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STUDIO NOTE A5 3.7mm Grid READ DESCRIPTION!

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$13.00
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5 unit(s)
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Introducing the new "Zen" paper. Great for ballpoint pens, gel pens, various other kinds of pens, pencils....but for fountain pens, not so much. Too much bleed-through! So, if you want a high-quality, high page count notebook, and don't intend to use fountain pens, this may be the book for you!

To be honest, I really had high hopes for this paper as a Tomoe River 52gsm replacement. But, it was not meant to be, and the search goes on. And, who knows, maybe in the future, this paper can be reformulated with a thicker sizing (coating) so that it is more bullet proof.

I thought about not selling this at all, but it would be a shame to make it unavailable, because in every other respect, it is still an excellent notebook - our partner in Japan really has the craft down, and everything about it is just so...beautiful. But - I also don't think I can justify the same price as Tomoe River, so for now, we are lowing the price.

 

Finally...please note: the slip case says "3.5mm grid", but it is really a 3.7mm grid, as stated on this product page.

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The Zen paper is very similar to 52 gsm Tomoe River paper; slightly thicker than the "old" Tomoe River, perhaps about the same as the "New" Tomoe River. The writing experience lies somewhere in between the old and new TR, but it's so subtle that I am not really sure. It IS somewhat toothier than the old TR, which some people will like, others may not.

Finally, because of the slightly thicker paper, the page count has been reduced from 480 to 432...it makes a difference of about 1mm.

 

PLEASE NOTE: All reviews dated before 6/16/2021 are for the prior version which used the OLD TR paper!

 

If you'd like to try our new ZEN paper, please ask for a free sample by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

 

Nanami Paper
Att: Samples by Mail
P.O. Box 17422
Irvine, California 92623-7422

 

I'm confident that you will like this this paper as long as you don't expect it to be fountain-pen-bullet-proof like Tomoe River, but I always encourage "trust but verify", so please don't hesitate to ask for a sample.

 

Specifications:

 

  • Size A5, 210x148mm, 8.3x5.8 inches
  • White-color ZEN "Notebook" paper,  52gsm
  • 432 pages (216 leaves) with rounded corners and 3.7mm grid
  • 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 thin paper 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 52gsm). Thin 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)

 

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.

 

 

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Product Reviews

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  1. So Close… but SO FAR! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 21st Aug 2021

    Could NOT believe the day was finally here! That I was finally going to be able to get my hands on a Studio Note! Unbelievable!

    But NO… I ‘snoozed and loozed’!!! Yes, just as I was going to pull the trigger on my order, I get a ‘bubble notice’ that SHIPPING TO CANADA was not going to happen. Say Whaaauuut?

    Dave, PLEASE OPEN SHIPPING TO CANADA AGAIN. Please… before all the Studio Notes are
    …POOF
    …GONE
    …again.


  2. ZEN gets 4 stars for the notebook but 6 stars for Dave equals 5 stars! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 17th Aug 2021

    This is for the new ZEN paper version of this notebook -- in short, not as good as the original TR paper for various reasons that Dave and others have already mentioned, but it's still excellent paper, and the build quality of the notebook itself is, as always, superb. The paper may fall short, but the binding and workmanship are the top notch products we all know and love.

    The reason why this gets 5 stars is how Dave handled the whole situation with the TR paper and his efforts at trying to secure a viable alternative with this ZEN paper version. He is a class act, is really an incredible asset to this community, and I hope he stays in business for a long, long time. When things weren't working out as he had hoped with this paper, he suspended sales and handled customer service beautifully. And after getting more feedback from his customers and testing more, instead of wasting these otherwise excellent notebooks, he significantly reduced their price to B-Stock/Factory Second prices and made sure he was very transparent about what these ZEN notebooks turned out to be.

    Given that the worldwide TR-paper-loving community is dealing with TR paper issues right now, he could not have handled this better IMO, short of testing this ZEN paper before production with literally every fountain pen and ink that his customers use, which is not humanly feasible. So he did the best that can possibly be asked of him, and now we have this "ZEN" version of the notebook that uses inferior paper IMO, but it's still an excellent notebook, as long as you know what you are getting.

    The grid is perfectly printed -- please don't change this design! -- the binding is perfect, the cover material is excellent (maybe a little more stiff?), and it's just a great notebook and totally worth the discounted price.

    So I want to thank Dave for his efforts and his classy approach, and hope he doesn't ever give up in his quest for perfection.

    This notebook gets 4 stars, but Dave gets 6 stars, so that averages out to 5 stars for this review!


