Hobonichi 2025 Unboxing and Paper Test (Comparison with Old Tomoe River, 2024 Sanzen, and 2025)

[@cerealnana]

Wow! That was very thorough and super informative! Thank you for doing this!

[@StationeryDumpling]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching :)

[@manda_d]

Just FYI, you can still get Odyssey Notebooks that have the old 68gsm tomoe river paper.

[@StationeryDumpling]

Thank you! I have them in the back of my mind but keep forgetting to check them out.

[@mollymollie6048]

Agree that the insert is just creepy looking. I also like classic Pooh and I think Paddington has always been more popular in the UK, but I remember seeing the Paddington stuffed animals when I was a kid. Library book smell is awesome. I was commenting to a friend that they should make a candle scented “old library way back in the stacks” and randomly I googled it later….and about ten companies do make it!!! I think the 2024 Weeks was still using the old paper, but 2025 is using the new TRP? (Maybe not until 2026, I’m not a weeks person.) Only having Paddington on the Japanese website may explain why I’ve seen so few unboxings of it, I was really looking forward to seeing all the different ones. Oh, with the pen, get refills for multi pens that fit a Uni pen, but in a brand you like. Jetpens gives compatible refills for pen bodies. Ohhhh, the Liberty Flowers is absolutely stunning. I wish that was not out of my budget! My concern would be how to protect the fabric from getting ruined…might want to go to a dry cleaner or fabric specialist to see what you can put on the fabric to repel liquids and stains. Maybe contact Liberty Fabrics directly to ask what they recommend, they would know for sure.

[@ILLTTOUS]

That was a great video, thank you. I also have the same experience. My writing with extra fine nib in 2025 hobonichi weeks resembles the writing with bold nib and I am very disappointed and thinking this is the last year of getting weeks. It seems that quality is going down, last year I switched to hobonichi weeks as Moleskine and Leuchtturm planners had "bad" paper. Such a shame.

[@StationeryDumpling]

Yeah, it is a bummer to see the paper quality declining. Maybe they’ll get better with sanzen production next year? In the meantime I’m probably going to lean towards Traveler’s company instead. Their paper hasn’t failed me … yet 😬

[@一二三四五-x3y]

Thank you so much for your video. Very honest and you are so lovely. I can totally understand that you want to buy as many old paper notebook case you can. It is shame that the sheen is not as pretty in the 2025 paper😢

[@teaforthesoul]

Wonderland222 still have some tomoegawa tomoe river paper, I think only the 2024 notebooks are tomoe sanzen, might be worth checking out if you are super particular

[@Felicia_Plans]

Yes try the wonderland 222 with the old paper.

[@LittleKikuyu]

They are incredibly expensive though, at least here in Europe 🙈 Just mad, imo

[@thejournalhouse]

Yes Barnes and Nobles does carry the Hobonichi Notes books both the botanical and the orange but once I saw the $36.00 price tag on the back and I confirmed the price was correct I put it back because it’s so much cheaper on Amazon I grabbed a few for 12.00

[@StationeryDumpling]

Right?? It’s insane! That awesome you got them for $12 on Amazon. I was only seeing them for $24!

[@katismith]

The cover probably has some type of sizing to make it a little water resistant, so, therefore more scratchy.

[@christopherlarson7579]

7:55 “He reminds me of Poo” had me dying until I realized she was talking about Winnie the Pooh

[@StationeryDumpling]

Hahah

[@wind-flower]

I like the insert, I think it's supposed to be weird on purpose which give it a humorous touch. As for the paper ... all these paper tests have me still on the fence if I should even get a Hobonichi for 2025. I really like the layout of the weeks, but I find it really annoying that the paper quality seems to keep decreasing despite the relatively high price point. I really hope they don't take the Moleskine path. I might still get a Weeks for 2025, but if I run into problems or the quality gets even worse in 2026, it'll probably be my last one.

[@wanderpetal]

“Phantommmm of the Techooooo…”

[@Emiebie]

Thank you so much for sharing the paper test! I spent the whole day testing my fountain pens and looking for comparisons. I'm so disappointed by how much the ink disperses. The grid in the Weeks is very small, and thicker nib sizes aren't really my vibe. I also noticed the difference between the left and right pages-the right ones are actually better. It's quite the headache 🙃

[@StationeryDumpling]

It really is an aggravating experience! Totally agree with not being able to fit bold fonts in the weeks. The sizes are already small enough-giant blocky letters are not going to look good. 😓

[@bonniebum_]

I used to sew children’s clothing and I loved working with liberty fabrics to make pinafores and other types of vintage looking dresses. They are great quality textiles ❤

[@bonniebum_]

Also really felt your pain about the paper 😭

[@mgtogno]

I dont like that they call the sanzen tomoe river, because its not. I understand how u feel, the paper is totally different. I know its still 52 gsm but to me it feels thicker almost, the original tomoe river paper was more delicate and nice in my opinion. I do believe they done something to cut costs cause the tomoe river paper factory closed down due to how expensive it was to make the paper in comparison to how much it actually sold.

