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Tomitaro MakinoKoshinsoA5 Cousin Size

    We now have the A5 size techo cover of Koshinso, the botanical illustration drawn by botanist Dr. Tomitaro Makino in 1901. You can take joy in Dr. Makino’s botanical illustration in a larger size.



    Koshinso, painted in watercolor, is a perennial insectivorous plant that grows on wet rocks of the mountains in the north of the Kanto region. It was given its Japanese name after being discovered in Mt. Koshin in Tochigi Prefecture.



    The botanical illustration drawn over 120 years ago on June 30, 1901, delicately depicts the light purple flowers arranged horizontally and the stems that grow out from the flowers and warp back. Unusually for Dr. Makino's botanical illustrations, the background is painted in black.



    For the A5 size cover, a lovely blooming Koshinso flower is ink-jet printed on ecru-colored cotton fabric. The matte texture is applied even to the edges of the original drawing, reflecting the atmosphere of the botanical illustrations drawn by Dr. Makino.







    Each of the two thin bookmarks is in a different color, one in light purple and the other in light green inspired by the Koshinso flower and stem. The tips are cut diagonally.







    Peek inside the outer back pocket and you will find a hidden message, “There isn’t any grass without a name. ―Tomitaro Makino.” This is an English translation of the words of Dr. Makino, showing how plant loving he was.







    There are no interior pockets for this cover, to make the techo even more compact. It has a pen hook designed to hold a pen by its clip.







    Written at the bottom of the cover interior is “Pinguicula ramosa,” the scientific name for Koshinso.









    We hope you write down many of the joys you find in your daily life just like Dr. Makino, who loved, carefully observed, and drew a vast number of illustrations for plants.

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

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



    About Botanist Tomitaro Makino

    Born April 24, 1862 in present-day Sakawa Town, Kochi Prefecture. Raised in the rich natural surroundings of Tosa City, he began to study botany independently as a young child. Moved to Tokyo and devoted himself to botanical research through the Department of Botany at Tokyo University’s Faculty of Science.
    Founded “The Botanical Magazine” with a close friend; they collaborated to publish their discovery of the flowering plant Yamatogusa in 1889. Collected over 400,000 specimens during his 94-year lifespan, and named over 1,500 discovered species. Known as the “Father of Japanese Botany.”



    Information provided by the Makino Botanical Garden.

    You can have Dr. Tomitaro Makino’s botanical illustrations in a variety of sizes!

    Thanks to our users who have made them so popular, we now have the fifth series of designs in collaboration with Dr. Tomitaro Makino’s botanical illustrations.



    The Koshinso cover, initially designed for Hobonichi Techo 2023 Spring, is now available in an A5 size. We changed the design and printing format to accommodate the larger size; the Original size is silk-screened to give it a fresh, glossy look, while the A5 size is ink-jetted to create a precise, matte texture.



    For HON, that has joined the lineup for this edition, we selected “Yamazakura,” one of Dr. Makino’s best-known works. The design has been well received in the Weeks books and plain notebooks, and we are sure that it would keep you in a happy mood to spend your days with a techo featuring cherry blossoms.



    The “Shihai Sumire” botanical illustration was chosen for the Weeks cover. A plant named by Dr. Makino himself, it must have had close connections with him as a native of Kochi Prefecture. The key feature of this illustration is “daintiness,” which is different from the botanical illustrations selected in the past covers.



    Now that the Hobonichi Pencil Board also comes in an A5 size with his work, you can carry Dr. Makino’s botanical illustration with any book of your choice. “Korogi-ran” is a small orchid that blooms in Kochi Prefecture. The vivid yellow-green color of the leaves and stems and the coloring of the flowers, layered with pale pink and reddish purple, are beautiful and very pleasing.

    Staff List

    Photographer
    Styled Images: Eri Morikawa / Product Detail: Hiroyuki Oe
    Stylist
    Noriko Miyazaki
    Tomitaro MakinoKoshinsoA5 Cousin Size
    1. ¥8,360 - ¥10,010(incl. tax)
    2. ¥5,060(incl. tax)

    Normal
    Available
    10

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    Recommended Stationery and Accessories

    Compatible Techo Books

    • Cousin (A5)1 page per day
    • Cousin Avec (A5)1 page per day 6-month book
    • Day-FreeMonthly notebook

    [Cousin] Daily Pages (English / Japanese Version)

    A daily techo with lots of space to write
    This A5-size techo provides ample space on each daily page. It’s great for keeping in one place at home or at work and you can use it to track your child’s growth or exchange with someone.
    • Monday-start
    • A5 size
    • Thickness: 18 mm (0.7”)
    • Daily pages
    • Yearly calendar
    • Yearly index
    • Monthly calendar
    • Weekly pages
    • Memo pages

