Hey, it’s from the overseas sales team.

On Wednesday, March 11, we held the Hobonichi Techo Meeting Caravan in Chicago, U.S. Here’s a report of the event.

For the venue, Atlas Stationers kindly allowed us to use their store, which is located in an office district in the heart of downtown Chicago.




Rows of fountain pens, ink, and stationery lined the interior, which was too spacious to capture in one photo. On the day of our visit, there was a constant flow of customers coming and going, chatting warmly with the staff. It was a wonderful store that felt like a place where shoppers could take a moment to unwind.


All sorts of pens and notebooks were laid out across the spacious tester table! It made me want to set up a space like that in my own room.

This Meeting Caravan was divided into two sessions and attended by a total of 14 participants, ranging from those who just began using their Hobonichi Techo this year to a seasoned user of ten years. Each participant had their own unique way of using and enjoying their techo.


We borrowed the tester table and rearranged it for the Meeting Caravan.

For example, this participant has been using their Hobonichi Techo for eight years.


Their favorite format is the Original (A6) size Hobonichi Techo.

On some days, they use their techo like a scrapbook, covering the pages with various stickers and labels. On other days, they make lists in fountain pen ink or write full entries. They use color in a playful way, and every new page they turned revealed a different way of using the techo.



When I remarked that even just looking at their techo was exciting, they responded that it’s the small things in their daily routine that brighten their life, which really left an impression on me.



This next participant, who uses the weekly-type Hobonichi Techo Weeks, shared that they use their techo to compile data about themselves. They keep their habit trackers and health logs neatly organized, but they also mentioned that they try not to be too focused on making everything perfect. And yet, even the spaces between the words were strikingly neat.



This participant works at a medical institution where patients with serious illnesses are treated.


They use the Cousin (A5) size Hobonichi Techo.

They explained that by noting down the positive moments in their interactions with patients, they try to remember the human side of their work, despite its challenges. They also love decorating their techo and revealed that they own an impressive 150 types of washi tape.

While we’ve featured just a few of the participants here, everyone who joined us happily shared the pages of their techo, which have become a part of their daily lives, making for a friendly and enjoyable event.






While looking at my techo, one participant warmly remarked, “Your techo is a reflection of who you are, so just by writing in it, it becomes something very special.”

It was a day that reminded me how wonderful it is to have a techo to express myself freely.


Group photo at the first session


Group photo at the second session

Bonus Content


Between the Caravan and browsing shops, we found a moment to visit Chicago’s Cloud Gate, also known as the Bean! We enjoyed a pleasant moment gazing up at Chicago’s impressive skyscrapers.

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