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- STUDIO NOTE A5 3.7mm Grid READ DESCRIPTION!
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- STUDIO NOTE A5 3.7mm Grid READ DESCRIPTION!
STUDIO NOTE A5 3.7mm Grid READ DESCRIPTION!
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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):
- 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 51-60 of 83 | Next
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As always - best quality journal!!
Posted by Lena on 8th Feb 2019
I just finished up the Nanami Seven Seas Crossfield and drop by here ready to order another one, only disappointed to learn that the Seven Seas is "taking a break". Well, I guess I just found another GREAT journal - this Studio Note is using the same (best) paper as Seven Seas but with grid pattern on it. I was very concern that the pattern will be too "obvious" and hence become an unwelcome distraction. However, that's NOT the case at all. The pattern is very subtle and after I written on it, it's even not that noticeable to me. Very happy with this purchase and my great leap of faith! I will not settle with any less quality since I purchased Nanami's products, and please keep up the good work! Your journal quality sparks lots of fun in plain writing! :)
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Absolutely superb.
Posted by JC on 1st Feb 2019
This notebook is a joy to use. There are multiple reasons why.
Obviously the Tomoe River paper is the biggest draw here, but I have used many notebooks that have had this paper - but have been found wanting.
The binding is of the highest quality and allows the book to lie flat and simultaneously being strong and able to withstand heavy use. The cover is a tactile and strong affair with not being too rigid or heavy - ideal for use on the go.
I have received an email inviting me to review this so I tried to find any flaws, creases, problems with the grids or positioning. I could not find ANYTHING at all.
I am in the UK and I will definitely buy more of these, the shipping is a small price to pay for what I consider the best notebook available.
Buy one.
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Perfect notebook, tiny grid
Posted by Vrixton J Phillips on 29th Jan 2019
I underestimated how tiny those squares were! Other than that, it's absolutely perfect.
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Studio Note is way better than I expected-was worried a little about grid being too loud
Posted by Kevin on 12th Jan 2019
I really liked my Nanami Seven Seas standard (the blank one) but I wanted a fountain pen friendly journal with a high page count and a background pattern to use for daily life planning. The grid pattern provides a perfect amount of structure but it also fades gently into the background once I write on it. A problem I've noticed with other grids is that they are too loud and overwhelm the writing
To me this is the perfect journal and I anticipate not buying any other journals. My future in journals will be more studio notes.
Shipping was fast and easy.
I have been using this journal with sailor souboku and kiwa guro. No smearing issues. Lines are crisp. Fast dry time with blotter.
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Yet another great notebook from Nanami... but will there be a thin version?
Posted by Jam on 8th Dec 2018
So Dave has produced some really great notebooks here at Nanami... we all know that. Everyone has their favorites. My current favorites are:
1) A6 Cafe Note with 3.7mm grid 480 pages -- it's basically a Hobonichi replacement. Love it. Just great.
2) This model -- the A5 Studio Note with 3.7mm grid 480 pages -- it's basically a Hobonichi Cousin replacement. Also love it.
3) B6 Slim Cafe Note with 3.7mm grid 384 pages -- used to be my favorite but I don't like the boxes at the top and bottom. But it's still a great notebook (except for the boxes) -- hoping Dave does a v2 without the boxes.
But what is missing here?
A THIN notebook! The notebooks above are wonderful, but all 12-15mm thick. 12mm isn't overly thick on the B6 slim (I'd prefer 10mm), but 15mm is definitely on the thick side, which is fine of course and great for page count... but sometimes it's really, really nice to carry around a THIN notebook. There is a magical sweet spot at 8-10mm thick that just feels so much lighter.
Right now there is NO dash grid minimalistic Hobonichi-style notebook with Tomoe River paper with 200-250 pages (8-10mm) on the market. The closest competitor is the popular Taroko Breeze, but it has a 5mm dot grid, and not the Hobo-style dash grid present in the excellent Cafe Note and Studio Note models.