    [Cousin 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
    • A5 size
    • Thickness: 10 mm (0.4”) each
    • Daily pages
    • Yearly calendar
    • Yearly index
    • Monthly calendar
    • Weekly pages
    • 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
    • A5 size
    • Thickness: 8 mm (0.3”)
    • Monthly calendar
    • Yearly calendar
    • Yearly index
    • Graph paper notebook pages

    Specifications

    Cover
    SizeH: 222 x W: 323 x T: 3 mm / H: 8.7" x W: 12.7" x T: 0.1"
    *Specifications may vary slightly
    WeightApprox. 80 g
    Main materialExterior: Cotton / Interior: Polyester
    Book (Cousin English Edition / English / January Start)
    SizeA5 size
    H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 18 mm / H: 8.3"" x W: 5.8"" x T: 0.7""
    *Actual book size may vary slightly
    WeightApprox. 445 g
    LanguageEnglish
    Pages544 pages
    Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
    Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
    Start of WeekMonday-start week
    Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
    Yearly IndexJan. 2025 - Dec 2025 (4 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 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 Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 4, 2026 (106 pages)
    Memo Pages6 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 / 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 and weekly pages) / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars and weekly pages only include full and new moon)
    OtherSee the Exploring Each Type page for more details
    Book (Cousin / Japanese / January Start)
    SizeA5 size
    H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 18 mm / H: 8.3"" x W: 5.8"" x T: 0.7""
    *Actual book size may vary slightly
    WeightApprox. 445 g
    LanguageJapanese
    Pages544 pages
    Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
    Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
    Start of WeekMonday-start week
    Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
    Yearly IndexJan. 2025 - Dec 2025 (4 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-start).
    Daily QuotesOne per day (Japanese)
    Weekly Pages Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 4, 2026 (106 pages)
    Memo Pages6 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 / Gifts / Age Table / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Addresses (for 8 people) / Personal Notes
    Listed InformationDay of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars and weekly pages) / 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 and weekly pages only include full and new moon)
    OtherSee the Exploring Each Type page for more details
    Book (Cousin Avec / Japanese / January Start / 2-Book Set)
    SizeA5 size x 2 books
    Each Book: H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 10 mm / H: 8.3"" x W: 5.8"" x T: 0.4""
    *Actual book size may vary slightly
    WeightEach Book: Approx. 260 g
    LanguageJapanese
    PagesEach Book: 288 pages
    Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
    Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
    Start of WeekMonday-start week
    Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
    Yearly IndexBook 1: Jan. - Dec. 2025 (4 pages)
    Book 2: Jul. 2025 - Jun. 2026 (4 pages)
    Monthly CalendarBook 1: Dec. 2024 - Jul. 2025 (16 pages)
    Book 2: Jun. 2025 - Jan. 2026 (16 pages)
    Daily PagesBook 1: Jan. 1 - Jun. 30, 2025 (187 pages)
    Book 2: Jul. 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 Book 1: Dec. 30, 2024 - Jul. 6, 2025 (54 pages)
    Book 2: Jun. 30, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026 (54 pages)
    Memo PagesBook 1: 8 pages
    Book 2: 4 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 / Gifts / Age Table / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Addresses (for 8 people) / Personal Notes
    Listed InformationDay of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars and weekly pages) / 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 and weekly pages only include full and new moon)
    OtherSee the Exploring Each Type page for more details
    Book (Day-Free A5 size / Japanese / Monthly)
    SizeA5 size
    H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 8 mm / H: 8.3"" x W: 5.8"" x T: 0.3""
    *Actual book size may vary slightly
    WeightApprox. 220 g
    LanguageJapanese
    Pages224 pages
    Paper Type / BindingThin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
    Graph Paper Size3.7 mm
    Start of WeekMonday-start week
    Yearly Calendar2024, 2025, 2026
    Yearly IndexJan. - Dec. 2025 (4 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 / Gifts / Age Table / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Addresses (for 8 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.

    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.

    Silk printed image may peel off over time

    The silk print may eventually peel or come off with daily use. If using a Cover on Cover, the silk print may stick to the plastic and eventually come off with it from the constant contact.

    Material may weaken over time

    The material coating, tape, plastic, and other parts of this cover may weaken as the product ages over time.

    Cannot be used with Cover on Cover

    Because this cover has different specifications as to the standard techo cover, it cannot be used with the Cover on Cover.

    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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