Several years ago, I linked to an article about the history of an iconic Japanese notebook: The Tsubame Fools Notebook. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve finally managed to buy and review one!
I don’t know what took me so long. They’re not that hard to find, and they certainly aren’t expensive. This notebook only cost me $3.00 at Yoseka Stationery‘s lovely store in Greenpoint.
I love the design, which looks classic and timeless. The format is a typical single signature exercise book, with a taped spine. I notice that the spine tape wraps further around on the front than on the back– it’s deliberate, but I wonder why?
On the inside front cover, there is some text, all in Japanese. Then you get to the lovely bright paper. It’s lined with dots that can be used to guide vertical lines.
The paper works well with all fountain pens. Even flexing nibs with significant pressure produced no problems. Only the Accu-liner and Super Sharpie bled.
What’s not to love? It’s a nice looking $3.00 notebook that performs extremely well. I could only wish that they made a 3.5 x 5.5″ version with unlined paper!
This looks very much like the Apica notebook, also Japanese, bound similarly, also inexpensive and with excellent paper. I like to carry the smallest one in my pocket for note-taking emergencies.
The Tsubame notebooks are my go to choice as I’ll write with a rollerball as often as I do with a fountain pen. The paper is excellent with all the writing instruments I use. I prefer the B5 size. The single signature notebooks are great for projects, keeping all the notes and information in one place. The daily journal is the 400 page notebook.
I’ve used Tsubame for several years, alternating between that Apica , Midori, Oasis and now, Perpanep. I do not prefer one paper over the other; all are outstanding. I use the 148 mm x 210 mm size (or thee abouts) for weekly to-do lists and calls from new clients, so that I can keep my planner clean. I recommend them all!