I love, love, love my Jibun Techo Biz. It was the first planner I bought from JetPens and I've never looked back. I get my Midori fix by including the MD Notebook alongside by Jibun Techo in my Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter.
i picked up something called the Daily Sunny Schedule Book from iroha here in tokyo! love how the pages are undated, but still come with a little 24 hr labeling on the side so you can choose when to plan and when to journal
ALL the judgement 🤣 I live in America, five star is king at most schools. I also bought my niece and nephew some nicer paper and supplies from jetpens. They liked everything, but even I couldn't just keep making purchases from jetpens. School notebooks get used up too much. One day I hope jetpens puts down for a physical store, hopefully in Cali where I'm currently residing. There's quite a few stores in Little Tokyo who closed during the pandemic but there's also a kinokuniya where I pick up about half of my stationary (jetpens sells many products that kinokuniya doesn't carry, like the hobonichi planner.
@@demonheart13 actually just got done browsing the Five Star website, and damn, they have a LONG way to go to catch up with Japan! Their paper though is the closest competition Japan would have at this time. I bought the Campus B5 Shikkari loose leaf paper and examined it with a few sheets of Five Star paper I still have from my last college foray nearly a decade ago. The Campus paper was a tinge thicker and maybe ever so very slightly smoother. I don't know what I was expecting, but I'm a tiny bit disappointed the Campus paper didn't blow the Five Star out of the water, given the hype. Most people get the Sarasa paper, though (I think it's called), because it's smoother. I have a heavy hand when writing and it was advertised that the Shikkari is better for that. Either way though, for those on a budget and who don't have time to wait on the shipping from an online store, Five Star would be my next recommendation. It is still miles above the regular 1-ply toilet paper looseleaf sold at most stores, lol (and that's no shade to anyone that also can't afford Five Star, I grew up with that paper. My mom had three kids she had to get supplies for, Five Star wasn't in the budget. I just wish a little more love was put into school paper without there being the two extremes).
A few months ago, I found a hidden gem on your site. The Luddite B6 Freefield Vertical. It's got Tomoe River paper and layflat binding, and it lets me set up a work week without binding me to assigning everything to the day. It's really helped me tackle my workload and I love it so much!
Oh I like your review! Now I want to try one out for myself 🙂 currently using the Kokuyo study planner and I love it! But I'm curious about the Tomoe paper. I'll give the Luddite Freefield a try
They used to have a similar one (with a more subtle cover than the Luddite series, if it's the one I recall) called the Soumkine Undated Weeks that was basically an undated traveller's hobonichi weeks for a half-year, but you got two in a pack. It had a craft-paper looking cover and it was quite nice looking, but for whatever reason they stopped carrying it! I guess lack of demand or they stopped making it :/
I’m a recent convert to the Kokuyo Jibun Techo. I use the Weeks for laying out my work tasks and the Days as a journal for things that happen each day. Pilot Frixion pens are my go-to for both! 🥰
I bought a Midori 1 Day 1 Page notebook for my daily journaling in January, and I love using it! The paper is smooth and the rip off corners help me get to the right page quickly. I just bought another one yesterday in prep for when I complete my current one.
my favourite notebooks are the ones that have a light gray colour and then white lines/grid/dots, they don't confuse my eyes as much when I read back on things I had written
I recently ordered the Kokuyo study planner in semi B5 for my EMT program. As a student, I swear this planner has changed my game! I'm always trying to streamline and improve my study habits and this little buddy has me keeping track of all my progress. It also helps that the paper is so satisfying to write on ❤️
I'm a loyal Hobonichi user, but for next year, I've already committed to the TakeANote planner in A5. The half-day vertical is the perfect in-between of a weekly vertical that barely has space for notes, and a daily page planner that has too much space. I also think it has the cleanest layout, and the unboxing experience is an absolute joy. The Nothing Planner also took my attention. Muji planner is always on my radar, but there are some fine details about its font choices and line weights that turns me away. The Iconic planner, which as you know is a Korean brand, actually looks like a perfect layout. And the new craze of the year which is Sterling Ink's Common Planner is great for people like me, who wished that the Hobonichi Day-Free still had the weekly spread. That being said, my favorite work notebooks are Mnemosyne A5 and Apica C.D. A4!
I use a Travelers notebook for work. My favorites are Apica notebooks. These are perfect for fountain pen use and are nearly indestructible. Apica is my go to for writing stories, ideas, etc.
I am using my first Hobonichi Weeks for 2023. I love the format. I use Stalogy notebooks for topical things, like my reading notebook. I love Stalogy’s size options, I have A6, A5, and recently the B6, which is my favorite because of the grid size. I have a traveler's notebook cover and am considering cutting down a Stalogy to use with my Weeks next year ;) But that is a long way off!
