New Pouch & Case - Group Test Session

For the Hobonichi Techo 2025 lineup, we’ve created new pouches and cases designed to carry the HON. We wanted to see how much it could fit, so the techo team all got together and had fun putting it to the test. We had a blast coming up with random ideas, and were surprised at how much could fit!

Alettone Document Case This slim case comes in several elegant, subdued colors. You can carry your HON alongside other paper products and writing utensils in one compact set.

Tragen Flat Pouch (For A6 Size / For A5 Size) This flat pouch has a simple design without the bulk of a gusset. The L-shaped zipper opens the pouch extra wide for easy access.

Shimada

Product lead and designer for the pouch and case introduced in this feature. Has a good track record of creating trim and easy-to-use items.
meron

Involved in web page design. Active with many ongoing hobbies, including plant collecting and drawing.
Ishii

Involved in web page design. Skilled at making cool designs. Also involved in photography and usually carries a lot of gadgets.
Shiori

Product lead for techo covers and accessories, including many in the Hobonichi Techo 2025 lineup. Loves fashion and is familiar with the latest items.
Iwasawa

Involved in writing product pages and articles, including the Tools & Toys Report. Will be facilitating today’s session and watching over everyone’s ideas.

Iwasawa: Before anything, can you tell us how the Alettone Document Case was born?

Shimada: We made it to match the PVC-made Alettone techo covers that debuted in the Hobonichi Techo 2025. The essential part of the size and specifications was the ability to carry the HON book inside. We made the pocket translucent and a flap inside the case.

Shiori: The flap was a great idea.

Iwasawa: I know. The case I use now makes the inside content tilt sometimes.

Shimada: I wanted to add a little twist to the design and make it different from the other similar cases that are already there. I added the flap to reduce the risk of pens and other items falling over when stored with HON.

meron: But the good thing is that they don’t get fixed too tightly.

Shimada: I wanted to make it work as a supplement. I had back-and-forth communications with the factory to ensure we had all the ideal specifications, including the ease of folding and exquisite suppleness. I wanted to make it to hold the A6 size book and the A5 size HON. By the way, the word “aileron” means “little wing” or “auxiliary wing.”

Shiori: It provides a broader range of usage.

meron: I already see myself using it!

Shimada: We made the front pocket a slightly smoky color to mask what is inside and to make it classy.

meron: I love the colors!

Ishii: What does this say?

Shimada: It’s a quote by Safety Match, “Writing by hand is like sending your mind on a journey.” The airplane icon is inspired by this quote.

Ishii: It would be great for travel.

Shimada: Exactly. You can keep the convenient items for your trip or carry it around with gadgets and a computer mouse. Use it for anything you’d like!

Ishii: That makes me want to try. Can it hold the Original size book with a cover?

Shimada: It’s designed for the HON, so it could feel a bit small. But it might fit if the techo is not too bulky.

Ishii: That sounds perfect. I’ll also keep the charging cords for my phone in it and carry it like this.

Shimada: You have a lot of stuff inside. Do I see pens, too?

Ishii: I do have pens, about four of them. It was more than I thought it could hold.

Shiori: Wow, you have quite a lot inside.

Ishii: It’s cute!

Shimada: Yes, it looks nice in a different way from Ishii’s.

Iwasawa: I love that the Opanchu Usagi is peeking out! What is inside?

Shiori: I keep my medication in the Opanchu Usagi zip-up case. There are also the items that I use a lot: scissors, a ruler, a Frisk, and hand cream. I also have my HON with them.

meron: Great combination!

Shiori: Look, you can store a Weeks book, too.

Shimada: We didn’t design it to have a techo cover or Weeks book inside, but it is great that we can try it out.

Iwasawa: I bet meron has a lot to put in it.

meron: I really do, but I don’t know what to do. Maybe I can use all three types, starting with the pens!

Shiori: A pen-only case.

Iwasawa: How many have you got there?

meron: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Shiori: Amazing!

meron: Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty.

Shiori: That is quite a lot! Look how they are neatly lined up. What do you have in the Small Drawer Pouch?

meron: My Shiju...a zipper bag to take home interesting plants, and the key for my backpack.

Iwasawa: The goods you need for your plant collecting. Oh, Ishii is putting something inside again.

