Hobonichi Pencil Board Yumi Kitagishi: In the Room A6

The Hobonichi Writing Pad Yumi Kitagishi "In the Room" is a pencil board in A6 format made from synthetic Yupo paper – thin, lightweight and perfectly sized for the Hobonichi Techo Original and Avec. Front: a vibrant room scene with two cats, surrounded by cherished objects – furniture, clothing, soft toys – in the unmistakable picture-book style of Japanese illustrator Yumi Kitagishi. Back: calm blue with a small window motif. The board sits beneath the page you're currently writing on and provides an even, firm writing surface where the planner has become thicker.

Features

• Yupo synthetic paper: The material is smooth and minimally springy – nib tips and nibs glide evenly without slipping. Calligraphy nibs, fine liners and ballpoints run cleanly across the surface.
• Perfectly sized A6 format (155 × 103 mm): Precisely matched to the Hobonichi Techo A6, the board sits flush in the open notebook – no slipping, no overhang.
• "Today" tab: The tab extends beyond the planner edge and marks the current page as a bookmark – open to the right page without searching, even when the Techo is well-filled.
• 5mm grid on the front: Beneath the illustration print lies a 5mm grid pattern that can be used as an orientation guide for layouts or sketches.
• Millimetre ruler on the back: The blue back side features millimetre divisions along the edge – handy for precise spacing and small drawings directly in the planner.
• Protection for subsequent pages: The board prevents ballpoint or nib pressure from making impressions on the next page – particularly important with fine Tomoe River paper.
• Illustration by Yumi Kitagishi: The Japanese illustrator is known for her colourful, hand-drawn picture-book style. The "In the Room" motif shows two cats in a warm, playful interior full of details.

Use & Tips

• As a writing pad: Position the board one or two pages behind the current writing page – this creates an evenly firm surface, even if the Techo has become uneven due to tape, stickers or glued-in cards.
• As a bookmark: Simply tuck the "Today" tab between the pages when closing the planner – when you open it next time, the correct page is ready at hand.
• Fountain pens and fine nibs: Yupo provides enough resistance even for soft nibs without scratching. The board is ideal as a pad when writing with a stub nib or fine EF nib.
• Use the millimetre ruler: For small frames, column spacing or tables in the Techo, briefly pull out the blue back side and use it as a ruler.
• Combine with matching Techo cover: The board coordinates visually with other Hobonichi products in the Yumi Kitagishi design – cover and writing pad make a harmonious set.
• On the go: At 155 × 103 mm and with the lightweight Yupo material, the board fits flat into any A6 Techo and adds hardly any weight.

For Techo Enthusiasts

The Hobonichi Pencil Board is known in Japanese as Shitajiki – a writing pad widely used in Japanese writing culture that was originally employed when writing with a brush to ensure even pressure and clean lines. Yupo is a waterproof, tear-resistant synthetic paper made from polypropylene, distinguished by its smooth, slightly velvety surface. This surface dampens nib pressure minimally and gives handwriting a pleasant regularity – a difference particularly noticeable to calligraphers and lettering enthusiasts when writing in a well-filled Techo. At 0.4 mm thick, the board is so thin it doesn't noticeably thicken the notebook block, yet rigid enough to function as a truly firm writing surface.

Technical Specifications