This is my 7th year using the Mark’s academic planner. The weekly vertical layout is perfect for me. I also love the Maruman notebooks, both the Mnemosyne and the Septcouleur. Perfect (although different) grid sizes on both of these, and the total win of being able to use them in landscape orientation. 🙂
I just feel in love with my Hobonichi Weeks planner. The paper is lovely. But I also love the Leuchturrm 1917 for my Bujo needs. I also love Rhodia paper, but not the cream color in the journal.
You'll really like the paper. It dries a little faster than Hobonichi, I've found, and has a nice crisp feel. The layout takes a minute to get used to, but even using the B6 Slim, I feel I have plenty of writing space.
I've been very happy with the Hobonichi Day-Free A6 as my edc planner, and a blank A5 Taroko Enigma (TRP 68 gsm) for long-form journaling. 2023 will be my 3rd year with the Day-Free and I believe my 5th with the Enigma.
Love all these great suggestions! Currently I use a Hobonichi A6 planner and love their little notebooks too. Used to use the Kokuyo Jibun Techo when my work life was more structured, and still like and use their Idea notebooks for assorted note taking w/ the planner cover. I'm on my second MacGyvered A6 Stálogy 365 which I use as a compact 5-years diary. For 2023 I also picked up some Traveler's Company passport size notebooks as the system looks really portable and I have hopes of traveling more again. It's possible that I have a planner+notebook "problem", heh! 😆
I am in love with the Stalogy as a notebook! For planners though, it has to be Hobonichi for me. I use a week's and avec together for forward planning and journalism.
The last planner I tried to use was a Field Notes undated planner. It was nice when I was in school and had assignments to fill it with but now I'm not really into it. Its still half empty. I just bought a Jibun Techo so we'll see how that goes. It'll be my first planner since I graduated college in 2019. Hoping it will help me keep on top of habits I'm trying to build.
I'm trying out the Jibun Techo Biz for the first time and I'm loving it! The size threw me off initially, but it's growing on me. The layout is great, and the tracker section alone was worth it for me. The paper is nice and smooth and all of the pens I use work great. My favorite is the Sarasa MarkOn and EnerGel Clena currently.
I use a Jetpens Kanso Noto for my journaling, and a Kokuyo Jibun Techo for planning! I was surprised to see the Stalogy 365 days was recommended for journaling if you don't do it every day-- the name and description felt to me like pressure to do it daily, and like it would be obvious if I failed.
Using? I thought we were supposed to hoard them like the stationery dragons we are... Anyway, Stalogy book in a Hobonichi cover works great for me as a stay-at-home journal. When I'm out and about I carry a Travellers Company notebook. Depending on the size of the bag I'll switch between passport and regular.
I use the Stalogy 365 just as a regular notebook, and I love it so much that I almost never use anything else anymore! Planner-wise I'm giving the Hobonichi a go in 2023 but in addition to my Stalogy favorites, not instead of.
Love the hobonichi, just got an avec and weeks to try this year! Excellent paper(made me get my own stash of tomoe river so sad about their closing!) never had anything else like it, loose enough for my chaotic style and structured enough I don’t get lost. My perfect dream planner! Excellent too since I’m trying to learn Japanese and the constant exposure to the writing helps
I have some Mead notebooks from the early 2000s (like 2003 to 2005), that I really like. Revisiting them now though, they are a shadow of their former self. They are like a B5 notebook, and there cardboard cover used to be much thicker, but not as thick as a Molskine. I kind of miss them, I didn't discover then until late in my college career. Best use of them: each semester gets its own Composition Notebook. That way, when you are studying for the final your notes are already divided so you can even spend your time. These days I my Planner as my Notebook, since I am not in school anymore. I use a Franklin Planner 2-pages-per-day format. The paper sucks, but I love its format, which is more important to me .
I've gone the DIY route and couldn't be happier. I lay out my own planner pages using a Python script and ReportLab, and print them on my HP inkjet on "HP Premium 32" paper. I use a heavy-duty paper cutter to make them 5.5 inches by 210 mm (as close to A5 as I can practically get), punch them with a Staples Arc hole-punch, and put them into a Filofax A5 Notebook. They lie flat, can be added and removed as needed, and have exactly the line spacing, dot grid, and calendar information that I want.
You could try buying the Kokuyo A4 business paper. A certain online retailer sells it by the ream. Smooth, light, bleed-resistant. I've made my own refill paper for the Kokuyo Campus Smart Ring binder notebook, and it's lovely to take notes in.
