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 81-90 of 199 | Next

Terrific Journal for Fountain Pens

Posted by David Williams on 15th Jul 2019

I had never owned a Seven Seas A5 Journal-6th Edition, until doing a bit of research recently. I have used a variety of fountain and technical pens in previous journals for decades. I recently purchased an Onoto Magna Classic pen with an 18C gold 7M nib. The nib produces a heavy flow of ink which tends to bleed through most paper, but not the Tomoe River paper. In spite of the paper's thinness, there isn't even any ghosting. It is a joy to write in this journal. I do have trouble seeing the very fine guide lines. They are darker on some pages than on others. And I experience all the other difficulties, or quirks, others have mentioned in their reviews, but I find these relatively trivial. One thing I do have to watch out for is the time it takes for the heavy ink line to dry to the touch, which makes for a rather interrupted writing session, but again, I just accept this as part of the trade off in having paper that won't bleed or ghost. I could switch to a different pen but enjoy the Onoto so much I am willing to be patient. Since my surname is Williams I'm pretending the "W" on the cover is just for me.
Great Journal!!! Ugly logo...

Posted by Erik Perez on 28th Jun 2019

So far I'm loving the Seven Seas journal. It's build quality surprised me when I took it out of the well protected package. The Tomoe River paper is superb and feels so thin but handles ink so well. I use mainly Pilot Iroshizuku inks and they work great. And the color on this paper is like nothing I've seen before. My only complaint is the ugly logo. I'd much rather prefer a clean front.
Trying to like this notebook

Posted by Unknown on 14th Jun 2019

What I like:

- Great paper (duh)

- quality construction

-----------------------------------

What I don't like:

- 'W' logo on the cover contradicts the 'minimal' design principals laid out in the product website. I believe it was noted that a customer requested this be added. Great! I request one without it. ;)

- size. I cannot write confortably with an A5 book. Please produce an A4 variant.

- paper color: I always will prefer white over cream color.

- cover is too soft for my taste. Increasing the thickness even slightly would improve this.
Beautiful paper, nice and sturdy binding!

Posted by Paul and Carol Petersen on 5th Jun 2019

This is the most delicious paper in the world for use with fountain pens (or any other pens or pencil!). It holds up beautifully to any pen and any ink I have used, including italic nibs and document ink. It is perfectly sewn binding that holds up to a year of constant use. And it is the perfect size, as it fits all my Hobonichi covers.

I would LOVE to see you offer a full-grid in the larger grid that you used to offer some years ago, but the lines are fine for the time being.
to me very special paper!

Posted by M.V.W. on 5th Jun 2019

I'm no fountain aficionado but know what works for me. This paper is very thin, that of what you would find to be bible type paper thin. Yet it does not bleed. I am currently using a Franklin Chistoph model 19 with there Christoph music nib. It runs very wet and beautiful. Yet no sign whatsoever of bleed. I was worried that it may have coatings that would possibly collect on the nib causing problems. No such luck. Zero feathering as well. Very pleased with it. I would love a Seven Seas in the a4 size.
to me very special paper!

Posted by M.V.W. on 5th Jun 2019

I'm no fountain aficionado but know what works for me. This paper is very thin, that of what you would find to be bible type paper thin. Yet it does not bleed. I am currently using a Franklin Chistoph model 19 with there Christoph music nib. It runs very wet and beautiful. Yet no sign whatsoever of bleed. I was worried that it may have coatings that would possibly collect on the nib causing problems. No such luck. Zero feathering as well. Very pleased with it. I would love a Seven Seas in the a4 size.
Luxury Embodied!

Posted by Meg on 7th May 2019

This notebook is substantial but graceful. The paper is as lovely as others have said—smooth and lovely even with my XF nib. I especially appreciate the lines—they are spaced just right. Some luxury notebooks are so narrow-lined that even my tidy writing looks crowded and inelegant. Not so here. The lines are pale, too—unobtrusive, so they let the words shine! I agree with others that they could be a tiny bit darker, and a nice Hunter green would look good on the lovely cream paper. I love the cream color of the paper, by the way. Subtle, but so much more elegant that stark white!

My only slight disappointment? The cover is far stiffer than the paper. The feel of it is just a bit uncoordinated. That said, I gently bent it back and forth a few times, and that seems to have started to improve it. And, really, I use it in a leather cover, (by Roterfaden), so i only noticed it when I first took it out...
Luxury Embodied!

Posted by Meg on 7th May 2019

This notebook is substantial but graceful. The paper is as lovely as others have said—smooth and lovely even with my XF nib. I especially appreciate the lines—they are spaced just right. Some luxury notebooks are so narrow-lined that even my tidy writing looks crowded and inelegant. Not so here. The lines are pale, too—unobtrusive, so they let the words shine! I agree with others that they could be a tiny bit darker, and a nice Hunter green would look good on the lovely cream paper. I love the cream color of the paper, by the way. Subtle, but so much more elegant that stark white!

My only slight disappointment? The cover is far stiffer than the paper. The feel of it is just a bit uncoordinated. That said, I gently bent it back and forth a few times, and that seems to have started to improve it. And, really, I use it in a leather cover, (by Roterfaden), so i only noticed it when I first took it out...
Perfect notebook, except for the Wario logo

Posted by Steve on 28th Apr 2019

I've been ordering these notebooks for years, and the quality has always been top-notch. I ordered the newest edition and the paper, binding, etc is all as wonderful as it's always been.

Unfortunately the latest edition has added Wario's logo on the front, which makes it look a lot less classy. I'd much prefer the older look with no branding -- people who want markings on the front can always add some themselves, but you can't remove it if it's already there. Here's hoping the seventh edition will go back to it's classy, unmarred roots.
Amazing

Posted by Mindy on 12th Apr 2019

This notebook is truly amazing I love it the cover is sturdy and paper quality is wonderful you wont regret it

Previous | Showing reviews 81-90 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.