Keiko Shibata: Bus management by Mr. and Mrs. Inoue A6 Original Size - Techo Lineup

Keiko ShibataBus management by Mr. and Mrs. InoueA6 Original Size

We’ve turned this unique piece of art by Keiko Shibata into a Hobonichi Techo cover. “Bus management by Mr. and Mrs. Inoue” was originally drawn for Shibata’s personal art gallery held in 2017.

This piece depicts an affectionate married couple riding in the driver’s and passenger’s seats of a bright red bus. We can only imagine where the bus is headed as it drives through an open field.

The design is printed onto a textured polyester material to ensure the cover retains the warm, artistic touch of the original oil pastel piece. Mr. and Mrs. Inoue also have sweet little smiles on their faces. Because it is drawn by hand, the red of the bus, the green of the field, and the white of the sky are in different shades of colors, makes the illustration tasteful and never boring.

The bright red piping around the edges of the cover serves as a decorative frame for Shibata’s art. If you keep this cover on your desk, it’ll catch your eye and bring you some cheer.

The cover interior is a gentle shade of ivory. The two bookmarks have black, round charms, reminiscent of the tires of the bus.

The left hand pocket is printed with Keiko Shibata’s signature.

You can also purchase a Hobonichi Pencil Board for the A6 size techo. It’s printed with Keiko Shibata’s art piece “Upwind alpacas.”

There are many more items in our collaboration with Keiko Shibata in the Hobonichi Techo 2025 lineup! This includes the techo covers “Bus management by Mr. and Mrs. Inoue” in A6 size and “Emotional Reunion with Kariya-san” in A5 size. There’s also a Weeks book called “Thanks for your hard work, Aoki-san.” The design “Dog Ears Fluttering in the Wind” is available on a Cover on Cover, which fits over a Hobonichi Techo A6 or A5 cover, and the Clear Cover, which fits over a Weeks book. The Hobonichi Paper(s) notebook has a cover with the design “Ueda-san’s summer of hugs.” Also available with prints by Keiko Shibata are the Hobonichi Pencil Board and a graph paper notebook, which continue from last year’s lineup. These all help expand the unique and charming world of Keiko Shibata!

About Keiko Shibata

Born in Kochi prefecture. Picture book works include the Meganeko series (Tegamisha), the SHIROKUMA series (PHP Institute), and the PANDOROBOU “Bread Thief” series (KADOKAWA).

Keiko Shibata Official Website

A Conversation between Keiko Shibata and Shigesato Itoi (Hobonichi)

Staff List

Photographer: Styled Images: Nobuki Kawaharazaki / Product Detail: Hiroyuki Oe
Stylist: Minami Nosaki

Keiko ShibataBus management by Mr. and Mrs. InoueA6 Original Size

¥5,830 - ¥6,820 (incl. tax)
¥3,410 (incl. tax)

20 per item

Available

Normal

Specifications*Specifications may vary slightly

Cover

Size

H: 165 x W: 244 x T: 3 mm / H: 6.5" x W: 9.6" x T: 0.1"
*Excluding pen holders

Weight

Approx. 100 g

Main material

Exterior: Polyester / Interior: Polyester

Compatible Techo Books

Planner (A6)
1 page per day English edition
Original (A6)
1 page per day
Original Avec (A6)
1 page per day 6-month book
Day-Free
Monthly notebook

Planner | One-Page-Per-Day TypeEnglish

type	Monday Start (English)
Size	A6 H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 15 mm / H: 5.8" x W: 4.1" x T: 0.6" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 190 g
Dates	Jan 2027 - Dec 2027

The English-version daily techo with a refined design

This compact A6 size techo has spacious daily pages and a simple graph-paper design that offers plenty of freedom to draw, paste, and write.

Daily pages
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Monthly calendar
Memo pages

View details on features and included content

Original | One-Page-Per-Day TypeStandard Edition (Japanese / English) / One Piece Edition (*1)

type	Monday Start (Japanese) Sunday Start (Japanese) Monday Start (English)
Size	A6 H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 15 mm / H: 5.8" x W: 4.1" x T: 0.6" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 195 g
Dates	Jan 2027 - Dec 2027 (Jan start) Apr 2027 - Mar 2028 (Apr start)

A classic easy-to-use techo

This compact A6 size techo has spacious daily pages and a simple graph-paper design that offers plenty of freedom to draw, paste, and write.

Daily pages
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Monthly calendar
Memo pages

*1 Also compatible with the One Piece Edition Original Book.

View details on features and included content

Original Avec | One-Page-Per-Day Type (2-Book Set)Japanese

type	Monday Start (Japanese)
Size	A6 Each Book: H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 8 mm / H: 5.9" x W: 4.1" x T: 0.3" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Each Book: Approx. 110 g
Dates	Book 1: Jan 2027 - June 2027 Book 2: July 2027 - Dec 2027

Each 6-month daily techo is thin and light for easy carry

This techo splits the year into two 6-month books, making it easy to carry while keeping the same page design and layout as the standard edition.

Daily pages
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Monthly calendar
Memo pages

View details on features and included content

Day-Free | Monthly Techo + NotebookJapanese

type	Monday Start (Japanese)
Size	A6 H: 148 x W: 105 x T: 8 mm / W: 4.1" x H: 5.9" x T: 0.3" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 110 g
Dates	Dec 2026 - Mar 2028

A monthly notebook with undated pages to write freely

This techo starts with monthly calendars and ends with undated graph paper pages so you can write whenever you want, and as much as you want.

Monthly calendar
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Graph paper notebook pages

View details on features and included content

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Please Read Before You Buy

We’ve compiled a list of warnings, potential issues, and tips to keep in mind for this particular product. Additionally, the color of the product may be slightly different in actuality than compared to how it appeared on a computer or smartphone screen.

Cover may contain variations in stitching or loose lining: Due to the structure of the cover that opens flat 180 degrees, exterior stitching areas may appear puckered and lining material may be loose.

Pen holder fits pens up to 13.5 mm wide: The pen holder is designed to fit the 12.2 mm (0.48") diameter Jetstream pen offered as a free Hobonichi Store Exclusive Bonus. Pens with certain shapes and materials may be difficult to pull through the holder. The holder can fit pens up to 13.5 mm (0.53") in diameter.

Color and print may vary slightly: The cover's color and print pattern are created by dyeing or printing onto white fabric. While we take care to ensure consistency during production, slight variations in color or pattern may occur between individual items. This may also happen across a single cover, such as a pocket compared to the rest of the cover. Minor print blurring or uneven coloring may also be present. In addition, on rare occasions, there may be small black or white dots visible on the print. This is an unavoidable aspect of the manufacturing process.