Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal Sanzen TRP 8th Edition

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Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal Sanzen TRP 8th Edition

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Seven Seas
Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal Sanzen TRP 8th Edition

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Tomoe River
Seven Seas "WRITER" A5 Journal Sanzen TRP 8th Edition

Price:

$28.00

Rating:

( 199 product reviews )

Shipping:

Calculated at checkout

Max Purchase:

12 unit(s)

This is the 8th edition Writer, with the Sanzen 52gsm cream Tomoe River paper. Please note that all review prior to 4/3/2025 are for earlier editions!

Thanks to its cult-like following, Tomoe River paper needs no introduction, so onward to the Seven Seas Writer!

We like to think of the Seven Seas Writer not as a great fountain pen notebook, but rather as a great notebook that just happens to be fountain-pen-friendly. Therefore, regardless of your chosen writing instrument, you will enjoy this notebook's substantial page count (480), pleasant heft, subtle printed lines, lay-flat capability and unassuming character.

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 automated 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 impregnated cloth, stiffened through the use of a core board sandwiched between between it and the end sheets. You can use the book as-is, or put it inside a leather, cloth, paper, vinyl, fabric, etc. outer cover.

For more information, please read the Seven Seas Writer and Standard Notes and also the Seven Seas Tomoe River Journal Facts.

Tips:

The notebook will lay flatter if you bend it back on itself. Don't be afraid to do this - the binding is very strong. there is no way the pages can fall out by themselves.

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, 2B and softer leads work well.

Pencil marks erase very cleanly from this paper. Use a high-quality plastic eraser.

If you find the book a bit thick for your writing style, please read this.

Recommended accessories:

Cheap Notebook Cover and Insert

MF Faux Leather A5 Notebook Cover with bookmark

Seven Seas + Gfeller Kip leather cover

Herz of Japan Italian leather covers

Super Clips and Mini Clips

Hard or soft writing mats - Order size A5; larger works well too

Blotter paper - Order size A5 (please note that the notebook already comes with one sheet)

Specifications:

Size A5, 210x148mm, 8.3x5.8 inches

Cream-color Tomoe River "Notebook" paper, 52gsm

480 pages (240 leaves) with rounded corners and 7mm lines

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):

Rippled pages

A subtle "waviness" on the edge of the book block

Dog-eared pages (rare)

Except for a torn page, none of these issues 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 table.

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

Product Reviews

Previous | Showing reviews 161-170 of 199 | Next

Great Notebook

Posted by Thessaly on 25th Jun 2016

First Impressions

I'll be completely honest, I didn't remotely buy into the hype about Tomoe River paper. I decided on the Seven Seas notebook because of the page count and perfect size journal with FP-friendly paper. This paper is dreamlike. It is super smooth without the waxy feeling of Clairefontaine paper, and despite being incredibly thin, there is no bleeding, and the cream-coloured paper makes the ghosting negligible.
I haven't been this instantly enamoured with a writing experience in years, probably when I first discovered Moleskine in college.
Thanks for the recommendation. I am going to love this notebook.

Second Impressions:

The notebook has a nice weight to it, and the size is just about perfect. The lines are easy to see without being distracting. I've filled several pages already, and while the paper is great, though ink does take quite a while to dry which can be inconvenient if you are writing very quickly. The smoothness of the writing experience is an acceptable tradeoff.

Thanks for making such a wonderful notebook, I'll definitely be getting another when this one is full.
I've been spoiled

Posted by Adrian on 17th Jun 2016

These notebooks are a work of art. Works great with pencils, pens, fountain pens... The shading is amazing with fountain pens, and despite the paper being so thin, I have barely any ghosting and absolutely no bleed through, even with my flex pens.

The journal is bound great and no matter what page you're on, it lies completely flat, and I'm a fan of its simple design. Next up I just have to get a cover for it so I can take it everywhere I go.
Fountain pen users, your search has ended.

