Hobonichi Techo2002

 

12,000 copies

The Hobonichi Techo is born!

In the spring of 2001, the idea of the Hobonichi Techo arises during a development meeting of original goods for the website Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun. Asking the readers if they want a planner results in over 700 replies, a number far-exceeding expectation, thus the Hobonichi Techo project is greenlit.

• The initial cover lineup is one design, a navy blue nylon cover.
• The daily page’s grid is 3.0 mm.
• The Techo comes in a two-book set of a planner and a notebook.

What hasn’t changed from the first Hobonichi Techo of 2002:

• Portable A6 size
• One day per page format
• Page design based on graph paper
• 24-hour timeline
• Use of strong and bleed-resistent Tomoe River paper
• 180-degree lay-flat binding
• Two bookmarks
• Fun, informational pages in the back with different contents every year

Hobonichi Techo2003

 

18,000 copies

• The cover lineup consists of 4 colors in nylon.
• A pen holder that serves as a clasp is introduced.
• The daily page’s grid is changed to 4.0 mm.

Hobonichi Techo2004

 

30,000 copies

• The cover lineup counts 8 designs including newly introduced leather cover.
• “Secret Vertical Line” is introduced to the daily pages.
• Daily quotes, selected from planner’s parent site, Hobo Nikkan Shinbun is introduced to each page of the year.

Hobonichi Techo2005

 

70,000 copies

• The cover lineup increases to 11 designs.
• Cover on Cover, a clear cover to protect the techo cover is introduced.
• A poplular zakka store Loft starts to carry the Hobonichi Techo.

Hobonichi Techo2006

 

140,000 copies

• The cover lineup includes 11 designs.
• April-start “Hobonichi Techo Spring” is released.

Hobonichi Techo2007

 

230,000 copies

• The cover lineup is 17 designs, including newly introduced patterns such as hound’s tooth-check and stripes.

Hobonichi Techo2008

 

250,000 copies

• The cover lineup is 20 designs. Duo-toned covers are introduced.
• Original stationery is released.

Hobonichi Techo2009

 

280,000 copies

A5 Size Cousin is born!

In response to users who needed more space to write, Cousin, twice the size of the original size is released. The techo design gets a major overhaul by graphic designer Taku Sato.

• The cover lineup increases to 28 designs with the release of fabric covers.
• The daily page’s grid is changed to 3.45 mm.
• A5 Size Hobonichi Cousin is released.
• “Sunday start” techo goes on sale.

Hobonichi Techo2010

 

350,000 copies

• The cover lineup is 54 designs, newly introducing covers made in collaboration with popular brands and artists such as Henry Cuir and Morikage Shirt.
• Hobonichi hosts a meetup event with users to discuss grid size, readjusting it to 3.7 mm.

Hobonichi Techo2011

 

400,000 copies

Weeks is born!

Weeks enjoys growth and popularity as many users record their lives in its compact, and portable long-wallet sized body.

• The cover lineup is 58 designs including collaborations with brands such as Disney, minä perhonen, and Porter.
• Thin and light weekly planner Hobonichi Techo Weeks is released.

Hobonichi Techo2012

 

460,000 copies

• The cover lineup is 71 designs with a wider color variation of Weeks.
• Zippers, a case-type cover with a zipper opening is released.
• Hobonichi Store donates techos to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake who lost or damaged their techo.

Hobonichi Techo2013

 

480,000 copies

Hobonichi Techo Planner is born!

The Planner, the English version of techo, specially created in collaboration with Arts&Science owner Sonya Park is released. The cover features an engraving of the characters for techo, “手帳” in Japanese, to bring attention to the Japanese concept of techo, a book that serves the owner at a deep level, not limited to planning her schedule, but also lends itself to diary-entries.

• The cover lineup now includes 85 designs.
• The Hobonichi Techo Planner, made together with Arts&Science is released.

Hobonichi Techo2014

 

500,000 copies

• The cover lineup counts 98 designs, the most in Hobonichi Techo history.
• Sales reaches 500,000 copies.
• English verion of Hobonichi Store opens.

Hobonichi Techo2015

 

550,000 copies

Avec joins the family!

Avec is released in response to customers who struggled with bulging books after collecting a year's worth of pasted material in the daily pages. The Avec version splits the same book, design and all, into a 2-book set at six months each.

• The cover lineup includes 79 designs.
• Avec, that splits the year into 2 books is released.
• The covers with a variety of shapes and materials such as silicone covers and tri-fold covers are released.

Hobonichi Techo2016

 

610,000 copies

• The cover lineup includes 87 designs.
• Sales start at Log-On in Hong Kong.
• Hobonichi Techo meetings are held among the creative team and the users to discuss how each person uses the techo.
• There is an increase in the number of people who post their Hobonichi Techo entries on SNS.

Hobonichi Techo2017

 

670,000 copies

• The cover lineup includes 79 designs.
• Hobonichi Techo Meeting Caravan rolls out in six cities throughout Japan.
• The global communities of Hobonichi Techo users hold numerous Hobonichi meetups all over the world. Hobonichi Techo staff visits the meetup event in Manila, Philippines.