Hobonichi Paper(s) Notebook eiko Shibata: Ueda-san’s summer of hugs

The Hobonichi Paper(s) Memo Block is a 155-page A6 notepad with adhesive binding, featuring cover artwork by Japanese picture book author and illustrator Keiko Shibata. The motif "Ueda-san's summer of hugs" depicts a figure hugging a soft-serve ice-cream cone – created for a solo exhibition in 2017 and drawn in oil pastel technique. The interior paper is blank and features the same scene as a delicate blue-green print. The paper is not Tomoe River, but performs reliably with all common writing instruments.

Features

• Cover illustration by Keiko Shibata: The Kochi-born picture book artist is renowned for series such as Meganeko (Tegamisha) and SHIROKUMA (PHP Institute). The oil pastel motif captivates through vibrant colours and expressive characters – each page carries the same atmosphere throughout.
• Light blue-green interior print: On every inner page, Ueda-san with soft-serve ice-cream is printed in pale turquoise. The illustration remains subtle enough not to compete with handwriting or sketches.
• Adhesive binding for easy removal: The pages are glued, not sewn. This allows clean, residue-free removal – ideal for note sheets that are to be passed on.
• Perfect format for the Hobonichi Techo Original (A6): At 150 × 105 mm, the block matches the A6 format precisely and can be inserted into A6 Techo covers.
• Blank pages: No lines, no grid – the space remains free for handwriting, sketches or quick lists, as needed.

Use & Tips

• As a Techo companion: The block fits perfectly into A6 Techo covers and complements the Hobonichi Techo Original as a loose note insert.
• For notes to be passed on: The adhesive binding allows individual pages to be cleanly separated – for shopping lists, brief messages or tasks that change hands.
• Writing instruments: The paper is suitable for ballpoints, fine-tip pens, gel pens and fountain pens. Since it is not Tomoe River paper, a finer nib and quick-drying ink are recommended for fountain pens to avoid smudging.
• Sketching and labelling: The blank pages work as draft pages before entering into the planner or as a standalone notepad on the go.

For Hobonichi Enthusiasts

The Paper(s) series differs from standard Hobonichi memos in one specific way: instead of Tomoe River paper, a thicker, less transparent paper is used. This reduces show-through between pages and makes the block more stable in handling – an advantage when pages are removed individually and set aside. The adhesive binding is not a compromise, but a design concept: it replaces the otherwise sewn binding and enables exactly the clean single-sheet removal that perforation blocks don't always offer. The motif "Ueda-san's summer of hugs" comes from a body of work that Keiko Shibata created in 2017 for a solo exhibition – making the block not just a writing tool, but also a small piece of Japanese illustration history in A6 format.

Technical Specifications