Tsubame Notebook lined (B5)

The Tsubame W80S is a thread-bound notebook in B5 format with 80 sheets of acid-free Foolscap paper – handcrafted and bound in Tokyo since 1947. The soft matt, uncoated paper at 85 g/m² feels smooth and cool in the hand, takes ink swiftly, and shows neither feathering nor show-through. The cover design with vintage frame and gold-embossed spine has remained unchanged since 1965.

Features

• Foolscap paper, 85 g/m², acid-free and uncoated: The matt, slightly absorbent surface guides fountain pen and ink roller smoothly – no skipping, no smudging. Acid-free paper ensures pages and ink don't yellow over the years.
• 8 mm line spacing, 28 lines per page: Generous line spacing for legible handwriting, even with broader nibs. The 4 cm margin on the left provides space for marginal notes, symbols, or later annotations.
• Thread-bound and lies flat: Thread binding keeps the notebook sturdy even after many years of use. The notebook lies flat on the desk in any open position – no snapping back, no creasing at the spine.
• Black cloth reinforcement tape on spine: The spine is reinforced with a black fabric band that protects the binding and gives the notebook its characteristic, clean silhouette.
• Cover design unchanged since 1965: Vintage framing with gold-embossed spine – a design to be carried forward, not copied.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pens with wet inks: Foolscap paper handles generously flowing nibs – from fine EF to stub nib – without feathering. Shimmering inks display clear, rich tones on the matt surface.
• Students and note-takers: B5 offers more writing space than A5, and the wide margin suits key points, numbering, or later highlighting in a second colour.
• Western calligraphy: The 8 mm line spacing works well with medium-sized minuscule alphabets; the uncoated, lightly textured surface gives the nib pleasant grip without resistance.
• Let ink dry: Despite good ink fastness, with very wet fountain pens or heavily pigmented inks, allow 5–10 seconds drying time before turning the page.
• Ballpoint and pencil: The paper suits all writing instruments – pencil erases cleanly, ballpoint glides smoothly without tearing.

For Paper Enthusiasts

Foolscap is a traditional Japanese paper type (フールス紙) developed specifically for ink fastness and even fibre density. At 85 g/m², Tsubame paper sits in the ideal range: heavy enough to prevent ballpoint impression, light enough to keep the notebook manageable. The uncoated surface reveals, under magnification, a fine paper structure that binds ink pigments in a controlled manner – the result is sharp lettering without feathering. Hand-sewn thread binding means: each notebook is individually stitched, not machine-glued. This makes the binding flexible enough to lie flat yet sturdy enough to withstand years of use.

Technical Specifications