Posted by Phillip on 16th Jun 2016

Every fountain pen user who has been blessed with the opportunity to own one of these amazing, awe inspiring, dare I say, THE EPITOME OF ALL NOTEBOOKS" are forever indebted to a small group of skilled craftsman who spent 5 years developing the Tomoe River Paper that is found in the Seven Seas "Writer," "Standard," and "Crossfield," notebooks.
From the many fountain pen users whose search and scoure for the perfect notebook ended at at the nanami paper website, I say "Thank you to Dave and those unsung heroes, the craftsman who gave five years of their lives so that the world can have a notebook worthy and capable to hold the blood, sweat, tears, and ink of a writer. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Quality paper

Posted by Unknown on 7th Jun 2016

I'm very glad when it came back since I was on the lookout for a journal with lots of paper to write or transcribe audio lectures. This journal is very easy to write on especially since I'm not a fountain pen user. I love the quality paper, I started writing in it immediately. It was exactly what I was looking for. I'm waiting for the crossfield to come out, I'm more partial to graph like paper. Thank you nanami for this journal, not many offer that many pages.
Perefect notebook for fountain pen users

Posted by Matthew Webb on 5th Jun 2016

This is by far the best notebook I have used with a fountain pen. The nib seems to float over the page and lays down a perfect line. Even with a wet nib, there is no bleed through.
Best Notebook I Own

Posted by Bill Dunbar on 4th Jun 2016

I have a few shelves of notebooks that I've used over the years, but none of them compare to the Seven Seas Writer. I'm primarily a fountain pen user and Tomoe River is absolutely the best paper I've ever used. It's impossibly thin and smooth, yet there is no bleed through with any of my pens or inks.

The notebook itself is well built, packs a ton of pages into a small space, and I find the line spacing just right. I keep mine in a leather cover, but it's also fine on it's own.
The Writer is an amazing journal

Posted by Perry on 3rd Jun 2016

I love the Seven Seas Writer. I've now gone through 5 our 6 of them. The Tomoe River paper is exceptionally good with most any fountain pen. I have even used Pilot Parallel pens with it and it stands up as good as any calligraphy paper. This has rapidly become my favorite journal.
It's going to be hard

Posted by Lila on 2nd Apr 2016

It's going to be hard to go back to other notebooks. I don't know what it is about this one, but it feels oddly perfect for me.

And that has never happened before.

I really value this one and I'm excited to use and see it age with my writing.

The paper is the best with my fountain pen. It feels and looks like what I always imagined a notebook should feel and look like. The kind of notebook you hope someone will find in the future.

I've been obsessed with notebooks since I saw Indiana Jones write down on his. This is one of the best ones I've ever had.
For the love of Writing

Posted by Louis on 24th Mar 2016

Little did I know how much the seven sees writer was going to bring me joy. From the first time my fountain pen touched it's incredible paper I was immediately taken back over 50 years too when I first learned how to write cursive. This paper is the most remarkable paper I have ever used. Writing in this journal with 480 pages that is only a half an inch thick makes me feel like a kid again. If you have never experienced writing on Tomod River paper you are in for a real treat. I have already purchased two additional journals just to make sure that I don't run out. Try the Seven Seas writer and make yourself happy!
Love, love, love!

Posted by Karen on 22nd Mar 2016

This notebook is my go to for note taking at work and classes. The binding lays flat and the paper is a delight. Pencil, ink, watercolors, paper holds up beautifully.

Previous | Showing reviews 161-170 of 199 | Next

Product Videos

Seven Seas Writer Review (06:59)

Seven Seas Writer notebook made with the amazing Tomoe River Paper. A5: 8.3 x 5.8 inches; 14.8 x 21 cm 480 Pages of 52 gsm paper; 7mm ruling Made in Japan Available at: http://www.nanamipaper.com/categories/seven-seas-tomoe-river-paper.html INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/thejournaljoy/ Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the product nor do I receive any compensation for this review/ providing a link to the website.