Hello, I’m Shioguchi from the techo team.

How have you been enjoying the issues for “My New Stationery - Spring 2024?”

Here are my new stationeries: the perfect companions for my Weeks books!



- uni-ball one 0.38mm Sesame gray
- Jetstream 3-color Slim Compact
- Clickbright Yellow
- Clear Cover for Weeks
- Chiratto Index Clip Orange
- Plus Whiper Petit 4mm
- Post-it Slim Mini Page Markers

After I started using the stationeries that worked well with the Weeks books for this year, I noticed they were making my techo time much more pleasant. Let me introduce some of my favorites.

The specially-selected pens
These three pens are newcomers.



1) uni-ball one 0.38mm Sesame gray
I add some lines with this pen and customize the format of the Weeks book weekly pages.



One of my favorite qualities of the Hobonichi Techo is that the lines are exquisitely thin and easy on the eyes, and this pen allows me to write similarly.

I only use black ink at work to avoid the trouble of switching through pens for different lines, but I prefer using lighter ink for the Weeks book since there are many lines that I want to add.

The subtle color fits nicely and has become one of my favorites.

2) Jetstream 3-color Slim Compact
I love this ballpoint pen so much that I have two of them: one for work and another at home.



Since my hands are slightly smaller than others, this slim body fits very well in my hand.

I use multi-colored pens for the compact Weeks book so that I can carry only a few pens with it.

This white pen version is designed for 0.5mm leads, but I have replaced it with a 0.38mm refill since I like fine leads better.

3) Clickbright
This pen is perfect for highlighting the Daily Quotes that catch my eye.


^See how nice and thin it is for the Daily Quotes!

Unlike typical highlighters, the nib of the pen is very thin.


^The top line is drawn with a Clickbright pen and below that with a common highlighter. The line is quite thin!


My first Clear Cover



・Clear Cover for Weeks

This year, I decided to use the Colors and chose a bright yellow color that I usually would not pick up. This made me want to keep my techo clean, and since I also wanted a pen holder, I decided to use the Clear Cover for the first time.

I prefer not to have a Clear Cover on my techo to enjoy the material of the original cover, but I find it convenient once I get used to it!


Index clips I buy again and again

I came across these index clips while struggling to find the index stickers that fit my taste.



- Chiratto Index Clip Orange

It has little protrusion, perfect thickness and hardness for pulling with your fingers, and it stays firmly even on the thin Tomoe River paper. I love them so much that I have repeatedly bought them.


Correction tape matching the Weeks paper color



- Plus Whiper Petit 4mm

The cream-colored paper is one of the Weeks’ features.

The tape color would stand out when using white correction tape, but this cream-colored one blends in with the Weeks book’s paper color.

I also like that it is small enough to fit in my pen case with other stationeries.


The small-size sticky notes that are useful on the monthly pages

As a sticky note user, I find these mini-size sticky notes useful.



- Post-it Slim Mini Page Markers

I use them as placeholders for the monthly pages by writing plans on them.

When my schedule changes, I can easily move them without the need to erase and rewrite, and the size is great for the narrow monthly pages.


Thank you for reading!

This issue was brought to you by Shioguchi, a lover of stationeries that make the techo time even better!

Hello. I'm Wenlai, from the techo team.

For three days from May 1st to 3rd, we participated in an outdoor sketching event held in Shanghai. The official name of the event is "Shanghai Urban Sketchers."

The event was held during this period of Golden Week, which is a holiday season in China. The venue was a grassy area along the river, and on sunny days, it's a popular spot for people to take walks.



The Hobonichi booth was located in one of the sunrooms here. At the corner where visitors could try sketching in Hobonichi Techo, many families visited every day.

Children were using a variety of drawing materials lined up to draw freely and enjoyably. They seemed to be having so much fun.




Throughout the event, we held several workshops.

On the first day, we invited Lia as a lecturer, and went on a sketch tour with the participants. Lia is an illustrator who paints warm and gentle watercolor artworks.

