Hobonichi iyo okumi: Pencil Board for A5 Size (Happy Tea Time - Taste Good)

The iyo okumi writing pad for the Hobonichi Techo A5 features the design "Happy Tea Time – Taste Good": a symmetrically composed visual world where earthly animals and mythical creatures share a calm tea break together – like a woven wall tapestry in motion. The motif is based on a hand-embroidered piece by iyo okumi on linen fabric with colourful threads; fur, leaves, blossoms and grass blades appear lively and three-dimensional. Made from Yupo synthetic paper, the pad feels firm and smooth in the hand – with noticeable stiffness that does exactly what it's designed to do.

Features

• Yupo synthetic paper: The material is dimensionally stable, gently moisture-repellent and thin enough not to bulk up the Techo noticeably. The smooth surface lets ballpoints, fine-liners and fountain pens glide evenly – no catching, no stuttering.
• Prevents ghosting: Anyone who writes with a mechanical pencil, ballpoint or fountain pen with a broad nib knows the problem: writing pressure transfers to the next page. The pad absorbs this pressure, keeping the following page clean.
• "Today" tab as bookmark: The cutout at the upper corner marks the current day's page without needing a separate bookmark – particularly handy in the A5 Cousin with its many pages.
• Millimetre scale on reverse: A millimetre grid is printed along the long edge. Quick measurements without needing an extra ruler, right from the Techo.
• Printed embroidery artwork: The motif was hand-embroidered by iyo okumi with coloured threads on linen fabric, then transferred to the Yupo surface using printing techniques. The fur texture, leaf veins and grass strokes retain remarkable depth and grain.
• Butter-yellow reverse: The back shows a warm yellow base colour with complementary illustrations in okumi's distinctive drawing style – a second face that becomes visible when you pull out the pad.

Use & Tips

• Perfect fit for the Hobonichi Techo A5 (Cousin): The writing pad is precisely cut to the A5 format of the Cousin and fits perfectly without adjustment – no overhang, no shifting.
• Also works with other A5 notebooks: The 215 × 147 mm format fits all standard A5 notebooks and planners. On Tomoe River paper especially, which is particularly prone to ghosting due to its thinness, the pad makes a noticeable difference.
• Writing instruments: With ballpoints, fine-liners and fountain pens, the Yupo surface glides smoothly. Those writing with a fine nib will appreciate the guidance; with a broad nib, an even richer line emerges thanks to consistent counter-pressure.
• Writing on the move: The pad's stiffness creates an even writing surface even without a table – on trains, in cafés, on the sofa. Your Techo becomes a portable writing station.
• As a set with matching cover: The pad pairs stylistically with the iyo okumi Techo cover and other okumi accessories from the LUIBAN range, all sharing the same design language.

For Techo Enthusiasts

Yupo is a double-sided calendered synthetic paper on a polypropylene base – water-resistant, tear-resistant and dimensionally stable. These material properties make it ideal for a writing pad: it doesn't give way, doesn't warp and remains true to size over many years. The printed embroidery retains its colour saturation because Yupo doesn't absorb moisture that would cause the colours to fade. The "Taste Good" motif showcases okumi's ability to create depth and movement in embroidery thread – techniques known in the field as long-stitch embroidery and backstitch with varying thread thicknesses, which often appear flatter in photographs than in reality.

Technical Specifications