Loading... Please wait...

Seven Seas "MicroDot" A5 Grid Journal

Image 1
  • Image 1
  • Image 2
  • Image 3
  • Image 4
  • Image 5
  • Image 6
  • Image 7
  • Placing the included blotter sheet under the page makes the blurriness of the ghosting disappear.
  • Fun with brush pens!
  • The water-based ink crinkles the thin paper. We love that!
  • Image 11
  • Some people don't like the ghosting from the page underneath, but we love it. It adds a bit of whimsy.
  • Image 13
  • Image 14
  • Image 15
  • Image 16
  • Image 17
Pin It
Price:
$27.00
Rating:
( 61 product reviews )
Shipping:
Calculated at checkout
Max Purchase:
5 unit(s)
Quantity:

Microdot v2.0

 

After many years, the Microdot is finally back! This time with the Sanzen Tomoe River paper.

We've also improved the dot. Last time, it was .8mm, and this time we made it substantially smaller - 0.6mm. And the bullseye-style dot repels less ink than a solid dot.

Printing is also improved -  our double-sided printing is more precise, superimposing the back dot with the front dot, for a more precise look.

 

Note: There was a printing error that cause the case text to be off center. As a result, we have lowered the price by a dollar. This error is just on the case, it does not affect the notebook itself.

 

Features:

  • Flexible, semi-stiff coated fabric cover.
  • Smythe-sewn (thread-bound), lay-flat binding
  • White Tomoe River paper - lots and lots of it
  • No cover printing or branding except for the back end sheet
  • Comes with a kraft slip case

 

The pages are "thread-bound", which is a very old and still the best production method of bookbinding. Thread-bound pages are sewn (with a special sewing machine) into signatures, which are gathered to form a text-block, which is then cased into a cover. This method allows the journal to lay flat with no stress to the spine, and for that reason it is the absolute best method for binding a book (including a library book) that sees the daily rigors of opening, closing and pressing down with the hands. It can even be folded back on itself. If you were to go on an around-the-world trip over the course of many months and needed to document your experiences in great detail, this journal would certainly be up to the task.


The paper size is A5 (148x210mm or 8.3x5.8 inches), and 15mm thick. The cover is made of a coated fabric, similar to buckram, but a bit less coarse and heavy duty. The cover has also been made stiffer through the use of a core board sandwiched between the fabric and the end sheets. You can use the book as-is, or put it inside a leather, cloth, paper, vinyl, fabric, etc. outer cover.

 

Tips:

 

  • The notebook will lay flatter if you bend it back on itself a bit. Go ahead and bend it backwards! It won't break.
  • If you use a fine-to-medium fountain pen, the ink will generally dry fast enough. If it doesn't, close the book on the included pink blotter sheet.
  • If you use a pencil, softer leads such as 2B and 3B work well.
  • Pencil marks erase very cleanly from this paper, and using a high quality eraser is pure pleasure. Don't be surprised if you find yourself making mistakes on purpose.
  • If you find the book a bit thick for your writing style, please read this.

 

Recommended accessories:

 

 

Specifications:
 

  • Size A5, 210x148mm, 15mm thick, (8.3x5.8x0.7 inches)
  • White-color (which is really an off-white) Tomoe River "Notebook" paper
  • 5mm dot grid
  • 480 pages (240 leaves), no lines, rounded corners
  • Lay-flat thread binding
  • Flexible, tough, thin water-resistant coated-fabric cover
  • Ivory-colored end sheets
  • Comes with one A5 blotter paper
  • Made in Japan

 

ABOUT MANUFACTURING VARIATION: We've found that Tomoe River paper, and thin paper in general, is unlike working with "regular" weight papers such as 20 lb bond, laid, wove, etc. papers (we have actually be unable to find any binders in the US that are willing to work with TR paper). Tomoe River paper is very sensitive to humidity, and when bound in a thick book by machine as ours are, some unexpected variations can occur. So far, we've experienced the following (also please see the pictures):

  1. Rippled pages
  2. A subtle "waviness" on the edge of the book block
  3. Dog-eared pages (rare)

None of these issues will affect the writing surface or quality of the writing experience, and it's not practical for us to go through each book page-by-page (these issues can be quite random). However, if for any reason you are not satisfied with the book you receive, please let us know (dave@nanamipaper.com) and we'll do our best to rectify the situation. Thank you for your understanding!

