Midori Hibino 2025 - A Close Look At All the Details and Pen Test...

[@tortagialla]

Hope you enjoy this closer look at the hibino. The official Midori Hibino website is here www.midori-japan.co.jp/english/products/hibino/

[@SilverSeaOT7]

Thanks for the thorough review!

[@tortagialla]

@@SilverSeaOT7 happy to share! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@mollymollie6048]

I saw this in person today at a local stationery store, and it feels so lovely in the hand, and looks just beautiful! I was able to flip through it (and every monitor/camera/lighting is different) but I would say that it looks much more cream and the print looks more brownish and faint than what your video shows (if people were wondering why it looked different than the Midori website that you showed…where it looked much more cream/brown print than it does irl.) It is very soothing to feel, it isn’t heavy. The cover feels durable. I loved the tiny little grid and aesthetically it is so pleasing!!! I was so tempted to get it…but I have my planners for 2025, and it was $65 so I couldn’t justify it as a random purchase (myself…everyone is different) especially since it is dated. I also wanted to do some research on it and I’m surprised it uses TRP instead of MD paper…I didn’t know they ever used that. Oh, my planners for the year are both Sterling Ink Vertical A6 (Compact) for my purse carry, and A5 for my desk and more for creative/journaling/long term planning, and the purse carry is more for jot on the go, notes from appointments, etc. I love them both, they are beautiful and I love the layout and the minimalist design with a lot of white space that is less visually ‘jolting’ than my previous Hobonichi Cousin (first time using it for 2024) which just had too much going on all over the place for me. I’ve pen tested them (the creator says they use 52 gsm TRP-Sanzen) and I have had no problem with fountain pens, fine liners (pigment) and fine liners markers, gel pens, Tombow/Mildliner, Fudenesoke, Pentel Brush Sign pen, etc etc. Nothing bled through except a very pale blue pastel Zigg dot marker pressing down hard (it did that in the Hobonichi as well) but, interestingly, the darkest metallic Zigg dot marker pressed down hard didn’t bleed…and it’s juicier, too! I thought the ghosting was less than the Hobonichi, but normal for TRP. So, if there’s a bad batch going around, or Hobonichi switched to 48gsm without telling anyone, then my Sterling Ink A6 and A5 performed well and as they should.

[@tortagialla]

@@mollymollie6048 Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You are right that it’s hard to show things perfectly as lighting can really affect the colors and look! I think this uses sanzen paper because it has so many pages they need thinner paper to keep book size manageable! Otherwise it would be double the thickness 😅 I’m glad you already have your planners and the paper is good! I suppose everyone has to test out their books out and make sure! It seems this year it’s all about the paper scandals 🤣

[@mollymollie6048]

@@tortagialla It’s definitely sad that some people got planners with defective paper…especially a “keepsake” like a 5 year journal! The TRP makes sense for the Hibino, it’s already a chunky monkey, it would be enormous if it had paper any thicker, lol. It really is beautiful and just feels lovely. I will definitely keep it on my list for next year! It’s funny that I hadn’t heard of it, just saw it today and it’s something really different for Midori, and then come home and your video is right there in my feed! Thank you for the comprehensive review, it was very appreciated!

[@tortagialla]

@@mollymollie6048 Yes, no one wants bad paper especially for a keepsake! We want to enjoy the experience writing in it daily! I heard of the hibino years ago when it launched but couldn’t even find it to buy… then I didn’t need it the next year, but finally got it for 2025! I really love the feel of it and size… cute and chunky! So sometimes I feel like advertising and algorithms can read my mind 🤣🤣🤣

[@Korynith]

Thank you for this video! I wanted to try a Hibino for 2025 but kept hearing rumors on the Hobonichi subreddit that the Hibino had the same paper issues as Hobonichi. I've looked on KZbin and Instagram and haven't found any proof of that, and your pen test shows roughly the amount of ghosting I would expect from Tomoe River and no bleed-through.

[@tortagialla]

@@Korynith yes, it’s what I would expect - ghosting of course! It seems the new 5 year hobonichis really have an issue but I feel like if there is a major issue or a bad batch- hobonichi should replace your copy!

[@karenbarker5018]

I am most definitely onboard!!! The Hibino is going to be my catchall/edc for next year!!! So looking forward to it!!!!!

[@tortagialla]

@@karenbarker5018 Yay! I’m definitely excited to use mine and already filled the back page as a test. Woohoo!

[@karenbarker5018]

@tortagialla I tried the Hobonichi for this year, and found that there was absolutely no bleed through for the fountain pen. I just love the paper!!!! This is the first year that I have been able to find it!!!!!

[@tortagialla]

@@karenbarker5018 I haven’t had issues with the new sanzen paper … I suppose it might depend on your specific pens and inks! I’m glad you found something that works with you! Did you get a hobonichi for 2025?

[@baumhausization]

I hope there will be a hibino in a5 size…in 2026….😊😮

[@tortagialla]

@@baumhausization That would be very cool! Because an a6 two page is really just one a5 page 🤣

[@ruonpaper]

Oooh congratulations on the beautiful planner! I love the looks of this little chunky book. Considered getting it last year and again this year but I'm afraid I'll find it too thick (and therefore not comfortable to write in). I'm curious to hear your thoughts after you've used it for a while. I hope you love it! Thanks for sharing 🥰

[@tortagialla]

@@ruonpaper I totally get the hesitation because it is a bit weird with the chunkiness and I put something under to even out the sides, so not sure it would be an on the go planner! You need a whole setup!