We packed the Stappo with colorful pens and went to find subjects we wanted to draw.




It seemed that many participants were accustomed to drawing, as everyone was very skilled! There were many impressive works.




On the second day, there was a workshop by Maoz (猫子).
Maoz's techo pages feature a yellow cat character appearing throughout. They're a bit comical and cute!
It's said to be like an alter ego expressing her feelings.



Based on Maoz's style, the theme of this workshop was "Let's create and draw your original characters!"



With just a few tricks, the characters become expressive. Once you have your own standard character, the expression in your techo expands all at once.



The guest on the final day was e-Zai.
e-Zai quickly captures the outlines of people and landscapes with her brushwork, and paints with the combination of vivid colors.
It's tasteful and very lovely!



First, we practiced sketching indoors before heading out to the riverside.





"I'm not good at drawing at all, but because it was an event where everyone was doing it together, I was able to challenge myself. I'm glad I took the plunge to participate," one of the participants said.

Many people discovered the Hobonichi Techo for the first time at this event.
They were amazed that despite the paper being so thin, it didn't bleed through even when painted with watercolors or other materials.
Truly, it's the Tomoe River paper, demonstrating its prowess without fail.

It's also becoming a pleasant season to go out in Japan - how about your place? Why not take your techo and pouch with you on your days off and try sketching?

Hello, I'm Annen from the techo team.

This series has techo team members introducing which stationery have been our favorites from ones we’ve started using for the first time this year.

I've got two pens I use lately that are my go-tos:
Style Fit and MATTEHOP.


- - - - -

Go-to pen No. 1
Style Fit (Mitsubishi Pencil)


I assembled this pen by pairing my pen body of choice with some refills I picked out. It comes in lots of colors and has a slim pen body that looks stylish as the sparkling refill ink shines through the see-through window.


I waffled over which of the many colors to pick for the pen ink but settled on these four. The tip size is 0.38mm, which writes a perfect line weight for me, not too thick and not too thin.


The smooth way this gel ink ballpoint pen writes is already nice, but it’s even better in this color.

I like all of the colors, but I think this Golden Yellow is especially exquisite. It’s pretty hard to find yellow ink that shows up clearly on white paper, so I was excited to find one I could actually use.

I use this pen for my work techo all the time because it lets me organize my writing in different colors.
▼I use the four colors like this.


- - - - -

Go-to pen No. 2
MATTEHOP (Pentel)



This pen also showed up in a Techo News article by. I tend to go for this one a lot, possibly because its unusually striking colors bring me cheer.

I have a total of seven colors. I’ve come to really love these a lot the more I use them, which is why I’ve accumulated so many.


It seems like the ink would come out in big globs and show through the other side of the page, but it was actually okay!
▼Not even the circled area has stained through.


I’m utterly in love with this pen and the way it has such beautiful colors without leaking through the other side.

Lately I’ve been really into pairing the MATTEHOP pen with cat-shaped sticky notes. (I bought the cat sticky notes at the 100 yen shop.)

I’ll draw the cat’s face on the note with a MATTEHOP pen and write a short message on the forehead, or

write some nice messages I can keep within eyeshot so I can read back on them.


This matchup with neon color sticky notes gives the whole look a lot of appeal.

- - - - -

There are a ton more stationery products I want to share, but I’ll end this with a little section called .


Impulse Buy Stationery Part 1
Fuji Bread Mini Toaster Sticky Notes

These are actually sticky notes, but amazingly enough, they pop out like a piece of toast!




Impulse Buy Stationery Part 2
Sparkly Japanese Food Stickers


I don’t know why this food would be turned into a sparkly design, but I like it.

▼The glitter sparkles!
/span>


Impulse Buy Stationery Part 3
Lenticular Ruler
(Sea creatures, various animals)


This ruler has animals moving on it through its 3D lenticular design.
▼You’ll definitely want to check out this amazing sense of movement.



