Part 1: Checking in with the techo to-do list once per hour

Hobonichi

Thank you so much for your time today! First of all, could you tell us how many years you have used your Hobonichi Techo?

Nezu

Since 2012, so this is my sixth year. I was using a different planner before that, but after I heard about the Hobonichi Techo, I went and purchased my first one at the Loft store in Yokohama.

Hobonichi

How many years have you used a planner in total, then, including the time that you used the one prior to the Hobonichi Techo?

Nezu

Ever since I joined the workforce, which was more than 10 years ago.

Hobonichi

I see. What type of work do you do these days?

Nezu

I work in the management department of a logistics company, where we handle things like general affairs and accounting.

Hobonichi

The Hobonichi Techo has different versions, such as the Original and the Cousin. We are wondering why you selected the Weeks version to use at work?

Nezu

First of all, it opens up nice and flat, and it’s also just very easy to use. I like the fact that I can write out my weekly schedule on the left-hand side, and that I can use the right-hand one however I want.

Hobonichi

That’s great.

Nezu

I also like the convenience of being able to slip the techo right into the inside pocket of my jacket, which means that I’m able to carry it with me inside the office, such as when I attend meetings or greet clients, etc.

Hobonichi

Your Hobonichi Techos have all been from the Bow & Tie series, haven’t they?

Nezu

Yes, they have. Every year, without fail, there are at least two different color schemes of the Weeks techo that I really like, and so I end up choosing between those two. I tend to be someone who prefers wearing flashy clothing rather than clean-cut suits, and so I guess that when it comes to my techo, I similarly prefer a design that’s a bit more exciting than just your average black one.

Hobonichi

May we have a look inside?

Nezu

Go right ahead. This is my 2016 techo. There’s nothing at all interesting to see, though! (Laughter)

Hobonichi

Wow! It looks so neat and tidy that it’s hard to believe you used it for a full year! Could you tell us a bit about how you normally use your techo?

Nezu

I use it primarily as a “To Do” list at work. When I arrive to the office, the first thing I do is open up my techo to see what I have planned for that day. I then write down the individual tasks that I need to get done, and leave it on top of my desk. Throughout the day, I check it around once per hour in order to make sure that there is nothing I’ve forgotten to do.

Hobonichi

The left side is where you write down your daily schedule, right? May I assume that black lettering refers to your work plans, while blue indicates activities during your own personal time?

Nezu

That’s right.

Hobonichi

I also see that you’ve got a To Do list written on the right-hand side, with check marks for every item.

Nezu

I don’t leave anything blank. So if I don’t finish a particular task until the following week, I blacken out the checkboxes so that I will know it still needs to be completed.

Hobonichi

I see that you use a Frixion (erasable-type) pen. And you draw your lines so straight and precisely!

Nezu

I do. I draw my lines using a ruler.

Hobonichi

Did you adopt these rules when you first started using your Hobonichi Techo?

Nezu

Actually, I think they date back even before then, to when I used my previous planner!

Hobonichi

Wow, you’re really thorough, aren’t you. Do you use any other sort of notebooks at the office besides your techo?

Nezu

Actually, I don’t. When I take notes during meetings or need to do other types of record-keeping, I always use my techo.

Hobonichi

May we see the memo pages at the end of your Weeks techo?

Nezu

Sure. Also, come to think of it, I sometimes use the office notebook computer for taking meeting minutes and jotting down notes.

Hobonichi

Do you write down your plans in the office computer in addition to the left-hand side of your techo?

Nezu

Yes. I write down all of my work- and company-related tasks both in my techo and in the office computer. But in terms of what I use most, it’s definitely the techo. Just one glance, and I know what I have to do. It’s just so convenient to use!

Hobonichi

Yes, if you’re checking your plans once an hour and then marking off your tasks, it seems like the techo is certainly more suitable for you.

Nezu

I agree.

Hobonichi

I see that on the days you don’t go in to the office, you’ve written “days off.” I’ve never seen that done before, but I like it. That must make it easy to know how many days off you’ve had per month.

Nezu

Indeed. Around two years ago, I worked a lot on Saturdays and Sundays — so I started making a note of which days I had off, along with my working hours. I also need to report the reason whenever I work overtime, so I make rough notations to this effect in my techo as well.

Hobonichi

The content of your techo is just so simple. You can look back later and immediately see what you did on any given day or time, can’t you.

Nezu

Yes, I can. And I often do! I like to know that I’m able to look back — even years after the fact — and see what I was doing at a certain specific point in time, or when I completed a specific work task.

Hobonichi

Interesting! Where do you store your old techos?

Nezu

They’re all in my desk at the office.

Hobonichi

At the office! Everything you’ve done in the past at work is right there at your fingertips, isn’t it.

Nezu

Exactly. That’s important. I’m also careful to write down tasks that I’ve done for the first time, so that I can go back later and review them.

Hobonichi

I see that you’re using a January-start version of the techo, but what about the transition between the end of the year and the beginning of the new one?

Nezu

I transfer all of the information from the left side of my pages during the month of December into the next year’s Weeks techo.

Hobonichi

Wow! The pages are exactly the same!

Nezu

The salary deadline at the office is the 20th of every month, so I use my techo as usual up until then — and then I start using both techos after December 21st.

Hobonichi

Oh, I see. You transfer everything in line with your work schedule. You really do stick to the rules, don’t you!