for you if you: –manage your agenda with monthly/weekly but does not need a predated daily … Continue reading Jibun Techo Planner
A commenter named Sara reminded me to check out what might be new at Nanami Paper. If you like the Tomoe River paper found in certain Japanese notebooks, such as those made by Design.Y, Nanami Paper offers its own brand of notebooks called Seven Seas, which feature this lovely paper in a softcover lay-flat binding. … Continue reading Nanami Paper’s Value Comparison
From The Finer Point, beautiful photos of a Hobonichi Techo planner, after 10 months of daily use: “The Hobonichi Techo has been the one stationery constant in my life this year. I use it every day to record things that have happened, places I have visited and big occasions that I want to remember. I am … Continue reading Almost a Year of the Hobonichi Techo
These notebooks have an unusual design combo: vintage science, math and medical illustrations embellished with embroidery: “Since we last checked out Athens-based Fabulous Cat Papers (previously) they’ve released a whole new series of notebooks that incorporate vintage science/medical illustrations printed on Japanese paper with hand-stitched embroidery. The notebooks come in a variety of sizes and … Continue reading Notebooks With Embroidered Science Illustrations
I don’t remember how I first heard that there was such a thing as Japanese stationery magazines, and I’m not even sure if “magazine” is the right word for them. The first one I’d heard of was a series of numbered volumes called “Note and Diary Style Book.” I searched for them on Amazon Japan, … Continue reading Japanese Stationery Magazines (and Giveaway!)
Allister emailed me to share this photo of his collection, which is one of the most attractively arranged ones I’ve seen! Allister also makes notebooks: “Last year, I decided to take this passion a little further and opened an Etsy store selling Japanese notebooks that I hand-make myself. That way, I can experience that delightful … Continue reading Notebook Addict of the Week: Allister