Yamamoto Ro-Biki Shape Series Notebook Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Always on the lookout for new pocket notebooks to try, I was keen to try out these the Shapes Series from Yamamoto Paper as soon as I saw them. I've had other notebooks from Yamamoto before, but not in this size. A little smaller than the common 3.5 x 5.5 pocket notebook size, I was curious to try out this slightly smaller version to see if I would notice the size difference.

The Ro-Biki Shape Series notebooks from Yamamoto Paper are small pocket-size notebooks that feature 60 pages of 80 gsm dotted ivory paper sandwiched between waxed paper covers with different designs.

The 3.5 x 5 inch (89 x 127mm) paper is the same size as the Passport size of Traveler's Notebooks, or the same size as a government-issued passport. This is a size that I'm sure many people are familiar with due to the popularity of the Traveler's Notebook system, but I haven't dabbled in this size before.

What really caught my eye were the cover designs. I went with Mountain Night and Wild Plants. There are many other unique cover designs that look great, but these two spoke to me. Getting them in hand, they look great in person and have a soft and pliable feel due to the wax coating treatment. According to Yamamoto Paper, the covers will patina in the same way as brass or leather as you use the notebooks. Aside from providing some protection from damage, the covers will also age and develop their own unique character with use. I'm looking forward to seeing how these covers develop their own story over the coming months of use.

The paper used in these notebooks is fantastic. It's 80 gsm paper that is 100% made from recycled paper with an ivory hue and light gray dots. Writing on the paper is a smooth experience, and I've really enjoyed it with any kind of writing instrument I've tried. I haven't seen any feathering or bleeding, which is great, and the paper works well with all kinds of ink and graphite. There is some minor show-through on the back side of the page, but it's not so bad that it makes the back side unusable. You can definitely see some ghosting, but it's easy to ignore when writing on the back side of the page. For a pocket notebook, I'm fine with sacrificing some paper thickness for lighter weight and thinner notebooks.

The notebooks are bound with both glue and stitching, and feel really solid in use. I have no doubts that these notebooks will hold up well, especially compared to the typical staple binding that a lot of pocket notebooks use.

The inside of the notebooks are completely empty. There's no marketing on the inside covers. The only branding is the small Yamamoto Paper logo on the back cover.

While the passport size notebooks look a lot smaller than the 3.5 x 5.5 inch notebooks I'm accustomed to, it's just an optical illusion. For my use, that half inch height difference isn't noticeable when writing, but it is noticeable when it comes to stashing the notebook in pockets or sleeves. After using these notebooks for a little while, I think I'm already starting to favor this passport size over the slightly larger 3.5 x 5.5 inch size.

At $8 per notebook, these notebooks are a little pricey. A more typical price for a pocket notebook is around $5. The waxed cover and nice paper definitely add a premium feel, but it still seems a little high. At the end of the day, I'd still choose to buy these notebooks again just because I really enjoy the cover designs and how the cover feels in hand. As with all things in this hobby, your mileage will vary, and your opinions are valid! If these little notebooks are calling out to you, you won't be disappointed once you have them in hand. They're high quality products that are a joy to use. Be sure to check out the other cover options!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Blackwing Illegal Pad Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

The legal pad is one of the most iconic stationery items that comes to my mind. Even though I don't use them very often, I always have some around for when I need large sheets of paper to sketch or write out ideas. Whether you prefer white paper or the classic yellow paper, I'm sure everyone has seen or used a legal pad at least once in their lifetime. One common thing about the economical legal pads that you can pick up in bulk at the big box stores is that they don't use great paper. They work best with ballpoints and gel pens, but you can try your luck with fountain pens or rollerball inks with some brands. What about a legal pad with good paper that works well with all types of pen and ink? Well, the options aren't plentiful, but they do exist. One such option is from Blackwing, and I've really enjoyed using it.

The Blackwing Illegal Pad is a simple, no-frills pad of paper that comes in either blank, lined, or dot grid variants. The 50 sheets of 8.5 x 11 inch (21.6 x 28 cm) 80gsm ivory paper work well with all types of writing instruments, and it also manages to have a more premium feel than the standard cheap-o legal pad from the big box retailers.

The pad consists of only the 50 sheets, which are perforated for easy removal, the top binding, and the back cover. The back cover is a stiffer chipboard material, but I wouldn't say it's sturdy enough to provide a stable writing surface if you're holding the pad on your leg. It works, but there's a bit too much flex to write without making lots of mistakes. This is definitely meant to be used on top of another hard surface for support.

In typical Blackwing notebook style, the back cover and binding are matte black. The front side of the binding features a debossed Blackwing logo that looks great without attracting attention. The back cover — both interior and exterior — are completely blank. There's zero marketing or printing on the pad except for the debossed logo on the front. To me, this is a great aesthetic that nods to the strictly utilitarian origins of the humble legal pad.

