Hobonichi Graph Notebook, Keiko Shibata “Who Is It?”
A notebook that is perfectly happy to be just a notebook, but happens to have very good taste.
Originally introduced as the Hobonichi Plain Notebook, the Hobonichi Graph Notebook was created for people who wanted the same wonderful paper and writing experience as the Hobonichi Techo, without necessarily needing a planner. Starting with the 2025 edition, it got a new name, but thankfully none of the good stuff changed.
This edition features artwork by picture book author and illustrator Keiko Shibata, whose warm oil-pastel illustration, Who Is It?, captures a wonderfully ordinary little mystery. A visitor has arrived at the door, and the cats are very interested. One watches from inside, another peers through the window. Are they excited to welcome the guest? Or are they conducting a thorough feline security assessment? We may never know.
The back cover echoes the red door in the illustration and features Shibata’s printed signature.
Inside, you get the thing Hobonichi does exceptionally well: thin, durable Tomoe River paper that feels lovely to write on and opens completely flat. The 3.7 mm graph ruling is the same grid used in the Hobonichi Techo Original, making it equally happy with writing, lists, drawings, planning, or whatever else you feel like putting on the page.
The A6 version has 240 pages, while the A5 has 288 pages. Even better, the page ink changes color every 60 pages in the A6 and every 72 pages in the A5, rotating through red, blue, green, and purple. It’s a small detail, but a clever one: use the colors to divide the notebook into different subjects or simply make it easier to find something you wrote ages ago.
And because the sizes correspond to the A6 Original and A5 Cousin Hobonichi Techo, you can tuck either notebook into a compatible Techo cover. Add a pen or some sticky notes and suddenly your humble notebook has become a very capable little portable office.
Of course, it works beautifully on its own, too. Keep one beside your chair, in your bag, on your desk, or wherever good ideas tend to ambush you.
And if you're already smitten with Shibata’s cats, pair it with a Techo cover or Weeks featuring her artwork for the full charmingly cat-obsessed effect.
Why You'll Love It
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The paper: Thin, durable Tomoe River paper with the smooth writing experience Hobonichi fans expect.
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A very good cover story: Keiko Shibata’s warm oil-pastel cats turn an everyday notebook into something you’ll actually enjoy looking at.
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A clever little grid: The 3.7 mm graph paper works beautifully for writing, drawing, lists, and everything in between.
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Color-coded pages: The graph ink changes color throughout the book, making it easy to divide sections or find old notes.
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Made to fit your Techo cover: Available in A6 and A5 to correspond with the Original and Cousin sizes.
Details
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Brand: Hobonichi
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Product Line: Graph Notebook
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Design: Keiko Shibata, “Who Is It?”
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Sizes: A6 or A5
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Pages: 240 pages (A6); 288 pages (A5)
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Paper: Tomoe River
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Grid: 3.7 mm
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Binding: Opens completely flat
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Country of Origin: Japan