Note that there's clearly a market for a 1/2 thickness model, even with Hobonichi itself since it sells the AVEC line of Hobonichis...
So all Dave has to do is make a version of Cafe Note and Studio Note with 1/2 the pages (240-ish), which will be about 9mm thick with the cover stock he's using, and it will be a GREAT option for people (and my own personal favorite notebook that I will buy many of). There's nothing quite like carrying around an elegant, thin A5 with Tomoe River. You can really tell the difference (i.e. with the Taroko Breeze or Hobonichi Avec), but it doesn't exist yet in this kind of clean grid that Dave is using in the Cafe Note and Studio Note!
That's it for now, hoping Dave reads this and considers the possibilities of adding a THIN variation of these two great notebooks.
As-is, the Studio Note A5 is of course fantastic. Like I said, my second favorite right now. Can't fault the design or execution in any way... and I think Dave nailed it with these specs. Just hoping for a thinner version! :-)
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Like a blank Hobonichi Cousin!
Posted by Elizabeth S Pike on 1st Dec 2018
I tried out a hobonichi, and while I loved the TRP, and the grid size, I didn't like having the calendar pages laid out for me. I bullet journal, with a little bit of art thrown in so I love to watercolor, draw, handletter in my journal. I never knew Nanami made a hobonichi-style journal, with the same high quality paper, and 3.7mm grid until I happened to come across this Studio Note in Whimsadoodle. I bought it, and as soon as I came home, discovered that the Cafe Note was the same so ordered it. I'm in journal/planner/art heaven!!
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Absolutely perfect!
Posted by Jenni on 27th Nov 2018
I absolutely loved the other Tomoe River notebooks I ordered from this site previously, so when I saw this notebook as a new offering I was delighted. I already loved the tight Hobonichi-esque grid of the Cafe A6 so I was excited to get it in an A5 size - it's like an undated Hobonichi Cousin. All the loveliness of Tomoe River paper, so many pages to fill and a sturdy cover that looks nice and not cheap at all. Well worth every penny; I may have to squirrel a few spares of these away for the future!
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The best paper for bullet journals EVER!!!
Posted by Tara on 8th Nov 2018
I was gifted the Standard notebook with blank paper and fell in LOVE. Then I bought the Crossfield for my 2018 planner/journal. I ordered the Studio Note since it was exactly like the Hobonichi Techno planner. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these notebooks with Tomoe River paper. I'm using the Studio Note for my 2019 planner/journal because you can customize these blank pages any way you want. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I use a lot of water color markers and blend, as well as fountain pens, no bleed through.
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IT DESERVES 5 STARS BUT.....
Posted by Maria Calabria/DXB607691 on 5th Nov 2018
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE STUDIO NOTE AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST THEY DELIVER. IT ONLY TOOK 1 WEEK AND I GOT IT HERE IN DUBAI SINCE THIS NOTEBOOK IS NOT AVAILABLE. IT REALLY IS A FANTASTIC NOTEBOOK SINCE IT HAS A LOT OF PAGES AND THE INK REALLY POPS. I LOVE THE EFFECT OF GHOSTING WHENEVER I USE FOUNTAIN PEN OR MICRON. THE ONLY THING THAT IS MISSING IS THE PAGE NUMBERING. HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, THE MAKERS CAN ADD THIS TO THE FEATURE FOR BULLET JOURNAL LOVERS LIKE ME. I AM SETTING THIS UP AS MY NEW BULLET JOURNAL FOR 2019.
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Fantastic!!!!!
Posted by Jenn on 30th Oct 2018
I have found the perfect book for my morning pages! The grid is perfect and the paper is just divine! I could write forever in this notebook. I had a crossfield previously( and I love it) but this one is my idea of perfect. Well made, great binding, wonderful paper. This one is a winner without a doubt. Lifelong customer here for sure!
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