Ishii: It’s my gadget set. I put in the things I always have with me. With this and my computer, I can go straight to work. They fit in very well.

Shiori: They really do! You even have a computer mouse.

Ishii: A computer mouse and power supply.

Shiori: The Weeks book also fits. And a memo pad, pen, and hand cream.

meron: That is one fashionable set!

Iwasawa: Weeks fit in vertically.

Shiori: Yes, it did!

Iwasawa: That’s great to know; now we can carry pens with the Weeks book!

Iwasawa: Can both the HON and Weeks be stored inside? I use both books.

Shiori: They do. But it might get caught with the flap.

Shimada: Look! The eyeglasses case fits in.

Ishii: The eyeglasses case, a business card case, and the Original book with no cover can be stored inside.

Iwasawa: I didn’t think you could have an eyeglasses case in it. (Laughs)

Ishii: I know. And look at how the colors match.

Iwasawa: How about the pocket on the back? Any ideas for using it?

Shiori: Definitely a smartphone. Or a thin memo pad.

Ishii: A smartphone and a business card case could be excellent. Those two items are the ones that I often use, and quick access would be helpful. I would also have a pen here to use whenever I need to.

Shimada: It’s an excellent place to keep the things you want to grab right away.

meron: An iNSPiC also fits in. Let me try the smartphone and a Frixion stamp… I still want to put more in here. (Laughs) Maybe a fountain pen… now I have two fountain pens inside.

Iwasawa: Do you also have the HON book inside?

meron: Yes, it is on the front side!

Shiori: The case is lightweight, so it doesn’t become too heavy with all this stuff.

Iwasawa: That’s a good point.

meron: It would also be helpful for trips.

Iwasawa: I would put cosmetic items and make a travel set of my own.

Shimada: Lipsticks and small travel-friendly cosmetic items would fit.

Ishii: I often go to the sauna. It would be perfect to bring some toner and hair oil in it.

Iwasawa: You don’t have to worry about it getting a little wet.

Shimada: It’s not waterproof, but you can wipe it off when it gets wet since it’s PVC.

Ishii: It’s large enough for a sauna hat, too. I’ll bring this with me when I leave the office for a break.

meron: So that everyone will know where you are going?

Ishii: Hmm, that’s true.

Shiori: A break-time set sounds nice.

Shimada: Is that the olive color that you have, Ishii?

Ishii: Yes, I’m amazed at how different it looks with a different color.

Shimada: Olive is beautiful, too.

Ishii: It looks good with the black-and-white items.

Iwasawa: The variety of colors would be helpful for anyone, regardless of gender.

Ishii: I love this color so much!

meron: You have the matching cover inside! They look so cute.

Ishii: And then I put my glasses inside…

Shiori: Glasses, again? (Laughs)

Shimada: The flap is convenient for keeping the eyeglass case in it.

Ishii: It fits in perfectly. I can also add some other items.

Shiori: You can put a lot of things here. Let me try the Opanchu Usagi sticky note. It’s cute that you can see the pattern from the outside.

meron: What a great case!

Iwasawa: Seeing you trying out various items, I noticed that the gusset is a key to the design. It is not too thick, but the neat and squared silhouette makes you want to pack more.

meron: Exactly! It feels good when everything fits in neatly.

Iwasawa: The transparent design is another key feature. Seeing the inside makes you want to store beautifully.

Shimada: Now, we will feel less guilty when buying small items!

Iwasawa: Knowing that this case will help us tidy up will make it easier to buy new things.

Shiori: I will definitely buy it!

meron: Me too!

Iwasawa: Now, let’s move on to the other item, the Tragen Flat Pouch!

Shiori: Ta-da!

Shimada: We now have a new member of the Tragen series.

Ishii: I’m buying this one.

meron: Already? (Laughs)

Shimada: This was also designed to carry the HON. The A5 size HON fits in the larger one, and the A6 size HON fits in the smaller one.

meron: Look, it fits perfectly!

Shimada: This pouch is not for too much but for the HON and a few others or carrying the minimum necessary items. Did you notice the round ring here?

Iwasawa: You can attach a keychain.

