I find it quite interesting that a lot of Japanese notebooks with special features, especially certain bindings, are genuinely more disability-friendly than literally any American notebook I've ever seen. My sister is left-handed and has arthritis in her hands at 29; those squishy-ring notebooks would be far easier for her than the few good flip-top memo pads she has. I'm autistic and the majority of cheap American paper has a texture that genuinely makes me want to take sandpaper to my fingertips; Japanese paper is soothing to touch. They're luxury items, but they make life easier.
I can relate to that. I used to have a thing in school where I hated the feel of paper but yet I couldn’t avoid compulsively feeling it and scratching at it and coincidentally one of my teachers was the same way. Sometimes I think I’m “on the spectrum” and even took an online test that says I am.
I'm in my 60s now, but even in my 20s, I knew that life's too short to deal with junky stuff. I bought my own pens, Post-Its, and Liquid Paper for my job and my husband's job. The Liquid Paper especially. Where I worked, the agency had a contract for Wite-Out, which is THE worst correction fluid ever invented. It took 20 minutes to dry, and then you couldn't write over it. Liquid Paper dries in 2 minutes and you're back in business. Back in the day, it was 79 to 89 cents a bottle, and at back-to-school sales, it would be 2/$1. I'd buy 6, which was enough to get us thru the year. I'd rather spend the 50 cents across 3 months, than the 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. (I wasn't the best typist.)
I'm still using basic spiral notebooks I bought about 15 years ago at Office Max, during back-to-school sales. They were 1 cent each. I bought over 100.
I’ve bought a ton over the years for myself and for my kid for school, but they aren’t the same. There’s a real difference between quality paper and basic “American” notebooks.
I know... but at a penny each, compared to 89 cents or higher, I figured I couldn't lose. After I brought them home, my husband had a fit - not because I bought them, but because HE had just bought one for work, for $1.29. 😆
@UNKNOWN _ it was about 15 years ago during back to school sales in August. There was a limit of 3 per sale, but we had bought a laptop a few days earlier, then 2 of our friends bought the same laptop within 2 days (they liked ours), so the manager let me get what I wanted. I spent 45 minutes in line while the cashier rang them out, 3 at a time. I bought 102, for 34 "sales". As I said to a friend: I spent 45 minutes, but saved over $90. ($.89 regular cost × 102 - $1.02 = $89.72 + 7% sales tax= $96.00). I didn't earn $90 for 45 minutes work at my job, so I figured it was worth it. Once in a lifetime deal. Grabbed it and ran.
Japanese notebooks have turned me into a total paper snob, lol. They're way better for fountain pens, and those Kokuyo slide ring binders are the BEST! I wish I had those back in high school and college!
As a teacher, I love the whiteboard notebook. That helps me a lot helping students when walking around in the classroom. Maruman septcouleur notebooks are my favourite since I was a middle school student. I love the texture of the paper and writing on it creates ASMR sounds ❤❤❤
The half size Kokuyo are on my wishlist, but we totally converted as a homeschool family to Japanese notebooks last year- better paper, better sizes, lightweight- all the things. Maruman for formula notebooks for Chemistry and Physics, Kokuyo Campus for subjects, planners/to do list notebooks- oh the meetings notebook is also on my wishlist. 😂
I’ve completely converted to Midori MD. There’s no looking back. It’s a bittersweet feeling when you sort of get to ”the end”. At least I can focus on buying way more too many fountain pen inks!
I found Campus' binder system and paper when I visited Tokyo a few years back, love how well they work with my fountain pens! Was happy to find how easy they were to get a hold of and not that expensive here in the states
I’m most anxious to try the Kokuyo Soft Ring notebooks. I’ve been a fan of Kokuyo Campus notebooks for many years, and when I was taking a math class last year I finally tried the Kokuyo Campus Slide Binders. I wish I had discovered them earlier.
Given i am a total print nerd, but also love fountain pens and writing with them, i make my own notebooks. Bookbinding is a great hobby to tie my other interests together. If you don't need to go full craftsmen on your binding technique its easier than you might think. Just come up with a page design, have it printed for pennies at a copy shop and bind it yourself. The only commercial Notebooks i use are Hardcover Oxford, since i love the paper.