[@LittleCocoStudio]

This video was helpful! I watched this entire video right before my Japan trip and I must have picked up and this book so many times. It was very tempting and holding it in my hand made it even more appealing! Alas, I could not think of how I would use it, so I’m going to reconsider it for a future year. I’m excited to see how you use it in 2025, and look forward to hearing your thoughts about it!

[@tortagialla]

@@LittleCocoStudio thanks for watching, what an honor! I have been intrigued for many years since they started but finally got one for 2025. Since it’s so chunky I feel like it’s good for pen only journaling, so it doesn’t get too fat. I really like the heft and chunk of holding it in my hand ❤️

[@LittleCocoStudio]

@@tortagialla it really is a very comfortable size in your hand! And I LOVE a tiny grid! 🥲

[@tortagialla]

@@LittleCocoStudio yes I also like the small grid, harder to find here!

[@MicheleMaBelle67]

Liked and subscribed! 😊

[@tortagialla]

@@MicheleMaBelle67 Thanks so much, appreciate it!

[@Eversew139]

Thank you for such an informative look at the Midori Hibino. 2025 will be my third year using this planner and I had not noticed some of the small details you pointed out. I use this book for Bible time scripture writing. I would definitely go for a A5 version of the Hibino if it was available.

[@tortagialla]

@@Eversew139 Thanks so much for your kind comment! Happy to hear it’s working for you and I’m excited to get a lot of writing into this little book. Looking forward to using it and filling it up. I wonder if they will offer more sizes in the future! 😍 we can hope 🤞

[@NancysFanciesDesign]

This is a beautiful little chunky baby!

[@tortagialla]

@@NancysFanciesDesign Thanks for watching and commenting 🙏

[@karenbarker5018]

No, I am sorry to say, my heart and mind are set on the Hibino for next year. Both as my catchable and edc.

[@tortagialla]

That's cool! I don't think we NEED more planners, just some people like to use multiples. Hah! I think the hibino will be fantastic with lots of space to feel and it's just so cute!

[@karenbarker5018]

@tortagialla I can honestly say that I do not want more than one planner!! Keeping up with more than one is just plain hard work for me!!!! Lol

[@tortagialla]

@@karenbarker5018 I know the feeling! I only have one planner but journals… well that is another story 🤣

[@karenbarker5018]

@@tortagialla 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lights.memoir]

Thanks so much for sharing!! This helps me so much with figuring out if this is the planner for me or not. What covers can be used for this planner? (For either a5 and a6 )

[@tortagialla]

@@lights.memoir Happy you found this video helpful! Thanks for commenting. So the planner is very chunky so it doesn’t fit most a6 covers. I only have regular a6 covers from hobonichi so nothing fits since the hibino is so thick. From what I’ve seen online, people have tried a6+ moterms and perhaps the hobonichi 5 years - but because the PVC cover takes up space too, it has to be tested. Or you could get a custom cover if you plan to chunk it up even more. I think the idea is to use it as is… I also use an a5 midori 1 day 1 page and don’t have it in a cover at the moment!

[@pjayerippley986]

I will be using the Hibino for 2025, camel color. I found a 2024 in the blue color on eBay midway through the year and am finishing out 2024 in it. I believe Aligned Plans has a Hibino and Miss Vicky Bee does as well, she turned me on to Apple Pig on Etsy for a cover. I use Sarasa Nanos and skip lines, but I also like my extra fine fountain pens on the Sanzen paper. So far so good. Thank you for the excellent and detailed coverage of the Hibino. I look forward to your future videos for my inspiration!

[@tortagialla]

@@pjayerippley986 Fabulous to hear you are using the hibino! Thanks for channel suggestions, will check out. I have heard about Apple Pig covers but don’t know the details. Probably any independent maker can do a custom but I think I might just keep my hibino as is, without another cover. I don’t plan to carry it around. Thanks for commenting ❤️

[@annthering1963]

I have my Hibinio in a Ox Knight A6 cover from Amazon. It fits very nicely. It was a little tight in the moterm covers. It doesn’t fit in my hobonichi covers at all.

[@tortagialla]

@@annthering1963 Thanks for sharing! It’s such a chunky notebook!

[@DL-idk]

I just grabbed my Hobonichi 5 year in a6 and measured it. It’s about 26mm thick. So, Midori hibino is probably the thickest popular planner on the market. Edit: I think Hobonichi has trained me to write small😂 My handwriting is definitely shrinking from the pre-Hobonichi time.

[@tortagialla]

@@DL-idk so the website says the hibino is 27mm thick - so I guess like a 5 year and perhaps will fit in those covers… haha… the chunkiest!

[@kayoubi_kuma]

I did fit my 2024 Midori Hibino in a Hobonichi 5 year cover. It's really cute!

[@tortagialla]

@@kayoubi_kuma Thanks for sharing! Good to know it fits - which 5 year cover do you have?!

[@pameehanson3866]

Seen many comments about new Tomoe River paper. I feel they may figure out issues and make adjustments for 2026? A6 is my favorite size but going to try A5 Hon as I really like one of the covers, use Jubin Techo for health tracker and Weeks as my daily on the go planner. Planner journaling nerd 😮Thanks for review of this notebook on my try list for 2026😂

[@tortagialla]

@@pameehanson3866 Thanks for watching and commenting! Yes, I’m sure that the paper is always changing and being improved on. I also like the a6 size and also I never use the weeklies so that is why the a5 cousin is too much for me! Fellow stationery nerd here - I love it all!

[@katsmith8263]

Nope

[@tortagialla]

@@katsmith8263 🤣 it’s not for everyone! Thanks for commenting!