[@Lorvina1]

Cutting costs, but increasing prices doesn't sit well with me. I have a feeling that Hobonichi wasn't paying the factory their fair share.

[@LittleKikuyu]

Welcome to capitalism 🙈 It is done basically everywhere to maximise profits. It’s up to us as customers to demand quality, unfortunately. And if the brands don’t deliver the only means of pressure we have is not buying 😕

[@LittleKikuyu]

Well, and contacting brands to let them know what’s wrong m, of course 😅

[@ChiquisJ70]

I don't think there is any problem with you talking about the paper texture, you are paying for your products, and you are expecting what you are paying for; it is a shame that Hobonichi wouldn't answer your question.

[@cinablad6808]

Thank you so much for this video! The last 2 month i have had so much trubble in my Hobonichi 2024 A6 but not in my 2024 weeks. And i haven't thought that it's the paper creatingt this problems. I shift inks several times and in different pens. But they write so dry after i wright maybe 1/3 of a page. So maybe they used the old paper first and run out and shift it to the new. Now I'm nervous because i bought 2 weeks and 1 A6 for 2025. Omg i gonna cry if there is the same problem with the 2025😭

[@deborahalice]

The sanzen paper is so unreliable. It can be fine for pages and then have whole patches where ink bleeds for me like crazy.

[@LittleKikuyu]

It didn’t use to be that way. This is a massive quality issue that needs to change imo 🤬

[@pennycandyys]

I have the Hollyhocks in the A6 and I just love it. I’m having an internal argument with myself whether I should buy that for my next Weeks because it will match (I don’t love the interior colour, but I love the outside), or buy the Michelle Weeks cover-I’m not sure how much I love the outside, but I _really_ love the colours inside! Also your zipper pull will be leather. :)

[@pennycandyys]

I was irritated to find out that the expensive Jellybean/Tambourine Weeks cover does NOT have a leather interior. Why? Are Mina Perhonen fabrics that incredibly expensive? YKK zippers ARE the bomb. There was a time when every pair of jeans had a YKK zipper. They are smooth and do not fail, they are excellent zippers!

[@missfl0werstar]

This is so interesting! I had a weeks and an A6 this year and while I enjoyed writing with FPs in the A6, it only felt suitable for journaling for some reason. I use a Sterling Ink planner for work, where I don't use FPs at all, and that paper works really well with gel pens. When I tried to use the Weeks, which is supposed to still be the old paper, with either, I felt appalled and abandoned it after a few months. My verdict is that the old paper was more comfortable for long form journaling because of the smoothness, the cream paper being perhaps too smooth for some (me included). The new paper has more drag and absorption, works great with gel pens (I use and love the uniball one . 38) but may feel off to some with FPs. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@wanderpetal]

I had crazy bleedthrough on the 2024 Sanzen paper in my Cousin when I wrote a heater using De Atramentis Document Cyan. Boy Howdy did the paper suck that up. Everything else has been ok. I use fountain pens exclusively.

[@yureliplans]

I haven’t played with my new hobonichi weeks…. I’m a little worried now. I’ve been so spoiled by the OG paper.

[@StationeryDumpling]

I hope yours is better 😬🤞

[@thejournalnook]

Is the Hobonichi 5 year bad as well? I’ve ordered my first one and this is just shocking. But I was only going to use my fine and extra fine nib fountain pens in it

[@StationeryDumpling]

I did not get one, but I have been hearing people are having trouble with the 5 year planners 😞

[@elizabethevans5931]

Where did you buy the monthly tabs for the weekly?

[@StationeryDumpling]

They’re from my sticker shop 2SadDumplingsCo on Etsy ☺️🫶

[@seemownay]

Did you do an ink swatch? Because I feel like that would be the most telling one of them all. I loved your testing - I think as long as the paper feels good to you, does it really matter what paper it is? Definitely make your own cousin with one of these notebooks. Also: sell the weeks cover, you're not really into it and get something you love more instead.

[@OTommy81]

I am confused on why you think your box looks better? What am I missing?

[@StationeryDumpling]

Some people have been receiving their shipment where Hobonichi is using the blue box as the shipping box. So they don’t have it packaged inside another cardboard box like mine is. As a result, they get dinged up, dirty, etc through the shipping.

[@patokvideosngayon6562]

The weeks cover u purchased is SO worth buying, gorgeous!

[@StationeryDumpling]

It really is!

[@queenp2295]

Whew😮‍💨🥴!!

[@pennycandyys]

Scan it with your phone. :)

[@NexTupe]

I think the botanical cover ones were printed after the paper switch so those would have the Sanzen. The only ones that could potentially have the old paper would be the orange cover ones that didn't sell out from previous stocks and I think it's gonna be down to luck which one you get when you buy those.

[@Lorvina1]

No, I think there are botanical ones with old paper that were made at the same time as the weeks from 2023. They mentioned at the time that the weeks and notebooks still had old paper and they'll switch for all products stating from 2024 spring releases.

[@marydetray6776]

Lol i just spent $560 on a genuine ostrich leather A6 cover 😆. Though i do agree some of the hobonichi covers are a little pricey for what they are.