For more information and design goals, please read the Seven Seas Journal Fact Page.

If you'd like to compare this journal to the cost of other journals, please see our notebook value comparison.

Did you know that Hemingway wrote with a pencil? We like to think that, had he known about the Seven Seas Standard, he would have used a fountain pen. Here's the full story.

 

Write your own product review

Product Reviews

Showing reviews 1-10 of 61 | Next

  1. Worthy option in the Nanami line up 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 2nd Nov 2023

    This is my first experience with the Sanzen TR52:

    I loved the original TR52, and the New TR52 was a noticeable stepdown in quality; my notebooks containing New TR where inconsistent, with every 5-10 pages containing sections of a page that feathered terribly.

    The Sanzen version is much improved, much more consistent, and although not the same as original TR52, functions almost as good. The texture is a little different, but it has the same no bleed through no feathering as the original TR52

    I did not try the original Microdot, but this recent version of the Microdot is excellent. I find Microdots unintrusive, and I like it as much as my Crossfield, my go to notebook.

    The end result is one of the best notebooks currently on the market for my writing purposes

  2. Amazing Notebook 4 Star Review

    Posted by on 20th Sep 2023

    Amazing notebook with great paper. Only complaint is how obvious the dots are on the paper. Even after writing in it, the dots tend to stand out with lighter inks. Otherwise this is a great notebook and a delight to write in.

  3. always the best! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 14th Jun 2023

    as always, totally satisfied..customer svc, product, everything..perfect!

  4. Greatest Journal 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 12th Jun 2023

    This is the greatest notebook for journalling. I don't have anymore to say because it is the best.

  5. As good as it gets! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 23rd Dec 2022

    Tomoe river paper tops the list of favorites for fountain pen ink. The newer paper is slightly different in texture but still at the top of the list. Nanami tops the list by putting this paper into a sturdy bound, thick bundled journal for all my analog needs. Thank you.

  6. My New Favorite Journal 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 14th Dec 2022

    I am very picky about my notebooks. The grid must be 5mm, the dots must be dark enough, but not too dark, and their color can't be distracting. I had my fingers crossed that the MicroDot would meet my demanding criteria. AND IT DOES! This journal is perfect. And with 480 pages, I think it might last the year. Thank you, Nanami.

  7. Almost all the way there 4 Star Review

    Posted by on 1st Dec 2022

    When I saw that Nanami was offering the Seven Seas Microdot with the new TR52 paper I ordered 2 right away. This is my journaling notebook of choice, I am very happy to discover that the new TR52 is very close to the old version that so many of us love. The shading and sheen from complex inks is there, really, the only material difference I can see is that the paper is not as freely smooth as the older version, in that context it feels a little like Rhodia paper. But the good news is that this is a great paper and the Seven Seas A5 notebook is still the king of journaling notebooks for me.

  8. Precious A5 size dot notebook. 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 28th Nov 2022

    Every page feel as silk when touch. Very pleasant to write. Love A5 size in notebook, because they are no small and no big. Very in love with Nanami products. Absolutely recommend this item to any person who enjoy and appreciate high level of quality.

  9. Great paper, alright notebook. 3 Star Review

    Posted by on 24th Jul 2021

    I got it about five months ago, I'm in love with the TR paper. True pleasure to write on. The notebook's corners split pretty badly, so I fixed them with tape. I'd recommend getting some sort of cover for it.

  10. Would definitely recommend! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 23rd Mar 2021

    This journal is the best! It is immediately bendable, no breaking in period needed, no creased spine and subsequent loose sheets. It’s small enough to be portable but large enough so that I don’t feel scrunched, and amazingly light considering the 480 pages! As someone new to Tomoe River paper ( I know I’m very late;)) I was surprised by the paper’s smoothness and how well it took fountain pen ink, as well as the glide under my fountain pen. I can’t wait to order another one! I was wary at first of ordering because of the mail situation and how far it had to come ( the opposite coast) but not only did it get here, Nanami responded immediately to my nervous email as I waited for my parcel to move through USPS Tracking. I only wish Nanami notebooks were more widely available. The Microdot is a new favorite!

Showing reviews 1-10 of 61 | Next