The Hobonichi Techo is a Life Book that we hope makes your Life just a little bit brighter.
The Hobonichi Techo is a Life Book that we hope makes your Life just a little bit brighter.Nice to meet you.
I’m the Hobonichi Techo.
Since its launch in 2001, the Hobonichi Techo has continued to evolve little by little each year, thanks in part to feedback from users, growing into a techo loved by people around the world. What kind of techo is it? We’ll introduce the features below.
01What’s the “Hobonichi”
from “Hobonichi Techo”?
- This techo was created by the team from the Hobonichi website.
- The Hobonichi Techo is developed, produced, and brought to you by Hobonichi. Launched in 2001, the Hobonichi Techo started with the Hobonichi website team’s vision of creating a planner they truly wanted to use themselves. Since then, it has sold over 10 million copies in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. Each year brings an updated lineup featuring a range of new concepts.
- Hobonichi
- Hobonichi is a website run by copywriter Shigesato Itoi. The URL, 1101, is a string of numbers that can spell out Itoi’s name in Japanese: i (one), tō (ten), i (one). The website features new and free original content every day, such as interviews and talks, essays, video streams, and more. Come take a look!
- Hobonichi >
- Hobonichi Online Store
- Operated by Hobonichi, the official online store offers not only the Hobonichi Techo, but also a wide range of other original goods and curated items for daily living, including towels, clothing, and food products.
- Hobonichi Online Store >
Hobonichi Techo
02LIFE BOOK
Hobonichi Techo
- The Hobonichi Techo is fun to write in, read, and select.
- One of the defining features of the Hobonichi Techo is its range of flexible formats, which let you use it however you like. No two people enjoy their techos in exactly the same way. Part of why people love them so much is that the fun goes beyond simply writing and drawing. They also offer the joy of reading the quotes and picking out a new design every year.
- One-page-per-day, the standard Hobonichi Techo format
- The standard format of the Hobonichi Techo is the one-page-per-day. With plenty of open space to fill, it gives you the freedom to write down anything you like, whether it’s for work or your personal life.
- Read your techo like a book with the Daily Quotes
- There are daily quotes at the bottom of the pages. These are specially curated from articles on the Hobonichi website, including recurring columns and interviews, and range from heartfelt to humorous.
- A wide variety of designs that are fun to choose from
- Our covers span from simple designs that fit well in any setting to unique designs with patterns and colors designed to fascinate. We also have a large range of collaboration items made alongside various artists and brands.
Over 10 million copies sold all-time
Thanks to all of our lovely users, the Hobonichi Techo has sold over 10 million copies all-time as of September 2024. It’s because of everyone that we collaborate with — and everyone who manufactures, distributes, and sells the Hobonichi Techo — that we’re able to deliver this product every year.
03Features that
make it easy to use
- Its functionality is a result of years of ongoing refinement
- The Hobonichi Techo has continued to evolve, thanks in part to feedback from users. From the paper quality and binding to the size of the grid, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to ensure that the techo is easy to use.
- Tomoe River paper with a smooth writing experience
- The techo book uses Tomoe River paper, a thin, light, and durable paper specially designed for planners. It's characterized by its ability to hold ink well and provide a smooth writing experience.
- Stress-free by opening flat 180 degrees
- Thanks to their thread-sewn binding, the techos lie completely flat when opened, offering a smooth writing experience without the need to hold the pages down with your hand.
- Durable binding for reliable daily use
- One of the key features is its durability. It can withstand a year of frequent opening and closing, even as added papers and tickets gradually make the notebook thicker.
- 3.7mm graph paper squares to make it easy to write
- After much trial and error, our techo pages have 3.7mm* squares, which are the perfect size to either write within the lines, or ignore the lines and write outside them. The graph paper design makes it easy to draw charts and graphs, and the lines can provide a guide for pasting in papers or photographs totally straight.
*Some pages as well as the Weeks and Planner have different size graph paper squares.
- A very flexible design that’s easy on the eyes
- The ink color and thickness of the lines in the techo are specially designed to be easy on the eyes and not get in the way of your writing. The design keeps the user in mind, with lines you can either use to their full extent or ignore complete and write around. It’s up to you!
- A format that’s easy to use after years of refinement
- Not only have we made various improvements to the daily pages to make it more convenient and comfortable to write in, but we’ve extended this process to the monthly calendar, yearly calendar, yearly index, and even the memo pages, for a fully enjoyable experience.
- Annually updated bonus pages
- There are bonus pages in the back that include useful contents you can write in, such as handy graphs, time tables, the My 100 list where you can list out things to do, books to read, movies to watch, or any other theme you decide on. There are also pages with interesting contents to read that are updated annually. Use these pages to your heart’s content for whatever purpose you end up using them for.
