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Hiroko KubotaThe Tone of Illuminated FlowersA6 Original Size

  • 2025 New

Two cats are walking their bikes on a spring evening. The scene is filled with cherry trees in full bloom and the petals fluttering everywhere.



Illustrator Hiroko Kubota created this enigmatic scene, which combines the stillness of the night with the murmur of the wind scattering cherry blossoms.



The cats, too, seem to be taken by this overwhelming sight. Oh, it appears that one of them even has their eyes closed.







And why is that? Look on the back of the cover. You’ll see them heading towards a brilliantly shining crescent moon, which is a harp being played by a mouse. Maybe the cat is closing its eyes as it listens to the tone of the harp.







The butterfly stoppers and the interior pockets of the cover are also covered in cherry blossom petals.







The bookmark charms are shaped like petals. The cover interior is yellow with a soft hint of blue to mimic the moonlight. This color is covered up by your techo book when you insert it into the cover, but isn’t there something delightful about getting a quick peek of it when you open your book?







Having this dreamlike landscape by your side will make those special moments of introspection when you open your techo all the more tender.

In the Hobonichi Techo 2025 lineup, the Original book comes in either English or Japanese.

*The English book is only available as the January-start version.




About Hiroko Kubota

Born 1971. Illustrator. Uses acrylic gouache etc. to draw landscapes, people, and animals.



Instagram: @hiroko_kubota


Homepage: https://kuvotahiroko.jimdofree.com/

A techo with a story

Whenever I work with Hiroko Kubota on a techo, I focus on a sense of airiness and beautiful views.



The Tone of Illuminated Flowers is a design that allows users to experience that special feeling that fills your chest when you’re surrounded by a flurry of cherry blossoms. The front cover alone has a quiet feel to it, but when you look at the back, you can see a mouse playing a harp, and can nearly hear its tone. I think it’s fascinating that a single image can offer such different feelings.



The Night Cherry Blossoms Snow Globe design for the Weeks is like itself an objet d’art that makes you want to just sit and study it. The petal-pink foil accents the cover nicely with a casual sparkle. Adding a nice touch of fluttering petals to the back of the cover was Kubota’s idea. The artwork has the same fluttering cherry blossom petals as The Tone of Illuminated Flowers, but the pace and the shift of feelings in this piece feel entirely different.



One of the product concepts of the HON is to feel like you’re carrying around a favorite book. I wanted the HON cover, especially, to have such a sense of story to it that it could be the cover of a published book. That’s when I asked Kubota for Crescent Moon Delivery. The cat on the back of the cover also makes for all kinds of stories in our imagination. This design actually had “Crescent Moon Thief” as one of the name candidates.



We hope you enjoy each of these stories.

Introduction to the Hiroko Kubota series products

(Hobonichi Techo 2025 lineup)

Staff List

Photographer
Styled Images: Nobuki Kawaharazaki / Product Detail: Hiroyuki Oe
Stylist
Minami Nosaki
Hiroko KubotaThe Tone of Illuminated FlowersA6 Original Size
  1. ¥5,610 - ¥6,600(incl. tax)
  2. ¥3,410(incl. tax)

Normal
Available
10

Compatible Techo Books

  • Planner (A6)1 page per day English edition
  • Original (A6)1 page per day
  • Original Avec (A6)1 page per day 6-month book
  • Day-FreeMonthly notebook

[Planner] Daily Pages (English Version)

The English-version daily techo with a refined design
This compact A6 size techo has spacious daily pages and a simple graph-paper design that offers plenty of freedom to draw, paste, and write.
  • Monday-start
  • A6 size
  • Thickness: 15 mm (0.6”)
  • Daily pages
  • Yearly calendar
  • Yearly index
  • Monthly calendar
  • Memo pages

[Original] Daily Pages・One Piece Edition (*1)

A classic easy-to-use techo
This compact A6 size techo has spacious daily pages and a simple graph-paper design that offers plenty of freedom to draw, paste, and write.
  • Monday-start
  • Sunday-start
  • A6 size
  • Thickness: 15 mm (0.6”)
  • Daily pages
  • Yearly calendar
  • Yearly index
  • Monthly calendar
  • Memo pages

*1 Also compatible with the One Piece Edition Original Book.

[Original Avec] Daily Pages (2-Book Set)

Each 6-month daily techo is thin and light for easy carry
This techo splits the year into two 6-month books, making it easy to carry while keeping the same page design and layout as the standard edition.
  • Monday-start
  • A6 size
  • Thickness: 8 mm (0.3”) each
  • Daily pages
  • Yearly calendar
  • Yearly index
  • Monthly calendar
  • Memo pages

[Day-Free] Monthly Techo + Notebook

A monthly notebook with undated pages to write freely
This techo starts with monthly calendars and ends with undated graph paper pages so you can write whenever you want, and as much as you want.
  • Monday-start
  • A6 size
  • Thickness: 8 mm (0.3”)
  • Monthly calendar
  • Yearly calendar
  • Yearly index
  • Graph paper notebook pages

