Yamamoto Writing Pad Sanzen Tomoe River (A5)

Tomoe River is one of the most renowned papers in the fountain pen community – thin, smooth and yet completely bleed-proof. This writing pad by Yamamoto uses Sanzen Tomoe River: the further development of the original, manufactured by Japanese papermaker Sanzen in Kanazawa. Blank, A5, glued binding – 200 sheets in a compact block that contains as much paper as it takes up on your shelf.

Features

• Sanzen Tomoe River, 52 g/m²: The paper is coated and extremely thin – ink sits on the surface and doesn't feather. Fine nibs glide across the page without catching, stub nibs and flex nibs reveal shading contrasts and ink characteristics in full width.
• No bleed-through, minimal show-through: Even wet inks, low-viscosity colours and large ink quantities stay on the front. Writing on the reverse is possible – visible shadows form depending on ink type and saturation.
• Slightly more texture than the original: The Sanzen version has a minimally rougher surface compared to the Tomoegawa original. This gives pencils noticeably better grip and prevents graphite from smudging as easily. Fountain pen users will barely notice the difference – lines appear crisper, colours slightly more saturated.
• Glued binding: The block can be peeled away sheet by sheet. Individual sheets lie flat and slip easily into envelopes, slip into Traveler's Notebooks or be used as loose writing paper.
• Double-sided underlay sheet: The included underlay has a 6 mm grid on one side and 12 mm ruling on the other. Because the paper is thin and slightly transparent, the lines show through clearly – helpful for freehand writing or even calligraphy practice.
• Blank: No printed lines, no grid – the page is completely open for writing, sketches, layouts and ink samples.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pens: Watery inks, shimmering inks (sheen), highly nuanced colours – Tomoe River reveals ink properties like few other papers. Inks with pronounced sheen develop this effect particularly visibly on the smooth, slightly absorbent surface.
• Ink tests and colour swatches: The 200 sheets and blank format make the block ideal for test paper. New inks, nib swaps, nib width comparisons – everything can be archived directly or sent as a letter enclosure.
• Handwriting and letters: The underlay sheet is perfectly sufficient for straight writing. Those who write on loose sheets and compose letters by hand can use the block as a personal writing pad with character.
• Pencil and eraser: Thanks to the slightly enhanced paper texture (compared to the Tomoegawa original), graphite adheres better – HB to 2B work well without smudging. Erasing leaves no indentations.
• Traveler's Notebook / planner inserts: Individual peeled-off sheets fit folded into standard notebook refills or as loose inserts in ring binders and system planners.
• Drying time to consider: Tomoe River paper delays ink absorption slightly – with very wet nibs or quick page-turning, brief drying is recommended before the next sheet lies down.

For Paper Enthusiasts

Sanzen acquired the Tomoe River brand rights and formula from Tomoegawa in 2021 and started full production in February 2022. Sanzen has been producing paper in the 52 g/m² range since 1976 and used this production expertise to improve pulp consistency and strengthen the paper by 5 micrometres. The result is a sheet with slightly more texture than the Tomoegawa original: ink lines appear crisper, colours appear somewhat darker and more saturated on Sanzen, sheen less spectacular than the original – but the paper is more tear-resistant and bleed-through is practically ruled out. Those who write on both sides of the sheet will appreciate the better performance when layering inks. The 52 g/m² weight remains identical to the original: 200 sheets add up to a block that remains surprisingly slim in the stack.

Technical Specifications