I use the day free Hobonichi Cousin as my main planner and journal for the year; it's the perfect size for my monthly trackers, reading log, budget book, and free form journal with plenty of room to decorate and play around with them. I use a Hobonichi Weeks to hold a daily "Happy log" on the calendar pages, our dinner plans, and my weekly task lists; I keep other random brain-storming and lists in the back of that one, since the smaller size works better for me when making those. And I'm a fan of Midori notebooks for my craft journal. So it's fair to say I'm a big fan of Japanese notebooks and paper. ^_^
Though I like the look of the Campus series and the soft rings do appeal to me, the professional simplicity and twin rings of the Mnemosyne notebooks have me hooked. As for the planners, I like the layout with some, but I'm big on compact, monthly displays...I like being able to quickly scan over the full picture, so I'm guilty of being one of those who goes for those generic, no frills types.
I had a hobonichi for the last 2 years, but this year I decided the cost was too much and I got a Stalogy to use for 2023. I've just done a little swatching so far, but I really like it!
What planner would you reccomend for those who don't have a scheduled day to day - or life for that matter - who also kinda sorta maybe suck at planning? (Asking for a friend).
Undated planners like the Hobonichi Day Free or Stalogy 365Days Notebook are great options! You can see all our undated planners here: www.jetpens.com/Undated-Planners/ct/6189
I still like moleskin-style notebooks, but I'm definitely sold on the marumon as well! Ive decided to get a few for when I start school next month. I also love their mini binders so I'm going to pick up one of those!
Hobonichi day free for folks using an electronic calendar/journal too! Just enough planner for the fully tech savvy working professional to get our stationery fix on.
Hobonichi Cousin! I have both a Japanese version and an English version for next year. I love the layout, the A5 is perfect for journaling, and I’m having a lot of fun using it. I even have started to use stickers and different color inks depending on my moods. I picked up a 5 year Techo for gratitude journaling and logging any great quotes that I happen across while reading, or jotting down my song of the day. Also, the covers.
I’m using the MD Codex for journaling and Hobonichi Weeks for planning. I just purchased the Midori Hibino and have not decided how I will incorporate it into my daily routine.
I'm condensing a personal daily and work daily planner for convenience. I found the A6 size to be too small for everything, with the A5 being a bit too big. B6 is my 'Goldilocks' size, but the available options are limited. I'm using a Stalogy 365 Days and it is exactly what I want/need. Very little page space wasted each day, but I have yet to run out of space. The printed dates are tiny and too light to read, so I just cover that area with decorations and write in my own dates.
I would love to upgrade my planner, but I NEED small spiral notebooks. And it seems like there’s no good weekly planners that fit that. So I’m stuck with staples planners with good no bleed through pens
Here are our notebooks with pen holders: www.jetpens.com/Notebooks/ct/762?&f=2289ee455e8ae52c3b416d620c1420a7_249e1c9456b7c704cd1f4bf2ae647b33d11c8938fe66c041f42861f02487a643_4ab92e5e0ed6a0bc
I like the Midori notebook a lot, especially for how well they lay flat and I'm impressed with how it handles most fountain pen inks. I'm using the Hobonichi for the first time as a planner
I'm using the Kokuyo Smart Ring for my personally-designed weekly planner/mood tracker. I liked the hour by hour tracking that you can get with the Jibun Techo, but I didn't like the rest of the design very much. Being able to take pages out if I make a mistake is an amazing feature that I very much appreciate. I use grid paper and decorate with washi tape and stickers. I've also found that taking the time to create the weekly set up with a ruler has been a relaxing activity for me. Because I'm rapidly becoming a stationery addict, I also bought a monthly Leuchtturm1917 planner. It looks very elegant, and I've been enjoying journaling every night in the bullet journal section of it.
Shocked! Shocked I say, that the Jebun Techo Weeks isn't higher on the list. I love it like my second child. Which is okay, because I only have one child. Which is to say, I love it a lot. I doubt I'll ever search for a new planner, unless something big changes in my life.
i love hobonichi planners. i’m so excited to give the a5 a try now that there’s an english version. the a6 has been great for the couple years i’ve used them but i like to use my planners as a journal too and the a6 has gotten a wee bit small for the amount i like to write lol
I have my 2023 planner setup, and I'm loving it. My calendar has the week on the left page, and lined paper on the right. In the same cover, there's a completely blank notebook for doodling or drawing or journaling or extra notes. I bumped up to the Cahier size this year, because the logistics for chemotherapy take a LOT of space, and my planner started to look like my whole life is about chemo. Yuck to that! These are Moleskine, and while I love the layouts, I do not love the paper. I can't use markers or fountain pens, so everything is in pencil or ballpoint. I'm glad ballpoint comes in so many colors!