  3. A great replacement 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 15th Aug 2021

    I was so sad when Nanami stopped producing the A5 cafe note with the TR paper, it was my go to place in and 100% perfect.

    So when I saw that there was a new version out I was a very happy bunny!!!

    I don't use fountain pens when I plan as they take far too long to dry and I have no patience, so the fact that the paper was no longer fountain pen friendly didn't bother me.

    In fact I actually prefer the zen paper as I use stickers and washi and I find that the slightly thicker paper (which I think is more like the stalogy) is actually better. :)

    I do use both ballpoint pen and either a pentel energy clena in 0.5 or a pilot G-2 in either 0.5 or 0.7 and find that yes you get ghosting (obviously not with the ball pen) but there is no feathering or bleed through.

    I would also like to say that I live in the uk and obviously shipping to us across the rather large pond is quite high but worth every penny for this fantastic notebook.

    so if you're not a fountain pen user and loved the previous cafe note A5 I can highly recommend this one, in fact I have just ordered 2 more......

    So a big thank you to Dave and Nanami for finding this fab alternative and for the always excellent service you provide.


  4. great, sans fountain pens 4 Star Review

    Posted by on 12th Aug 2021

    I initially wanted to return the notebooks (I bought 3) after hearing the reports of the paper not handling fountain pens. But the owner of the shop was so kind and he offered to let me keep the notebooks and give them a try and return my money. I used the money returned to place another order for a stack of Writers.
    While the paper does not handle broader fountain pens well, I’ve decided to try them at work with my extra fine Vanishing Point and well behaved Iroshizuku Shin Kai. There is still slight bleed through but they are usable. The construction of the notebook is premium. As soon as the paper issue is resolved, and I’m sure it will be, I will continue to buy.


  5. Zen paper is wonderful! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 18th Jul 2021

    I wanted to try this paper because it was a new offering from Nanami, whose products are consistently excellent, and because I wanted to compare the new "Zen" paper to the old Tomoe River Paper.

    I always liked Tomoe River Paper because it allowed for a high page count in a small, slim product, but I had some issues with the dry times -- nothing major, it was just a small gripe about a paper that was, to me, pretty revolutionary when I discovered it -- so testing new papers with similar qualities seemed like a good idea.

    I'm happy to report that the Zen paper is amazing. It's light and sturdy like Tomoe River, allowing for a high page count (my ideal page count is over 350), but it has a different feel that I think I prefer. There's slightly more tooth; it's not quite as slick-feeling as Tomoe River. The dry times for gel pens are also much, much shorter. I haven't had a gel pen smear on this paper so far and that is pretty great. The paper has a pleasant crinkle to it, too, that is reminiscent of Tomoe River but ... different, it a good way. In other words it has a pleasant feel overall.

    I tried some extra-fine fountain pens and they performed very well. There was some show-thru but no bleed-thru, which I'm sure will vary according to nib/ink combination. I tried various hard brush pens like the Pentel Sign Pen and the Tombow Fude, and the paper stood up to them well. A soft wet brush pen did have a little too much show-thru, but again no real bleed.

    With gel pens of various thicknesses (and ballpoints, obvs.) this paper is the bomb. I love this notebook and hope it continues to be available, and maybe even in various sizes because I tend to cycle between A5 and A6.

    This is a wonderful new offering from Nanami. Highly recommended to anyone who doesn't want to pay a similar price for a notebook with half the page count.


  6. Not for everyone but perfect for me 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 18th Jul 2021

    I am not a fountain pen hobbyist, I am more of a utilitarian user. I have only used new TRP, I only use Fine point Pilot Metropolitans, and I only use basic waterproof inks. I do not look for sheen or do calligraphy, I simply keep a diary.

    With that out of the way, this notebook is perfect for my needs! Same solid construction as the Crossfield journals, the paper is smooth, I get no bleed with my preferred nib and ink. Ghosting does not bother me. Markers will bleed through a bit, but they did so in my old notebook and I compensate for that. I love the thinness of the paper, I don't like writing on thicker stock.

    Do your research before buying, paper samples are available, but I think this is a good, solid notebook.


  7. Great journal but proceed with caution 4 Star Review

    Posted by on 2nd Jul 2021

    I'm not sure anything will ever meet the expectations that the older TRP paper left behind. When I noticed that the studio note was back on stock, I immediately bought a few without noticing the use of ZEN paper (I was too excited). That said, I'm honestly satisfied with this paper, but this comes with a couple reasons.

    I have no experience with the previous version of this journal. My main journal has been the Writer, but even if the paper wasn't the same, I trusted Nanami Paper to use a similarly performing paper (and they did).