04Hobonichi
Techo Types
- The techo is offered in a wide range of styles, including weekly layouts and a five-year format.
- We offer a wide range of techos, including page-per-day formats like the Original and the Cousin, as well as the Weeks, which features a weekly layout, and the 5-Year Techo for long-term use. English versions are also available. You’re sure to find a format that’s just right for you.
The Original, Cousin, Weeks, and HON (A6 and A5 sizes) are also available in English.
For more detailed information about each book, see the Book Buying Guide.
Choose whether or not to use a cover
The Hobonichi Techo comes in types that involve picking out your favorite cover, and using it by itself without a cover.
- Choose from many different designs!
- Usable with a techo cover
- Original / Cousin / Planner / Day-Free / 5-Year Techo
- Keep it simple and portable
- The cover is already attached
- HON / Weeks
The combinations are limitless!
Customize your Hobonichi Techo by pairing your favorite book and cover and supplementing it with some stationery and accessories.
- Techo book
- You can choose from various formats such as a page-per-day type, and several sizes or languages including English or Japanese editions.
- View lineup
- Techo cover
- The standard cover is the “butterfly-stopper type,” which features a pen holder. A wide range of other designs is available.
- View lineup
- Accessories
- We also offer stationery and everyday goods designed to make using your techo more enjoyable and convenient, including the Hobonichi Pencil Board and the Hobonichi Graph Notebook.
- View lineup
*Sizes and types of accessories differ and may or may not fit with certain techo book and cover sizes, so be sure to check each product page for more information about compatibility.
05Friends all
over the
world
- It’s a TECHO.
- The Hobonichi Techo is used by people from over 100 countries and regions. The Hobonichi Techo, which comes from Japan, isn’t quite a planner, or a diary, or a notebook. The fact that people all over the world refer to it as a “techo” is a point of pride for us.
- A full lineup of English versions
- To ensure that users around the world can enjoy our techos, we also offer English versions. The quotes, calendars, and Bonus Pages are all written in English. Holidays are left unmarked so that the techos can be used in countries and regions around the world.
- Introducing and sharing Japanese culture
- In addition to techo culture, we believe users around the world will appreciate the quality of Japanese craftsmanship, including the durable binding and design details. We are also delighted that collaborative items featuring various artists and characters are helping people around the world connect with Japanese art and culture.
Various articles and contents translated into English for overseas users to enjoy
- We have English translations for many of our articles originally offered in Japanese, including articles about how to use the techo, interviews, product information, announcements, and more.
- Reading contents >
- We have official global editions of our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts where Hobonichi Techo team members post information and features in English for everyone to enjoy.
06Getting the Most Out of
Your Hobonichi Techo
- There are countless other ways to enjoy the Hobonichi Techo!
- Hobonichi makes a variety of fun, original items that make the techo even more convenient, and provides exclusive articles about the techo.
- Hobonichi original stationery and accessories fun to use with the techo: Tools & Toys
- Hobonichi has all kinds of original stationery and accessories that are fun and convenient to pair with the Hobonichi Techo, including the Hobonichi Pencil Board, see-through folders, and the Cover on Cover that can protect your techo.
- Tools & Toys >
- The Drawer Pouch can cleanly store your techo and accessories
- This pouch is like carrying around your very own “drawer.” You can pick out your favorite design and size to pair together your items however you like.
- The Drawer Pouch >
- Hobonichi Techo Online Magazine
- This is the Hobonichi Techo Official Website’s “reading material.” We have articles about ways to use the techo, interviews, product information, announcements, and all kinds of articles that we post on an irregular basis.
- Hobonichi Techo Online Magazine >
- Hobonichi Techo News
- This page provides sales information, recommended stationery and accessories, usage examples provided by our readers, and other posts by the Hobonichi Techo team.
- Hobonichi Techo News >
- Newsletter
- Every week, we send out a newsletter with announcements about the Hobonichi Techo, links to the latest articles to read on the official website, new product information, and more.
- Newsletter >
- How It’s Used
- We’re always accepting submissions about the ways you use the Hobonichi Techo, and we list examples on our websites with photos and written blurbs.
- How It’s Used >
- Download City
- This website offers free pages to download and print out to tape into your Hobonichi Techo. These are great for anyone who wants to further customize the Hobonichi Techo, or change up the cover with more image options to print out and fit into a Cover on Cover.
- Download City >
- Meeting Caravan
- The Meeting Caravan is a meetup where members of the Techo team invite users who love the Hobonichi Techo and stationery to come and share their Techos. It’s a lot of fun spending time swapping ideas and chatting.
- Meeting Caravan >
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