I received my first Midori MD notebook last week and I'm in love! Planning to get the Midori MD Notebook Journal next because I just love this paper. Thank you guys for these videos!
ive been pondering if i should get a techo weeks for the purpose of documenting the shows i watch, or if i should dump it into my regular techo days. i feel like the weeks is slimmer, so it be easier to find shows ive watched and rated... maybe ill succumb to the devil on my shoulder, and get one.. next year.. :')
I think the Hobonichi Weeks would be the perfect size for that! I’m trying to justify adding the Weeks back to my yearly lineup, but I seem to be okay with an original A6 for EDC and Cousin Avec for art and journaling…I miss the cute size of a Weeks though. 😂
I've never tried them before because I haven't really had the means to get one, but I've been eyeing the Hobonichi Techo for years. I finally got my hands on one this year when my mom got me the 2023 Planner, a cover, and a cover on cover as an early Christmas gift. Flipping through the pages, I'm so pleased with the quality and shade of the paper. The thin pages and the fact that they lay flat without using a ring binding system is so perfect for me. I have trouble filling up space in a planner but still want room to write my thoughts and doodle, so I decided that if the A6 Planner didn't have enough space for me, I could get an A5 Cousin another year! The simple layout really helps me, as I get overwhelmed with prompts and lots of things to fill out. It leaves me a lot of room to be creative and I adore the cover design that I got, which is Hiroki Kubota's Tokyo Metronome design. One thing that shocked me was hearing online that some people get a new cover every year! As a student on a budget, I balked at that, but I definitely think the quality justifies and adequately explains the price! I hope to fill it up with lots of great memories and planning in the year to come!!
Just switched from a Day Designer to a Jibun Techo, and the difference is staggering. The much smaller grid is taking some getting used to, though, and I don't know if my 0.7 mm Uni Chroma is up to the task. I may have to use two squares per line until I can upgrade to an Alpha Gel Kuru Toga and a 0.38 mm Pilot FriXion multi pen. I plan to switch out the inks to give it a fun CMYK vibe!
Protip: there are crafters out there that make TN compatible notebooks with Tomoe River Paper and Rhodia so you can get the best of both worlds if you're a TN person
In addition to being great for fountain pens, the Tomoe river paper has such a satisfying crinkle! I'm using my first Maruman Mnemosyne notebook currently, and love the feel of the paper, however fountain pens seem to run a bit dry on it :(
Thanks so much for this. 😊 I cannot afford the Hobonichi planners but found a very close second in the Marks Tokyo planner. I love the vertical weekly view and the paper is very nice to write on with all different pens. Please keep loading videos JetPens team. They bring me so much joy. 🎉❤😄
Late to the party, sorry! I have a long record of falling in love with products that then get discontinued. The latest casualties are Maruman’s Septcoleur lined notebooks and Mark’s monthly A5 planner with loads of note pages in the back. I’ve had to swap them out in favor of the Mnemosyne twin-wired lined notebooks (especially the A5) and the Mnemosyne A5 monthly😊 diary, which I use together for work. It’s convenient to be able to fold their covers all the way back when desk space isn’t available. For personal planning and journaling, I love the Midori MD B6 slim diary and notebook. It’s fantastic for fountain pens, and the college ruled lines aren’t cramped like so many planners with tiny grids. I wish they offered it in the thinner “light” style, like they do with the A5 diary.
I love Kokuyo soft rings notebook and it’s Jibun Techo as my schedules. In 2023 I am changing my schedule from weekly to days. I love the paper because I like writing with fountain pens. Thank you so much for your Channel. I love watching all of the videos introducing Japanese stationary. ❤🙇♀️
:: Thanks for your video! My favourite daily journal notebook has been the STALOGY A5 365 Editor Series (original gridded) for more than 5 years. Its thin and softly textured paper stock provides such a wonderful and unbeatable surface for pencil writing. I can't recommend it highly enough for anyone who prefers pencils rather than pens. I also use their B5 and B6 sizes for sketches and 'jotting down bits' as well. There's something to having such a boundless amount of pages that's just so freeing! For my annual planner however, I'll stick with the MUJI weekly planner for its minimal simplicity, which I now must order online since Muji has closed their San Francisco shop.
See, my thing is that I prefer TRP 68gsm, so I use the Traveler's Notebook system, but buy other branded books in the regular size. So that's what I use for journalling and bullet journalling. But my reading journal is an Archer and Olive Neopolitan notebook.
My favorite notebook/ journal is Life Noble. Love the smooth writing experience in cream paper. Have used it for 2 years. 2nd to that would be the Rhodia. I tried the Kokuyo Soft Ring before, but I find their paper to be too thin for my writing style.. Next year I'll be trying the Midori. Excited for that
Looking forward to using a Mnemosyne diary for the first time in 2023. I'm going to use the Gantt charts to help myself make progress on several knitting projects. I have four Mnemosyne notebooks and several of their memo pads. Love that paper!
i've been a loyal traveler's notebook user since i got it for the first time in 2017 and i love the customizable system and how mine has changed through out the years! but i can't deny how incredibly cute hobonichi planners are! it's definitely a yearly event to look forward to!
