Sometime last year, Hobonichi sent around a email survey that I distinctly remember included a question about my interest in in-person events, and of course I checked yes. Turns out they really did come to New York for a private viewing of their 2024 lineup!
The company emailed a Google form to apply for a time slot to go to the event, which took place at my absolute favorite stationery shop, Yoseka, in Brooklyn. Attendees had to sign an NDA agreeing not to share any photos or tell people about the lineup before Hobonichi officially unveiled it at 11am Japan time on August 25.
Below are some photos and observations!
- The A5 HONs surpassed my expectations in the hand. That size is really great with a hard cover and slim profile.
- The twinkle tweet looks more twinkly in person than in photos, I took a video to try and capture it.
- The Hiroko Kubota illustrated weeks has some holographic foil details that are really pretty in person, which I didn’t pick up from the initial photos.
- The Taut Bordeaux leather is STUNNING in person, glossy, classy, eye catching but elegant.
- The Linton tweed is really pretty, lots of different colors and textures woven in and a beautiful sunny yellow leather interior. If I didn’t have so many Malhia Kent covers or think they were too bulky i’d probably get one.
- The metallic gold one is actually less loud in person, IMO. But for reference I love metallics and loud accessories and personally own many metallic bags and shoes so I like that kind of look, and consider it a neutral.
- The A&S one wasn’t shown but I’m in love and I may need to get that.
- They had the old and new books available to test; I had a bunch of fountain pens with me with different kinds of inks and I honestly couldn’t really tell the difference!
- They had a clear CoC on one of the HONs on display, I liked how it looked and will probably get one.
- A5 HON will come with a clear pencil board like the ones in the A6 from last year
- I asked Tsubasa from Hobonichi if they have considered white paper for the weeks (I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion but I really prefer white paper because it shows my FP inks better) and she said that they never considered it before because they actually have a different paper supplier for the weeks than other books—but she also said that with the change to the Sanzen TRP the supplier situation might have changed and therefore maybe it’s not off the table. But she also said she wasn’t aware that a lot of people share my preference for white paper.
- I also asked if they noticed a big difference in usage of Hobonichis inside and outside of Japan and she said the uses are actually quite similar but noted that US users seem to be much more concerned about paper, and hypothesized it might be because we don’t have access to a wide variety of nice paper here. She was really fun and interesting to talk to, I hope more people get to meet her!
Ask a Planner Nerd 