    I primarily write in these journals with fountain pens. More specifically, I only use EF pilot pens. It's for this reason that I'm satisfied with this version of the Studio Note. The fine line my preferred nibs lay down don't have noticeable feathering and bleed through. I'm sure that will not be the case if I use one of my larger flex FPR pens, but that's not a deterrent for me.

    If you use EF Japanese nibs, I think this journal is still great. But as you can see from the images above, anything much larger will cause issues. If there are paper samples available, I highly recommend testing them out first before committing to a purchase. As for myself, I will not request a refund for the journals I purchased.


  8. Like the hobonichi graph notebook but nice addition of a border and many more pages! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 29th Jun 2021

    I just use fine fountain pen nibs, so this is perfect! Super smooth paper. But yes too much ink piled on these will cause bleeding. So some people may not like it for that reason. I don’t use thick pens though so it’s a non-issue for me. (: But perfect for my thin pens and of coarse all varieties of ballpoints and pencils! Feels like old TR. super thin paper with lovely faint grid print. Love it! Nanami always delivers great quality and notebook build. I would love to see them on Amazon at some point so I can use up my gift cards and stock up on them haha


  9. Great quality notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 28th Jun 2021

    I've been waiting several months for the next iteration of the Studio Note A5 and I think this notebook is great. The construction quality is top-notch like the other notebooks from nanami. I like this notebook better than many other brands for the large number of pages you get and the plain 3.5 mm grid with empty gutters. No other notebook has this combination.

    Compared to TR paper, the Zen paper feels a little crisper when flipping a sheet back and forth. It also has a bit more tooth in comparison, especially when using a pencil. With ink, I still get the same amount of shading I get on TR paper. In my hands, I do not experience any feathering or bleedthrough with normal writing. I do get a little bleedthrough when putting down multiple layers of ink (3+) without waiting for the ink to dry. I also get a similar amount of bleedthrough on TR paper when doing the same. However, I primarily use pigmented Indian inks in 0.5 mm or finer pens. In my hands, Indian inks don't feather much, but can have a moderate amount of bleedthrough if used in wet pens or multiple layers. I think with a VERY wet ink and a generously wet pen with a broad nib, you may get a minor amount of bleedthrough with normal writing.

    Overall, I think these notebooks are an excellent new product for my use case. I use these for journaling, scheduling, and general writing. Very little drawing/art so no areas of pooled ink to bleed. My pen and ink choice also work very well with this paper. I'll definitely purchase more in the future when I use up my current Studion Note A5. I hope that Nanami will be able to keep these in stock for a long while to come!


  10. I was thrilled at first... 3 Star Review

    Posted by on 26th Jun 2021

    I was hesitant when the ZEN paper used in this new Studio Note was billed as a viable alternative to Tomoe River Paper, which I love writing on with fountain pens. I've tried several other papers that are being compared with TRP as of late, and I haven't found one yet that I'd be happy to switch to. Still, I trust Nanami Paper very much and know they prioritize the quality of their products, so I wanted to try this notebook out.

    I opened it up, and first I was surprised by a noticeable smell. If you experience this as well, don't worry, I've only had the notebook for a few days and it has almost entirely dissipated. Despite the scent, I was excited to quickly get in and test the paper.

    I was happy to see the thinness of it, and the beautiful printed 3.5mm grid Nanami uses. The paper color is very similar to white TRP, perhaps a tad more ivory, which is fine by me, because I prefer the cream. I went ahead and tested out all six of the fountain pens I currently have inked up. The ZEN paper does feel fantastic to write on, and I was immediately thinking, "This is it, we've finally got a new TRP!" My pens ranged from a Sailor 21k Medium Fine nib to a Pilot Custom 74 14k M and a steel Goulet 1.1 stub, with a couple others in between.

    It was a joy to write with almost all of them, and I was thrilled...until I flipped the page over. Every single pen had bled through. And I don't mean ghosting, which I like the effect of; I mean actual bleed-through. Some, like the Sailor MF, only bled a little and only in a couple places. The medium and stub nibs bled much more frequently, however, to the point that I don't think I could write a whole page with them and then still enjoy writing on the backside.

    I still intend to use this notebook, because I bought it and, aside from the bleed-through, it really is a well-made product. It's unfortunate though that I'll probably try to use only dry-writing and finer nibs on this paper, because it does show really lovely shading qualities in ink.

    So while I believe this issue can be worked around, that isn't something I usually expect to have to do with Nanami's products, and I think it should be taken into account if you're thinking of purchasing this notebook. If the bleeding issue with the paper can be resolved somehow, I'd happily buy several more of these notebooks. They are five stars in every other way.


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