The world of stationery is a deep and fun one, ranging from useful and practical items to useless ones that just make you happy.

Hello! I’m Nanako, and I’m a new graduate and the latest addition to the techo team in April.

This series has techo team members introducing which stationery have been our favorites from ones we’ve started using for the first time this year.

Here’s a look at mine!


This is the first time I’ve actually laid them out like this to look at them, and I’m surprised at how showy they are. It looks like I was trying to gather all the bright colors together. Let’s take a look at them one by one.

Stationery that makes me want to write
Pentel MATTEHOP


The ink of these matte color ballpoint pens writes so deep and vibrantly that it’s almost like you’re painting with it. Writing on dark-colored paper or photo paper gives it a strong sense of presence. I often have a hard time getting myself to colorfully decorate things, so I made it a little less intimidating by starting with washi tape for my journal entry headers and then wrote on that!


Yellow-green ink color

Lately I’ve felt compelled to use light yellow and yellowish-green colors for spring. I like MATTEHOP because the ink really pops and stands out even if I write over light colors.

Stationery that’s fun to pair with
Toiro Clear Masking Tape


My next item is this clear washi tape. It’s fun to play around with the transparency by layering strips of tape, and it’s simple enough that you can write on top of it. I bought it because it seemed perfect for taping things like shop cards and so on into my techo to look nice without covering it up too much.


Types: +Grid Red (L) 30mm (top left), +Lemon60 (S) 10mm (bottom right)

It’s recommended for use with oil-based pens, but I wrote the headline with an orange MATTEHOP and it turned out brilliant!


Stationery to gently organize a page
Sakura Coupy Marker


Lastly, I’d like to present the Coupy line marker, which can be used to apply soft color to writing. Of course, you can also use it for art. The shape is nice to hold, and the marker does not smudge, transfer, or take any time to dry.



I found a dandelion while I was on a walk and kept it for my diary. By drawing a matching yellow line to the corresponding words, the page feels more organized.


I used the colors Yellow and Pistachio. I made some vague shapes in the color of the dandelion and added lines with a ballpoint pen and MATTEHOP.

It's fun to add a hint of color after writing something in pen. It makes for an overall soft look, so I don't have to worry about making mistakes.

I'm personally nervous about coloring in pages I've already worked on but don't want lonely-looking pages, so if you're like me, I recommend it.



I used the colors Orange Peel and Violet Gray. After trying them out, I realized how calming the colors are.




Now my usual diary is lightly spruced up with my new stationery. I’m excited to have more pages that I’ll want to look back on.

What kind of stationery have you discovered lately? Even just having something new can make you feel more excited about writing.

Hello, Watanabe here from the techo team.

Now, let me get right to the point: my writing is very small. I also tend to be long-winded when I write. So I was having a hard time making my to-do lists legible.

I thought maybe I could find a solution by changing up the thickness of my pen lines, so I tried out various nib sizes.





This is a Copic Multiliner. I’m trying the 0.5mm thickness to write my to-do list headers, and 0.1mm thickness for their details.



I draw the checkboxes for my to-do list and the “To Do” title with a thick line, and write in further details with a thinner pen. This way I won’t overlook my to-do list. (I think.)

On that note, my thin pen isn’t a Copic Multiliner, but a 0.3mm Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto 5-color pen.



I feel like 5-color ballpoint pens are relatively rare. (It comes with 10 refill colors and you make a set with 5 at a time.)

And even though it’s thin, it writes smoothly. The pen feels like it just glides across the paper, so it’s satisfying to write with. I feel like my long writing entries might get even longer at this rate.

The pen uses ink made of a special biopolymer, so the ink hardens quickly on the paper and doesn’t bleed.



I wrote down my plans in green letters, and in red I wrote my thoughts afterwards, as well as newly laid plans.

This color coordination is intuitive to me, so I feel like I have a hang of it so far.

Look forward to the next issue of Hobonichi Techo News to see our next round of stationery and accessories!

