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?
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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.

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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.

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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”

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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.



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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.


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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!
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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.

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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.

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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.


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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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]

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