Shimada: This works as a handle for a more effortless opening, but you can also use it to express yourself, such as by attaching a Shiju keychain to it.

meron: Cute.

Shimada: It has one pocket inside. The pocket for the larger pouch is divided into two compartments. It cannot hold thick items but thin items such as a computer mouse or a charger.

Shiori: Looks convenient!

Ishii: The green color is stunning.

Iwasawa: I love the clutch bag-like shape.

Shimada: You can also use it as a bag without the HON.

Shiori: It opens in an L-shape.

Shimada: I personally feel that the L-shape opening pouches are the most useful. It opens wide enough to put things like the HON inside and out quickly. We designed it this way because a wide opening was essential for a flat pouch like this. I’ve been using the prototype of this pouch for quite a while, and its opening and closing are so comfortable; they motivate me to work.

meron: It gets you going.

Shimada: Closing the L-shape zipper makes my mind feel clear.

Shiori: The zipper is very smooth, isn’t it.

Shimada: Pouches in these sizes tend to use slightly larger zippers, but…

Shiori: You used a narrower one.

Shimada: That’s right. Narrow zippers are easier to open and close. They look better, too.

Shiori: That makes sense. The zipper size changes how it looks.

Shimada: We decided to go with this one because its current size makes it look more delicate and elegant.

Ishii: The color of the lining is different for each type, isn’t it?

Iwasawa: They are. How stylish!

Shimada: The black one’s lining is beige, the same as the Tragen cover. The brown ones are black, and the green ones are gray.

meron: And it looks like this with pens only.

Iwasawa: Oh, you’re already putting something inside. (Laughs)

meron: It looks a bit wild now, but it looks stylish once you close the zipper! No one would think that there are pens in here.

Iwasawa: It looks so smart.

meron: But the inside is a mess... (Laughs) This pouch would be helpful for people like me who have tons of pens.

Iwasawa: The wide opening also makes finding the one you want to use easy. And Ishii is trying to put the eyeglasses case again! (Laughs)

Ishii: It fits perfectly inside this one, too.

Iwasawa: That one is the larger pouch. Does the zipper close?

Ishii: Not a problem. It has a smartphone, eyeglasses case, and a techo with a cover inside. I also put some business cards in the pocket.

Shimada: You have everything you need in there.

Shiori: Fantastic!

Shimada: You can also insert a pen in the pocket.

Shiori: Insert a pen in the pocket, and then the HON, a smartphone, a memo pad, scissors, and some other stationery…

Iwasawa: Fantastic, you’ve got a lot in there.

Shiori: More than I thought!

Iwasawa: You like the larger pouch better since you all carry a lot with you.

Shiori: Let’s try out the smaller pouch!

Shimada: Ishii, did you just try to put the eyeglasses case inside? (Laughs)

Ishii: It seems fine. I knew that it would fit inside.

Shiori: But now it only holds the eyeglasses case. (Laughs)

Iwasawa: Does the Weeks fit inside the smaller pouch, too?

Shiori: I’m not sure. Let me try.

Shimada: The Weeks book doesn’t fit. Designing it to fit would have made the pouch larger.

Shiori: Seems like the Weeks book does fit.

Shimada: Oh, so it barely does. Is it safe to say it fits?

Shiori: I guess so.

Iwasawa: How about meron’s bulky Weeks book?

Shimada: It seems to fit… Yes, it does!

meron: But it seems a little too tight for the pencil board. The Today tab is peeking outside.

Shiori: You can have the Weeks and a smartphone in it.

Iwasawa: You already have a pen and some stickers in it, so the Weeks and a smartphone would be enough for carrying around.

Shiori: Make sure to put the spine of the Weeks in the back of the pouch so that the bookmark doesn’t get tangled in the zipper!

Ishii: A cover with “butterfly-stopper” pen holders fits together with a smartphone.

meron: Great!

Iwasawa: Shiori has packed a lot, too!

Shiori: Mine has three pens, washi tape, a Frisk, and a CalorieMate.

meron: Wow, that’s a lot.

Shimada: Some of them are pretty thick!

Shiori: And also a Weeks book and a smartphone!

Iwasawa: It’s packed, but still looks nice.

Shiori: You know when pouches cannot keep their shapes when you put things inside? That was frustrating, but this pouch has a lot of storage and still looks nice.

