Hobonichi Planner 2027 HON Hiroko Kubota: String Telephone Until the Moon is Full (A5, eng.)

The Hobonichi Techo HON A5 is a bound planner in book format: hardcover, Tomoe River Paper, one page per day – all in one. The design "String Telephone Until the Moon is Full" is by Japanese illustrator Hiroko Kubota, who works in acrylic and gouache, placing landscapes, figures and animals into evocative, contemplative scenes. The English-language edition runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027.

Features

• Fixed hardcover, bound directly to the book: The printed cover is permanently attached to the book – no separate dust jacket needed. This makes the HON more compact and easier to grip than a loose planner with a separate cover.
• Thread binding, 180° flat opening: Like all Hobonichi planners, the HON A5 lies flat on the desk without needing to hold the pages open – thanks to the same thread binding used in the Original and Cousin.
• Tomoe River Paper: The exceptionally thin, lightweight paper shows ink brilliantly and allows fountain pen inks with sheen and shading to shine. The smooth surface permits fine lines with glass nibs or thin metal nibs.
• One page per day, 1 January to 31 December 2027: Each daily page offers the full A5 space on a dot grid layout (5 mm), ideal for writing, sketches and stickers alike.
• Weekly overview exclusive to A5: The HON A5 features weekly overview pages with a timeline from 5:00 to 4:00 the following day – perfect for appointment-based daily planning alongside the free daily journal.
• Yearly and monthly calendars: Monthly calendar pages in grid design, printed in grey and red, plus a year index for planning several months ahead.
• Two ribbon bookmarks: Navy and beige ribbons allow quick access to frequently used pages.
• English-language edition: All text, dates and quotations in English – no Japanese holidays or additional calendar markings.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pens and Tomoe River Paper: Tomoe River Paper absorbs ink more slowly than standard paper – inks with longer drying times (such as saturated iron gall inks or inks with sheen effect) flow beautifully without soaking in. Using quick-drying ink reduces smudging risk.
• Stub nibs and glass nibs: On the smooth surface, broad nibs glide particularly smoothly. Glass nibs are excellent for testing ink colours directly on the daily pages.
• Weekly pages for appointment planning: The weekly overview timeline can be structured with thin fineliner lines – colour-coded by project or context, it functions as a visual daily grid alongside the free daily journal.
• HON without additional cover: Those who wish to use the planner as it comes can use it directly. Optionally, a transparent protective cover (Clear Cover for A5 HON) is available for holding photos or note cards.
• Quotations on every double spread: Every second page of the daily section features an English-language quotation – sometimes thoughtful, sometimes humorous, a little literary bookmark in everyday life.

For Calligraphy and Paper Enthusiasts

Tomoe River Paper is one of the thinnest papers regularly used in planners – yet shows minimal show-through even with ink-rich fountain pens. The surface is subtly glossy and captures dye-based inks with pronounced shading particularly differentiated: colour nuances in wet and drying zones remain visible. Those working with broad nibs notice the smoothness immediately – no roughness, no catching. Pigment inks and waterproof inks dry more slowly on Tomoe River; a brief blow-dry or wait before turning the page is worthwhile. The 5 mm dot grid is subtle enough not to interfere visually with free lettering practice, yet provides guidance for baseline and capitals.

Technical Specifications

The matching pencil board is not included. We offer it separately.