Hi! I’m Iwasawa from the techo team.

The Hobonichi Techo NEWS is a series of articles on various themes by members of the techo team. Starting today, we will introduce “My New Stationery - Spring 2024,” some of the new favorite stationery items that the techo team members began using this year.

As the first one to share, these are the stationery I bought this year!


Let me walk you through one by one.

The first is the “Pelikano junior” fountain pen from Pelikan, a German stationery manufacturer.


I found it at a store and fell in love at first sight with its cute rounded shape and colorful translucent body. The price was reasonable, and I decided to buy it right away.

I later noticed that this fountain pen was designed for children. That is why the nib is rounded for easy writing, and it has a rubber grip to indicate the position of the fingers so that they can hold it correctly. (There were two types: one for right-handed people and one for left-handed people.)


The slightly thick line width is useful when writing large letters without worries. I also use it when I have little to write.


The second is Pentel’s “Ball Pentel.”


My favorite thing about this pen is that it writes so smoothly that it makes me feel good writing. I also love that the written letters are glossy. Writing and reflecting on my writing is fun since I can write in clear, dark letters.


These two pens were purchased when I had trouble sticking with my techo writing; I chose them with the hope of enjoying my writing again. I believe “using a new pen” is a tip for continuing to write in your techo, and I try it once in a while when I find myself not writing very frequently.

I selected turquoise and green body colors for these two to match the PAMM techo cover. I want to start fresh and keep up with my writing!


Let me share two more items. The PAPIER TIGRE mesh pocket and elastic pen holder are the ones that I bought at the beginning of this year for the HON book, as I was planning to use them for work this year. PAPIER TIGRE is a Parisian brand, and I am fascinated with their use of color.

The mesh pocket is not just cute in color and design but also lightweight. I came across it while looking for how to carry my stationery with my HON book. I wanted to keep my stuff as light as possible with a lovely design.


I bought the elastic pen holder with the mesh pocket. It is designed to be used horizontally but doesn’t fit tightly enough for the A6 size HON book. Although I knew the size before I bought it, it was so cute that I decided to use it another way. The HON book gets a little bulky as you add more items to the pages, so having an elastic band on it is reassuring.


I keep the pens and other stationery inside like this and bring them to work with my HON book!


What kind of stationery will come next? I can’t wait to see them, too!

Hi! I’m Nakamae from the techo team.


I am flattered to hear that the illustration on the far left of the recently released “Hobonichi Techo Survey” article was based on me. I couldn’t be happier!


This edition of the Hobonichi Techo NEWS theme is “Share your Hobonichi Techo with me!” We will interview some crew members and have them show their Hobonichi Techo.


When I heard about this topic, the first person that came to mind was “meron” (that’s what we call her), one of our designers. I have seen her techo in the Hobonichi Techo NEWS and on social media, and I have always wondered, “How does she use all these different techo?” “They look so interesting!” “I wish I could take a look in person!” I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to have an interview with her and find out all about them.


meron is the web designer for the techo team. She has been working on the website and content designs for the Hobonichi Techo since 2022. (She has also appeared several times in the Hobonichi Techo NEWS!) She is a “grass” and “beer” lover in her personal life.

<1> How do you use them?
──
From what I know, meron has a lot of things to do in her free time and enjoys her days to the fullest. I was pretty sure that one or two techo would not be enough for her daily activities, including observing grass, going to art museums and exhibitions, and so on.

meron
That’s right! Right now, I use five different techo, with separate topics for each one. I have four here today, except for the 5-Year techo.

──
I cannot believe you use that many! How do you use them?

meron
The first Weeks book is for plants. It is the one I write about grass, which is one of my favorite things. The second Weeks book is for art. I record about art museums and architecture. The A6 size Original book is a journal where I keep things about my personal life. The A5 size HON book is my work techo; I am finally figuring out the best way to use this book. The final one, the 5-Year techo, is for writing down feelings and thoughts as they come to mind.