Ishii: I managed to put most of the things that were in my sling bag inside the pouch!

Shiori: Great job!

Iwasawa: This one is the larger pouch, right?

Ishii: Yes, and it has a lot inside: a computer mouse, a power strip, a cord, a business card case, and a pen. And don’t forget the eyeglasses case. (Laughs)

Shiori: You always have that eyeglasses case inside. (Laughs)

Iwasawa: I didn’t think it had that much storage. But interestingly, it doesn’t look like they were forced inside.

Ishii: Not at all.

Iwasawa: Shiori, yours looks a bit challenging.

Shiori: I packed as much as possible.

Shimada: What is inside?

Shiori: Thank you for asking! There are the HON and Weeks books, a block memo pad, another memo pad, many pens, a ruler, washi tape, earphones, and the Opanchu Usagi zip-up case.

meron: Impressive.

Shiori: And sticky notes, stickers, Kitta, a CalorieMate, a Frisk, and hand cream!

Iwasawa: Well done! What you have is all in there!

Shiori: It would’ve been perfect if the Weeks book was a little shorter.

meron: Still, so much packed inside.

Ishii: How about using both sizes? meron, can you try putting the smaller pouch with the pens inside and the techo into the larger pouch?

Shiori: Ishii sounds like a stylist. (Laughs)

Ishii: Both colors are cute, so I thought they would look even better when used together.

meron: Now, the larger size only has the HON, a fountain pen, sticky notes, and stickers. Looks good!

Shimada: meron, your Shiju key holder would look great on the round ring.

meron: I’m having so much fun!

Shiori: How cute! The pouches are simply designed and easy to match with other items.

Shimada: It would be nice to put a strap on this round part.

Ishii: How about this one?

Iwasawa: Terrific!

Shimada: They look great!

Ishii: Now all I need is a smartphone and techo inside, and I’m ready to go.

Iwasawa: Wow, it turned into a shoulder bag!

Shimada: That’s a new way to use it!

Iwasawa: The Alettone Document Case and Tragen Flat Pouch inspired us to come up with many ideas. They made us want to try more and more. (Laughs)

Shiori: So true!

Iwasawa: Thank you all for experimenting with your ideas!

Everyone: Thank you, too, for having us!

Finally, we asked the participants which case and
pouch they would choose for themselves after
trying out various types.

Shiori

My best options so far are the olive Alettone Document Case, the green A6 size Tragen Flat Pouch, and the black A5 size Tragen Flat Pouch. One is for keeping as many pens as possible, another is for carrying items with my HON and computer, and the A6 size one is for keeping my daily items in my bag.

meron

First, I will choose the Tragen Flat Pouch, which has an impressive, stylish atmosphere with the HON inside. I want all three colors for the Alettone Document Case! I’d like to use them for different purposes to make my trips even more exciting.

Ishii

I will buy the Tragen Flat Pouch. I want to use both sizes: the larger pouch would be my favorite color, black, and the smaller pouch would be green. I will use them to keep my techo and other items I want to carry in my bag.

Discovered during the Group Session
Recommended Uses

Everyone had fun discussing and exploring ways to
use the products. Here are some of the ideas that
came up during the group session and what they
look like in practice.

This is all you needCarry-On Travel SetTragen Flat Pouch for A5 Size

You can gather everything you need to comfortably travel on a flight, including an eye mask, headphones, tickets, and moisturizers like lip balm and hand cream.

Two uses, with lots of pensTecho & Writing Utensils
Dual SetTragen Flat Pouch for A6 Size & A5 Size

We recommend this two-pouch approach to users who like to carry around a lot of different types and colors of pens. By using one large and one small pouch, you can store an A5 size HON as well as pens and other various utensils.

Safe to store wet items!“Going to the Sauna” SetAlettone Document Case

This set lets you compactly carry items you’d use during a visit to the sauna. This includes not only face cleansers and moisturizers, but damp towels or clothes you can safely store without a worry.

Clutter-prone gadgets“Ready for the Meeting” SetAlettone Document Case

This set gathers everything you need to be set for your meeting—the HON or other notebook, a camera, headphones, and a charger. You can carry this alongside your laptop.