Specifications

Cover
SizeH: 165 x W: 244 x T: 3 mm / H: 6.5" x W: 9.6" x T: 0.1"
*Excluding pen holders
*Specifications may vary slightly
WeightApprox. 100 g
Main materialExterior: Polyester / Interior: Polyester
Book (Original English Edition / English / January Start)
SizeA6 size
H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 15 mm / H: 5.8"" x W: 4.1"" x T: 0.6""
*Actual book size may vary slightly
WeightApprox. 195 g
LanguageEnglish
Pages464 pages
Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
*Monthly calendar pages are 3.45 mm
Start of WeekMonday-start week or Sunday-start week
Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
Yearly IndexDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (8 pages)
Monthly CalendarDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (32 pages)
Daily PagesJan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025 (377 pages)
*A blank two-page spread is featured at the beginning to provide a free area when starting out the book.
*A page is included at the beginning of each month to help in planning ahead.
*All daily pages include daily quotes.
*Includes a mini monthly calendar at the bottom right of every two-page spread (Monday- / Sunday-start).
Daily QuotesOne quote per two-page spread (English)
Weekly Pages Not included
Memo Pages17 pages
Bonus PagesTime Table / Graph Paper / Favorites / My 100 / Sample Symbols and Icons / How to Have Fun Keeping a Diary / Oodles of Noodles / Words to Remember / 365 Days Check-Off Sheet / Looking Back at the Year 2025 / Getting the Most Out of Your Hobonichi Techo / Gifts / Addresses / Personal Notes
Listed InformationDay of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars only include full and new moon)
OtherSee the Exploring Each Type page for more details
Book (Planner / English / January Start)
SizeA6 size
H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 15 mm / H: 5.8"" x W: 4.1"" x T: 0.6""
*Actual book size may vary slightly
WeightApprox. 190 g
LanguageEnglish
Pages448 pages
Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size4 mm
Start of WeekMonday-start week
Yearly Calendar2025, 2026
Yearly IndexDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (8 pages)
Monthly CalendarDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (32 pages)
Daily PagesJan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025 (377 pages)
*A blank two-page spread is featured at the beginning to provide a free area when starting out the book.
*A page is included at the beginning of each month to help in planning ahead.
*Every two-page daily page spread includes one daily quote.
*Includes a mini monthly calendar at the bottom right of every two-page spread (Monday-start).
Daily QuotesOne quote per two-page spread (English)
Weekly Pages Not included
Memo Pages16 pages
Bonus PagesImportant Contacts / International Size Charts / The Ultimate Packing List / My 100 / How to Have Fun Keeping a Diary / Oodles of Noodles / Personal Notes
Listed InformationDay of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars and daily pages) / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars only include full and new moon)
OtherSee the Exploring Each Type page for more details
Book (Original / Japanese / January Start)
SizeA6 size
H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 15 mm / H: 5.8" x W: 4.1" x T: 0.6"
*Actual book size may vary slightly
WeightApprox. 195 g
LanguageJapanese
Pages464 pages
Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
*Monthly calendar pages are 3.45 mm
Start of WeekMonday-start week or Sunday-start week
Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
Yearly IndexDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (8 pages)
Monthly CalendarDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (32 pages)
Daily PagesJan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025 (377 pages)
*A blank two-page spread is featured at the beginning to provide a free area when starting out the book.
*A page is included at the beginning of each month to help in planning ahead.
*All daily pages include daily quotes.
*Includes a mini monthly calendar at the bottom right of every two-page spread (Monday- / Sunday-start).
Daily QuotesOne per day (Japanese)
Weekly Pages Not included
Memo Pages15 pages
Bonus PagesTime Table / Graph Paper / Favorites / My 100 / Sample Symbols and Icons / How to Have Fun Keeping a Diary / Recommended Noodle List of 47 Prefectures / Solar Terms / Emergency Preparedness / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Gifts / Age Table / Addresses (for 6 people) / Personal Notes
Listed InformationDay of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars) / Old lunar calendar / Rokuyo (traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar) (listed on monthly calendars) / Solar terms / Japanese holidays / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars only include full and new moon)
OtherSee the Exploring Each Type page for more details
Book (Original Avec / Japanese / January Start / 2-Book Set)
SizeA6 size x 2 books
Each Book: H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 8 mm / H: 5.9"" x W: 4.1"" x T: 0.3""
*Actual book size may vary slightly
WeightEach Book: Approx. 110 g
LanguageJapanese
PagesEach Book: 240 pages
Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
*Monthly calendar pages are 3.45 mm
Start of WeekMonday-start week
Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
Yearly IndexBook 1: Dec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (8 pages)
Book 2: Jun. 2025 - May 2026 (6 pages)
Monthly CalendarBook 1: Dec. 2024 - Jul. 2025 (16 pages)
Book 2: Jun. 2025 - Jan. 2026 (16 pages)
Daily PagesBook 1: Jan. 1 - June 30, 2025 (187 pages)
Book 2: July 1 - Dec. 31, 2025 (190 pages)
*A blank two-page spread (three pages for Book 2) is featured at the beginning to provide a free area when starting out the book.
*A page is included at the beginning of each month to help in planning ahead.
*All daily pages include daily quotes.
*Includes a mini monthly calendar at the bottom right of every two-page spread (Monday-start).
Daily QuotesOne per day (Japanese)
Weekly Pages Not included
Memo PagesBook 1: 2 page
Book 2: 0 page
Bonus PagesTime Table / Graph Paper / Favorites / My 100 / Sample Symbols and Icons / How to Have Fun Keeping a Diary / Recommended Noodle List of 47 Prefectures / Solar Terms / Emergency Preparedness / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Gifts / Age Table / Addresses (for 6 people) / Personal Notes
Listed InformationDay of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars) / Old lunar calendar / Rokuyo (traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar) (listed on monthly calendars) / Solar terms / Japanese holidays / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars only include full and new moon)
OtherSee the Exploring Each Type page for more details
Book (Original - One Piece Edition / Japanese / January Start) *On sale Oct 1
SizeA6 size
H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 15 mm / H: 5.9"" x W: 4.1"" x T: 0.6""
*Actual book size may vary slightly
WeightApprox. 195 g
LanguageJapanese
Pages464 pages
Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
*Monthly calendar pages are 3.45 mm
Start of WeekMonday-start week
Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
Yearly IndexDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (8 pages)
Monthly CalendarDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (32 pages)
Daily PagesJan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025 (377 pages)
*A blank two-page spread is featured at the beginning to provide a free area when starting out the book.
*A page is included at the beginning of each month to help in planning ahead.
*All daily pages include daily quotes.
*All daily pages include character names of those who celebrate their birthday that day (as of Vol.107)
Daily QuotesOne per day (Japanese / One Piece edition)
Weekly Pages Not included
Memo Pages14 pages
Bonus PagesOne Piece Chronology / Phrases from One Piece to use when it counts / Ten great scenes chosen by readers to read over and over again / WANTED / Timetable / Favorites / My 100 / Solar Terms / Emergency Preparedness / Gifts / Age Table / Addresses (for 6 people) / Personal Notes
Listed InformationDay of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars) / Old lunar calendar / Rokuyo (traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar) (listed on monthly calendars) / Solar terms / Japanese holidays / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars only include full and new moon)
Book (Day-Free A6 size / Japanese / Monthly)
SizeA6 size
H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 8 mm / W: 4.1"" x H: 5.9"" x T: 0.3""
*Actual book size may vary slightly
WeightApprox. 110 g
LanguageJapanese
Pages240 pages
Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
*Monthly calendar pages are 3.45 mm
Start of WeekMonday-start week
Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
Yearly IndexDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (8 pages)
Monthly CalendarDec. 2024 - Mar. 2026 (32 pages)
Daily QuotesIncluded (Japanese)
Graph Paper 171 pages
Bonus PagesTime Table / Graph Paper / Favorites / My 100 / Sample Symbols and Icons / How to Have Fun Keeping a Diary / Recommended Noodle List of 47 Prefectures / Solar Terms / Emergency Preparedness / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Gifts / Age Table / Addresses (for 6 people) / Personal Notes
Listed InformationDay of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars) / Old lunar calendar / Rokuyo (traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar) (listed on monthly calendars) / Solar terms / Japanese holidays / Moon phase (Full and new moon listed on monthly calendars)
OtherSee the Exploring Each Type page for more details