──
They are all brilliantly used! However, I assume that since you have so many hobbies, you are not at home very often. Can you still use all of them at the same time?

meron
I manage to get some time to write my techoーsometimes I write them before work, after work when I get home early, or on days off.

<２>A daily routine inspired by “Ranman”

──
The Weeks book, with Dr. Tomitaro Makino's botanical drawings on the cover, is surely perfect for a “plants notebook.”

meron
Every day, I write my observations on the left side, and on the right side memo page, I draw illustrations and summarize information from the encyclopedia. This daily habit was inspired by the TV series Ranman (2023/NHK); every day at the end of the program, they introduce different kinds of plants with the title “Botanical Encyclopedia.” I started drawing them myself and kept drawing plants found outside even after the program was over.



──
That sounds wonderful! But isn’t it hard to continue that routine every single day?

meron
I came up with a trick to help myself with it: I set up a LINE notification on my smartphone to let me know the plant of the day every morning! Every day, I see the notification, and I draw.


──
So now you have a structure to support yourself! How about the other pages? What do you use them for?

meron
The yearly index is used as a table of contents to see the plants for each day quickly. The monthly calendar is for botanical and specific names, families, and genuses so that I can familiarize myself with those names. And this year, I started using the memo pages at the end of the book for plant sampling!

──
It’s amazing to see the real plants pasted!

meron
I’m excited to see a botanical techo being completed, with the whole book written about plant observation!

<３>Willing to visit more than 53 venues of art!

──
The Taro Okamoto techo with the Tragen cover is for art, right? I see that you value the content of the techo matching the cover design. How do you use this one?

meron
I usually use it to paste art museum tickets and photos of architecture and to write down findings and feelings. It is useful to have the closing dates of exhibitions on the monthly calendar; it helps me remember visiting them. I have a list of exhibitions on the left side of the calendar to easily see how many I could visit!

──
That’s awesome! It must make you want to fill up your techo with even more art activities.

meron
Exactly. I started this art techo last year, and my writing style motivated me to visit 53 venues. I would like to visit more this year!


<４>Write only the fun plans!
──
The A6 size Original book is a journal. Do you have any writing rules?

meron
The only rule I have is to write the fun stuff. I write freely, mixing photos and illustrations on the daily pages.

──
You are writing willingly, but the quality is pretty high. Everything is written so carefully. Do you use the other pages as well?

meron
I use the yearly index for my schedule and write the things I am doing for fun. It makes me feel great to see it. I keep a “one-picture diary” on the monthly calendar.

──
Look how cute it is! The picture describes an impressive event of the day with you as the main character.


meron
That’s right. I’m enjoying this habit, too.


──
When was this cover released?

meron
It was back in 2022! Its name is “Into the Forest,” perfect for someone like me who often goes into forests to observe plants in Yakushima and other places. I was so happy when I found it, and it has been my favorite partner ever since.

<５>Finally found the best way to use it

──
And this is the A5 size HON book. This one in the “MOTHER” design is for work, right?

meron
Yes, I use it at work. I had been looking for the best way to use it and recently reached an answer.

──
It is so full of work details that we cannot show everyone!

meron
It’s too bad I cannot show it, but the writing has been quite interesting since I started writing about my daily work, findings, and impressions of the day in the weekly diary. In the monthly calendar, I write deadlines and publish dates for the content I am working on.

──
So you have been searching for the best way and finally found it! It is also nice that it has become an excellent tool for working.

<６>Valuing my honest feelings

──
Finally, the 5-Year techo. Is this something you keep at home?

meron
Indeed. I am comfortable not showing it to others since it contains my actual thoughts. It is a special techo for me, deepening my thoughts and emotions.

──
You are using each techo not just for logging but also for developing thoughts.

I had so much fun interviewing and getting to know various styles of use from one user! Thank you very much for sharing!

＊＊＊


Knowing fun ways of using the techo makes you even more excited to try them out and create an even greater techo. I am also motivated to write my techo when I get home today! I will make sure to write down the happy moments of the day before I eat well and fall asleep.


