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STUDIO NOTE A5 3.7mm Grid READ DESCRIPTION!

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  • Performance of various pens.
  • Note heavy feathering when fountain pen ink is pooled on thick with a dip pen (in my opinion, the ultimate test for writers)
  • There is heavy bleed with the dip nib and Pilot blue-black ink. Not as much bleed with the broad and fine-medium nibs, but it is still there. For that reason, I won't call this paper 'fountain pen friendly', at least not compared to the old Tomoe River 52 gsm paper. Other non-fountain pens seem to do ok.
  • Close-up of other pens.
  • Close-up of more pens and pencils.
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  • Next to the Hobonichi Techo. Both have a 3.7mm grid.
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Price:
$13.00
Rating:
( 83 product reviews )
Shipping:
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Max Purchase:
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. Great product 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 18th Aug 2018

    I knew I wanted great quality paper for my journal, so I did some research and stumbled upon this gem. The pages are smooth, thin, and really show off my fountain pen inks' color and sheen.

    Yes, the gird spacing is small at 3.7mm, but it's not uncomfortable or constricting.

  2. Made me change my tune. 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 14th Aug 2018

    Let me preface this by saying that I usually hate softcover notebooks. But I love Tomoe River paper and this notebook has a huge page count so I figured it was worth it. And boy was it ever worth it! I don’t even pay attention to my lack of a hard cover and just write on hard surfaces instead of my lap now. The page count is ridiculous, it’s the same glorious paper, and the addition of the piece of pink blotter paper is very nice to have as a bookmark and to avoid ink smearing with Tomoe River’s notoriously long dry time. If you’re like me and dislike softcover notebooks, don’t let that stop you from buying this notebook!

  3. Love Tomoe River 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 9th Aug 2018

    Love my Tomoe River notebook and Nanami ships super fast!

  4. Excellent product 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 2nd Aug 2018

    Love the Tomoe River Paper 52 gsm!Paper takes pens well and the notebook lays flat and is light so you can take it wherever.

  5. Super Notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 26th Jul 2018

    I love this notebook only wish the grid was 5mm.

  6. Grid Notebook PERFECTION -- Another winner from Nanami Paper! 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 25th Jul 2018

    I got this as a birthday present to myself. I prefer grids more than any other style of lines, so imagine my excitement when my favorite notebook maker put out a grid-lined notebook! I was so excited I told my friends! (The stationary obsessed ones, so they understood my joy hahaha)

    It has everything you expect from NanamiPaper -- beautiful simplistic cover, strong binding that will last the time it takes for you to fill the massive notebook, and always fantastic Tomoe River paper.

    The grids are the same size as the Hobonichi Techo Cousin, confirmed by myself as I have both. This means some users may find it small if they prefer to use one box height=one line. I find two boxes as a line height to be perfect for my use.

    I use an A5 cover for extra protection and I also use a second notebook or pad as a "lift" for writing comfort as advised in their Writer, Crossfield, Standard listings. That particular tidbit has been life-changing for someone who uses as many notebooks as I do!

    These seem more expensive than a standard notebook, but for one, they are high quality, for two, the number of pages in this notebook is triple the number of standard notebooks. If you have a heavy hand when writing, I would recommend also getting a writing mat or using several loose leaf pages as a buffer. The pages are thin and you will get indentations on the next several pages if you write hard.

    Seriously, I am so jazzed this exists! I hope to be able to get a couple more in the coming weeks to serve as "backup" because I would hate for it to be out of stock when I fill it up!

  7. The perfecf A5 notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 23rd Jul 2018

    This notebook is perfect in size, paper quality, and craftsmanship. I’ve been using the Cafe Note (A6 size), and the Studio Note (A5 size) is it’s perfect companion. Together, they’re at the top of my list of favorite notebooks.

  8. Perfect grid notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 19th Jul 2018

    I wanted a notebook to take the place of a Hobonichi Cousin because I have no use for japanese writing and the quotes that take up too much of the page. This Studio Note notebook has what appears the same sized grid. I plan on making my own "cousin" with this notebook for 2019!

    My only complaint is that I really dislike the cover color...I wish Nanami would make covers that are neutral (kraft colored, cream, brown, etc) because I do feel the need to cover/collage on top of it.

    Please keep this style stocked and make a similar verson for the B6!!

  9. Perfect grid 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 17th Jul 2018

    Love it so far. I like the smaller grid spacing both for writing and design drawings. I would probably buy the lined journals if they had a smaller width line spacing such as 5 mm. I look forward to seeing this becoming a staple in the nanami paper line of notebooks. A real winner.

  10. Great Notebook 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 14th Jul 2018

    I love this notebook! The Tomoe River paper is great of course, and the binding is fantastic for an A5 notebook. It easily lays flat and I can even fold it back when I need to. I will be getting more of these.

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