Writing on the paper is a great experience. There's a slight amount of feedback when moving across the page, but it still feels really smooth and it's easy to control your writing instrument. In my testing, the paper does really well with all types of inks. I can't see any bleeding or feathering, and there's minimal show-through on the back of the page. I'd argue that with a legal pad, you typically aren't using the back of the page anyway. In most cases, a legal pad is used as scratch paper or drafting paper — not something you keep and store away. When you're done with a page, you either tear it out and do something with it, or you flip the page over the binding out of the way so you can continue writing on the next page. So simple!

While I love the utilitarian purpose of the legal pad, it only works if the pad is cheap enough to justify the ephemeral use. Once you cross a certain price threshold, it's harder to treat a notebook as something you use and quickly discard with each sheet. The Blackwing Illegal Pad comes in a set of 2 and costs $18 per set. That's $9 per notepad. You can easily find a 12-pack of legal pads from a big box retailer for about $30, or roughly $2.50 per pad. I think the threshold for determining if the Blackwing Legal Pad is a good value will be different for everyone. If you really enjoy the legal pad format and are looking for the same thing with better paper quality, the Blackwing option is superb and I think the price makes sense. If the price seems steep, then it's probably not the right pad for you. I think the target market for this notepad is people who already love and use legal pads, but who are looking for a more premium version and are willing to pay $9 per pad. If that's you, then you're going to love this pad. And, this product is really for those people who like legal pads and also want options outside of the normal lined paper. Dot grid or blank!

I've really enjoyed using the Blackwing Illegal Pad, and I think I'll be ordering more when I use these two up. The paper is a joy to use, and there's just something about the legal pad format that makes me happy and encourages me to keep using it. Some days, that's an invaluable quality for a notebook to have.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Kakimori Custom Notebook First Look, What About The Muddler?

When I first heard of Kakimori, I couldn’t imagine a place more magical. You’re telling me there is a shop in Japan where you can build your own notebook from dozens, if not hundreds of options? And you can mix your own ink color from a rainbow of liquid gold? This is a fantasy land right?

No. It’s Kakimori.

Kakimori has held a special place in my heart since that time, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever have the opportunity to try their products. That changed several years ago when they made their Dip Pen Nibs available around the world. The popularity of these nibs has not slowed since, and I believe that success allowed Kakimori to branch out even more with inks, pens, and accessories.

One of the features that remains core to the Kakimori in-store experience is the ability to build your own notebook. My friend Sam took A Stationery Trip to Japan last year, and was kind enough to make me a notebook. He goes through the details in the linked post, and while a proper review of a hand-picked, one-of-one, notebook may not be necessary, I did want to share a few notes about the end result.

Kakimori Japan. (Image via Sam Alpert.)

For starters, Sam detailed the process in an email to me, which didn’t make it into the final article. I thought I would share this bit for those of you who may be lucky enough to make the journey in the future:

1. get a small tray almost like a lunch tray
2. there's a paper testing station with small squares of the various papers to help you see what you'd like.
3. then go to the wall of papers and pick up to 4 kinds (I think packets are 20 pages ea.)
4. go to the wall of covers (there's all kinds including leather, and the custom art ones by local artists like the one I got you)
5. pick binding method (string and puck or snap)
6. pick colors of materials for binding method (like I literally got to pick the string color)
7. pick binding type (full spiral, partial like yours) including color of metal
8. pick corner hardware if desired (including color of metal)
9. pick any additional inserts (like the envelope in the back of yours)
10. wait for them to bind it!

I don’t know about y’all, but I’m ready to book a trip now!

My B6 notebook features cover art by Taku Bannai, and two different paper sections using Conqueror Laid in the front half and Neue Grey in the back. The orange envelope inside the back cover is awesome, and I adore the string tie enclosure on the front. I’ll admit to being a little too precious in using it, but now that I have “review closure,” I feel like I’m ready to give it a proper go.

Conqueror Laid Paper. Good for fountain pens, but bumpy - a feature of laid paper.

While this fully customizable experience is only available at Kakimori, their website does offer many other notebook options, which look spectacular in their own right.

Neue Grey Paper in the back half of the notebook. Super smooth and fun to use.

As part of this write-up, I was planning on discussing the Glass Ink Muddler I picked up from Kakimori in-person at last year’s Stationery Fest, but it appears that it is Unobtainium.

Made in collaboration with Tokyo-based maker Werkstatt Tetohi, it was tough for me to find any information on this product. In fact, this is the only online image I’ve come up with so far, despite Kakimori having several for sale in Brooklyn during my visit.

This model is marked as “Gray” and I think there was a Green one available at the time as well. This is a fun product for those of us that like to get inky. Given its shape, a wider ink bottle opening works better in allowing more ink to collect in the spoon-shaped tip. Or you can tilt the bottle slightly … at your own risk.

Muddler swatches on Conqueror Laid. No feathering or bleed even with heavy ink. Antique Brass Dip Nib fitted in a River City Pen Co. Dip Nib Holder.

I keep my Muddler with my other ink testing accessories - yes, including the new-ish Antique Brass Dip Nib. I appreciate Takuma Hirose, owner of Kakimori, gifting me with this nib at Stationery Fest. I had the pleasure of interviewing him at the event, which you can check out here.

With the recent launch of their own Fountain and Rollerball pens, I love seeing Kakimori continue to grow. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

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