Guess who’s next? See you in the next edition of “Share your Hobonichi Techo with me!”


- Tomitaro Makino: Shihai Sumire [Weeks]
- Tragen (Black) [Weeks cover]
- Taro Okamoto: Three Faces [Weeks]
- Into the Forest [A6 Original size cover] *Sales have ended
- Hobonichi Techo 2024 Japanese Original Book (January Start)
- MOTHER: EarthBound Beginnings [HON A5 size]
- Hobonichi 5-Year Techo Japanese Book [A6 size]

Hello, I am Mizunoya from the techo team.

The Hobonichi Techo NEWS is brought to you by the members of the techo team.

The theme for this edition is “Share your Hobonichi Techo with me!” The techo team interviews and reports on how other crew members use their Hobonichi Techo.

As the third person to write this article, I decided to see , a Corporate Planning and Management team member.

I expected Miya to use a digital planner since he uses digital tools for forecast management and data analysis.

But to my surprise, he was using two techo and also a fountain pen. I definitely needed to ask him about them and went over to him.



Miya uses an A6 size HON book and an A5 size Day-Free book with an A5 size cover for the Cousin. *The yellow HON book is a custom color produced for the shareholder’s benefit for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023.

He uses mostly digital tools for schedule management and two techo for note-taking at work.




I take notes for each meeting in this A6 size HON book. Whenever I look at my smartphone calendar and want to find out what we discussed at a specific meeting, I look up the date in my techo and find out. The dates serve as an index.

──It sounds quite useful to use the dates as an index! However, won’t that make the blanks more obvious?


I don’t mind the blanks; it’s also convenient to know that “there aren’t any.”

──That makes so much sense! It is an advantage of a handwritten techo to see that there was nothing to be written about. Digital tools are quite helpful, but you could get worried about the blanks that there may have been something that has been accidentally deleted.

How do you use the Day-Free?




I use the A5 size Day-Free when I want to put my thoughts together. What is written on digital tools could look organized, even when they’re not.

When thinking about a plan or a mechanism that has not yet been set in direction, I try sorting out my thoughts by hand-drawing diagrams and arrows instead of writing down sentences and then using digital tools.


He showed me a page he used to illustrate while listening to a complicated explanation at a meeting. It seems to sink in more easily when illustrated and color-coded rather than just listing the information in text.

──Indeed, text in digital looks organized even when they’re not! For better or worse, they look nicer than they truly are.


I know. Also, as a side note, I drew the house's layout in the techo when I moved since it was easy to write in grid lines. I drew a lot of layouts back then.



──The house’s layouts! It is certainly easier to draw something like that on grid lines. Can you tell me about the stationery, too?





I use ballpoint pens and fountain pens with the techo, and I also use a glass dip pen at home. I’m obsessed with pens; at first, it was the Jetstream, and then I learned about fountain pens on social media and was impressed when I tried it out at the store!

My first fountain pen was a blue Sailor Barcarolle, purchased eight years ago. As I tried various fountain pens, I felt fountain pens with extra-fine and hard barrels suited me better. Once I realized that, I became increasingly addicted to them.

──Keeping it in a leather case makes it look even more massive! Your techo time must be even more wonderful with this pen case at the side.


This pen case is from Tsuchiya Kaban and was purchased at Tobichi. A great pen case makes me feel great.

The staff at the stationery store told me that if you have fountain pens of the same size from the same manufacturer, you can enjoy swapping caps!


Changing the caps on the red and blue fountain pens instantly changes the feel of the pens!

──It’s great to know a new way of enjoying them! The more you know about them, the more you want to collect them.


I’m collecting more and more; most of my fountain pens are those I purchased, but I got some as a gift from my parents. I haven’t purchased any for a while, but the
Stationery Club content makes me want more… I unconsciously add them to the cart and try not to purchase them.

