Pencil Board Keiko Shibata A6

The Hobonichi writing pad "Upwind alpacas" by Keiko Shibata is a tissue-thin plastic writing pad in A6 format – made from synthetic paper (Yupo) and precisely tailored to fit the Hobonichi Techo Original. The design features alpacas whose long necks bend under the force of a fierce wind; their expressions – patiently defiant – lend the front a warm-hearted, narrative quality. The reverse is kept plain white and features millimetre and ruler markings. Keiko Shibata, a picture book author and illustrator from Kōchi Prefecture, has dedicated all the designs in this series to the theme of wind.

Features

• Stable writing surface under every page: The pad slides directly beneath the current page. The Yupo synthetic paper provides firm support for the feather-light Tomoe River paper of the Techo – especially when the notebook already contains many written pages and the surface becomes slightly wavy from ink saturation.
• No indentation, no impressions: If you use a fountain pen, fineliner or ballpoint and apply more pressure, you risk leaving impressions on subsequent pages. The 0.4 mm thick pad reliably absorbs this pressure.
• "Today" marker as bookmark: The marker protrudes from the side of the closed Techo – the current page opens immediately without turning.
• Two usable sides: The front features the Keiko Shibata design with a 5 mm grid pattern that serves as a discreet writing guide. The reverse is white with millimetre markings along the edge – functioning as a compact ruler directly within the planner.
• Yupo material: Yupo is a synthetic paper made from polypropylene – smooth, lightweight and water-repellent. The surface feels cool and even under your hand, provides minimal give when writing and does not bend.

Use & Tips

• Compatible with all A6 Techo notebooks: The pad fits the Hobonichi Techo Original, Planner, HON, Day-Free and the 5-Year Techo in A6.
• Particularly helpful in the second half of the year: The more pages written, the more ink the paper has absorbed – the notebook becomes uneven. The pad then evens out these irregularities and restores a smooth, level writing surface.
• For stuffed inner pockets: If you carry cards, receipts or notes in the Techo cover pockets, you know the problem: the notebook sits askew. The pad compensates for this misalignment too.
• Pen recommendation: On the smooth Yupo surface, oil-based ballpoint refills and fine-tip pens with quick-drying pigment write particularly cleanly. Fountain pens with medium to fine nibs also work well – to avoid ink smudging, allow the ink to dry briefly before sliding the pad further.
• Combine with matching cover: Hobonichi recommends pairing the writing pad with a Techo cover or Weeks binding from the Keiko Shibata series to carry the design throughout.

For Techo Enthusiasts

Yupo (short for "Yubatake Polyolefin Paper") is not paper in the classical sense, but a rolled polypropylene film without fibres. This makes it tear-resistant, dimensionally stable and insensitive to moisture – which is why it performs ideally as a writing pad: it does not deform, does not absorb moisture from your hand, and glides smoothly through the notebook when turning pages. The 0.4 mm thickness is deliberately chosen: thin enough not to add bulk to the Techo, yet thick enough to show no perceptible give even with firm pen pressure.

Technical Specifications