Please Read Before You Buy

In order to provide you with the most satisfaction for your product, we've compiled a list of warnings, potential issues, and tips to keep in mind for this particular product. Please be sure to read this information carefully before placing your order.

Actual specifications may vary from listing

Each item is individually assembled and sewn by hand by a factory worker. Best efforts are made to ensure consistent sizes and specifications, but there may be slight differences.

Color and print may vary slightly

This material is first printed or dyed and then later sewn onto the cover. While colors are designed to be consistent, there may be uneven coloring or slight shade variances between covers. This may also happen across a single cover, such as a pocket compared to the rest of the cover. In addition, on rare occasions, there may be small black or white dots visible on the print. This is an unavoidable aspect of the manufacturing process.

Cover may contain variations in stitching or loose lining

Due to the structure of the cover that opens flat 180 degrees, exterior stitching areas may appear puckered and lining material may be loose.

Pen holders are rigid at first

The pen holders are rigid at first, making it difficult to insert pens. You can speed up the breaking-in process by rolling the pen holders in your hand.

Pen holder fits pens up to 13.5 mm wide

The pen holder is designed to perfectly fit the 12.2 mm (0.48”) diameter Jetstream pen offered as a free Hobonichi Store Exclusive. Pens with certain shapes and materials may be difficult to pull through the holder. The holder can fit pens up to 13.5 mm (0.53”) in diameter.

Avoid storing in hot and humid places

Please avoid storing your product in hot, humid places or placing it atop other objects for long periods of time as this may result in lower quality and color stains.

User recommendations

If you’ve used any of these products, we welcome your notes on what you like about them or what led you to buy them so we can share it with customers who are currently considering these products. We’d also love to welcome comments from customers who purchased their techo outside the Hobonichi Store or received their book as a gift.

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