──I didn’t know how much you loved stationery! It was such a pleasure to know something new about you. Thank you for joining the interview!


***

Miya’s sharing reminded me of the benefits of both digital and handwriting. I had thought that my work techo was difficult to look back at because it is filled with words, so I would like to record things in a style that is only possible with handwriting, such as using diagrams.

It also made me think about what kind of pen suits me best. I think I will go to a stationery store and try out some pens!

What kind of techo would we see next? Please look forward to the next issue of the Hobonichi Techo NEWS!

[Techo and stationery Miya uses]
・Japanese Day-Free Book A5 Size
・Leather
TS 2020 [A5 Cousin size cover] *Sales have ended
・Tsuchiya Bag Factory: Tone Oil Nume Roll Pen Case

Hello, Shioguchi here from the techo team.

Spring is a time for new beginnings. This is the time of year I find myself wanting to get new stationery and writing utensils and clean up my desk so I can feel refreshed and uplifted.

The Stappo is perfect for times like these.



What is a Stappo?
The Stappo is a standing pouch that can store a lot of things from around your desk.

There are dividers and pockets all over the place - on the inside, on the outside - so you can strategically store accessories and things you use often in designated spots!

Click here to learn more about the Stappo

What makes the Stappo so appealing?
The Stappo is great because you can store stationery with your techo.

[With your work techo]
If you use a Weeks techo for work, for example, you could fit it into the back or inner pockets and then store your writing utensils and gadgets and everything from your desk alongside it.





Alternatively, you could fit an A6 Hobonichi Techo Plain Notebook, Hobonichi Address Book, Hobonichi Card Case, or a Hobonichi Photo Album into the pockets.

[For decorating the techo]
The Stappo can also fit an A6 HON.





You can also store in it things like the Pochitto6, Deco Rush, stickers, colored pens, and other slim items, making it perfect for users who enjoy drawing and pasting things into their techos.

There’s also an attached handle for easy carrying! By having your techo and decorative accessories bundled together in a set, you can bring it wherever you go and write in your techo anytime.

A look at Stappos of techo team members
The Hobonichi office setup is an open office, where desks are not assigned and people can work freely from anywhere in the office. This means employees need to carry their writing tools and other work items with them and stay portable. So this all makes the Stappo a popular item among the techo team. Let’s take a look inside some of the Stappos team members are using at work.

(Watanabe) from Product Planning’s Stappo: Black





Watanabe uses a Stappo Black to store colored pencils, Copics, and other pens. The large inner pocket can hold Copic markers by their clips for easy access.
One of the best parts of using it is apparently the ability to store things that get used often, such as measuring tape or scissors, and being able to access them anytime.

Designer (meron)’s Stappo: Liberty Fabrics - Clementina







Melon’s Stappo stores relaxing items, moisturizer, hand sanitizer spray, and other frequently used items. During work hours, she takes off her watch and hangs it over the Stappo’s cover.

In the far back pocket, she stores her drawing tablet and an Everlasting Bag, which is a Hobonichi Store Exclusive.

(Shioguchi) from Site Management’s Stappo: Black





I also use the Black Stappo. I store chargers and cords, a number pad, headphones, and other gadgets I use often. It also allows me to keep my lipstick, nail file, hand cream, face mist, and other moisturizers in one place for handy access.

***

So, what did you think? If you organize all the items you use most into a single place, you can make the most out of the time you spend writing in your techo, working, or studying!



Stappo that are currently on sale:
- Black
- Canvas: Ivory Brown
- Bow & Tie: Bunnies
- Dark Plaid

Hi, I’m Higashi from the techo team.

This techo news is brought to you under the theme of “Share your Hobonichi Techo with me!” where techo team members report on how other crew members use their techo.

Today, I went to see Kurokawa, who’s in charge of the Hobonichi Techo store in Rakuten, to ask her how she uses her techo.

