Hobonichi Cover Letter (A6)

The Hobonichi Cover Letter is a three-part folded (tri-fold) A6 cover with a ball-button closure, crafted for the Hobonichi Techo Original and Planner in A6 format. Its character can be grasped in three elements: the triangular closure flap, the smoke-grey polyurethane exterior combined with an acrylic fabric from Spain, and the khaki binding cord, whose round button and ends are made from genuine cowhide leather. Winding and unwinding the cord is deliberately designed as a small pause – a tactile ritual before your first entry of the day.

Features

• Tri-fold construction with triangular flap: The cover folds in three layers and lies flat when closed in your bag. The triangular tab protects the book edge and gives the cover its characteristic, envelope-like silhouette.
• Ball-button closure with binding cord: A round button made from genuine cowhide leather and a khaki binding cord keep the cover closed. Wrapping and unwinding the cord is done slowly and with both hands – no hasty snap-open, but a brief transition between everyday life and writing.
• Material mix of two textures: Smoke-grey, soft polyurethane meets an acrylic fabric made in Spain on the exterior. The surfaces differ noticeably: the PU surface is cool and smooth, the acrylic fabric slightly grippy and textured.
• Cowhide leather details: The button and cord ends are made from genuine cowhide leather – small accents that feel tactilely different from the textile exterior and can develop a light patina with use.
• Internal pen holder via clip: The inner pen loop grips the clip of a pen – no pen falls out, and the outer contour of the closed cover remains slim and without bulging.
• Fit for A6 Original and Planner: The cover accommodates both common A6 book formats from Hobonichi – both the Techo Original and the Planner.

Use & Tips

• Pen selection for the clip holder: The pen holder works via the clip, not via a loop. Pens with a broad, sturdy clip – such as ballpoint pens, liquid ink pens, or fountain pens with a strong metal clip – sit most securely. Very thin or clipless pens slip out.
• Winding the binding cord: The khaki cord can simply be wrapped or crossed around the button – both variations close the cover reliably. The cross pattern gives the exterior a slightly more structured, decorative appearance.
• Care for the cowhide leather button: The leather accents on the button and cord ends respond to regular handling with slight lightening along the edges. Occasional treatment with a colour-neutral leather care product keeps the leather supple.
• Book thickness in the tri-fold: The cover is designed for the typical book thickness of the Hobonichi Techo A6. Very heavily filled books with many pasted pages or inserts can put the triangular flap under tension – a slim book block is recommended here.
• As a writing surface: The three layers of the tri-fold cover provide a stable, slightly yielding writing surface on the underside – writeable even without a table.

For Hobonichi Enthusiasts

The acrylic fabric of the cover comes from Spain – a detail explicitly mentioned in Hobonichi product communication, pointing to material selection beyond purely Japanese supply chains. The combination of polyurethane and acrylic fabric is deliberately designed for contrast: not only visually in the alternation of matte and textured surfaces, but also tactilely – the cover feels different depending on grip position. The binding cord is attached to the cover itself and doesn't get lost when opening; it is thus an integral part of the closure mechanism, not a loose accessory.

Technical Specifications