Kurokawa recently joined our company in September. I recall how she showed us the very first Hobonichi Techo she owned, which was the collaboration edition New Japan Pro-Wrestling Hobonichi Techo 2021 Weeks in the Kazuchika Okada version, when she introduced herself.



She’s a huge pro-wrestling fan, obsessed with Takarazuka Revue, and is currently into women’s pro-wrestling. This is the techo Kurokawa is using this year.


Liberty Fabrics
Emma and Georgina HON (A5)

──Can you start off by telling us why you chose this techo?

Kurokawa
I had always liked the designs and colorway of Liberty Fabrics. I love to use stickers and washi tape to decorate my techo, and decided I should choose the larger A5 size so I have enough room to paste them.

The pen I use is the Hobonichi Store exclusive Jetstream ballpoint pen and the Mildliner in mild gold. I use a Rivet Band Laccio so that these two pens don’t go missing.

I keep clear folders in two sizes where I keep memos in between the clear cover and the techo.


By keeping the A6 size clear folder in front of the A5 size, it slides well and is easy to take out the file in front.

──So this is how you create storage when using the HON! How do you fill your pages?

Kurokawa
I write recipes I learnt on social media, things that I found interesting, and titles of books that I wanted to read. This is what they call a "commonplace notebook."

──I’ve never heard of a commonplace before. How did you find it?

Kurokawa
I learnt that this method allows me to memorize things I want to remember. I was also able to actually do something rather than just vaguely reading it.


A memo from when she learnt how to bucket relay efficiently. She uses the free space to paste her favorite stickers.

──You’ve even written tips when bucket relaying! I love the illustrations you’ve added. I admire how you add stickers to your spreads.
Kurokawa
I’m happy to hear that! I used the Remember This page to paste my favorite shots of the month and books I read using the iNSPiC. I’m not sure whether I’d continue with my record of the books I read... but I want to enjoy writing in this techo freely without setting any rules.

Her best shot for January was when Will Ospreay entered the stage at the January 4 Tokyo Dome Show.

I use the daily pages to write a diary or about work or what I ate.

When I go see a Takarazuka Revue, I make sure I write a lot and use the spread like this...

A page from when she went to see a show in January

She went to see the same title in February, too.

──Wow. It’s beautiful!

Kurokawa
By writing about the performance like this in my techo, I’m reminded of what direction I was moved by or the music I liked. I make sure that I don’t pack it with words too much so it’s easy to read back later on. I also choose stickers and the color of the pens I use to match the image of the show.

──If it’s this pretty, it would be fun to read back on.

Kurokawa
But if I put my effort in all pages, I won’t be able to write in it every day, so I usually make sure I write at least a sentence.

She often ends up not writing much on weekdays. She fills up space with cute stickers.

──I’m glad to hear that even you feel that way sometimes. Can you introduce us to the stationery you brought with you today?

Kurokawa
Other than the pens I carry with the techo cover, I keep a few Mildliner pens in the Small Drawer Pouch.

The color combination of the illustrations by Hiroko Kubota and the Mildliner are cute.


She keeps stickers in a Miffy clear case

I keep my large stash of washi tape in cans of sweets or cases. The letter book with 100 sheets of Liberty prints is a must, too.


She uses the letterbook to tear pieces out to use for decoration.

──Oh wow, this is fun! You can open a shop! This is my last question, but do you choose a time you write in your techo?

Kurokawa
I don’t really have a set time, but on weekdays, I tend to write before I sleep. I write about my weekends on Sunday. I sometimes write how I’ve drunk too much.

──Haha, a record of when you drank too much. It was interesting to hear all about your techo today. Please let me take a peek at it every once in a while!

[Kurokawa’s techo and stationery]
- Liberty Fabrics: Emma and Georgina [HON / A5 Size]
- Rivet Band Laccio
- Clear Cover for A5 Size HON
- Hobonichi Folder Set of 2 for A5 Size
- Hobonichi Folder Set of 3 for A6 Size
- Mini Photo Printer iNSPiC
- Small Drawer Pouch
- Mildliner