That Campus half notebook would’ve been awesome a few years ago when I went back to school. I have some of their regular size ones along with two different sizes of the Campus smart ring binders. My favorite is my A5 biz notebook using a combination of Sarasa 6mm rule and 5mm graph paper. A few of these are really cool looking and I might have to try. Especially the whiteboard ones. I have tried to go paperless with Rocketbook but just don’t like it. I also have a Kindle Scribe which is great for a lot of stuff but still doesn’t replace real pen and paper.
I’ve bought some pretty nice notebooks and paper here in the U.S., made in the U.S. from wood from our American forests (and they do our new seedling trees in their place), that makes paper in the U.S. lol.. It’s out there and not just at big box retail stores but at specialty shops, card stores, art supply stores, even at places that specializes in architect supplies. Some are inexpensive and some are pricey but they’re worth it if you like to do a lot of writing, drawing, take notes, even starting a junk journal. And there’s different kinds of sturdy spiral, from steel, hard plastic and bound with twine or even leather. I was surprised I did find some good notebooks at chain stores in their stationery section. I just say, paper is paper, it all does all the same work for us. 😊
I love the whiteboards one. They're so useful at work as my work priorities constantly change - I can erase n move without wasting paper. I can chart out process map or work on future projects. I goofingly forgot the pages themselves are whiteboards. I kept only using dividers. Ha!
(muttering to myself as i look at the box of notebooks i already need to use) "I dont need another one, I dont need another one, I dont need another one...." May the triune God bless you JP Team!
that half size notebook would work really well for note taking or making drawings to illustrate the theme you're writing on while using a laptop, saving the struggle of "they don't fit together" sounds perfect for online classes too
I love my Gakken write white! Whiteboards are the only things that keep me organized but they can be hard to travel with. When I saw it for sale I bought one right away. I got the small one!
Midori Soft Color notebooks are what brought me to your site! I use them for writing letters, and I always get compliments from my pen pals on them~ It's also fun to send a few sheets to them to use themselves.
Even in the days before realizing my stationery addiction, I was drawn to notebooks, but those single spiral metal ringed ones drove me mad. Seems they always managed to somehow get out of shape, regardless of how careful I might've tried being with them.
I bought the campus half size notebooks thinking it would be easier for me to write notes without the keyboard getting in the way but I completely forgot that I write with the paper at an angle so it goes over the keyboard regardless. If they make it a ring binder notebook, especially a soft ring since I'm left-handed, I'll definitely get it.
Well anything touched by japanese craftsmanship is indeed instantly better due to alot of factors but for the obvious ones you only need to look towards their work ethics and their dedication to the craft which is often unmatch in most industry, but that doesn't mean their product will always become the best but you can be damn sure their quality is going to be top notch 90% of the time.
Hi there! These Delfonics Rollbahn Notebooks have wood-free paper: www.jetpens.com/Delfonics-Rollbahn-Spiral-Notebooks/ct/6851 You might like our Eco-Friendly Notebooks and Stationery guide as well: www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Eco-Friendly-Notebooks-and-Stationery/pt/345
@@JetPensI bought some and it feels really smooth!. I really enjoy the texture! Compared to American notebooks! I also bought an 0.7 kokuyo mechanical pencil!
Hi there! Here are some of our recommendations for ruled notebooks: www.jetpens.com/Stalogy-016-Notebooks/ct/6486 www.jetpens.com/Maruman-Mnemosyne-Notebooks/ct/765?&f=256af6d408966623 www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Soft-Ring-Notebooks/ct/4946?&f=256af6d408966623_1961bcedbcb5993739171fb0a5b2ceef www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Perpanep-Notebooks/ct/6280?&f=256af6d408966623
The link for the Kokuyo Soft Ring notebooks shows grid paper, but they also come in lined-both 6mm and 7mm. I use Kokuyo lined paper almost exclusively.
Kokuyo offer A4 notebooks in their business and campus lines. The campus come in A4 6mm (Blue/ B-Line) and 7mm (Pink/ A-line) Though JIS B5 is the most common size you will done for most Japanese notebooks. Would highly recommend campus. They can be found online or if you have daiso they are also there. :)
All I know is Five Star notebooks are pricey af with thin paper that can show on the back with bumps from ballpens with noticable shadowing of the ink. Can find cheaper off brand notebooks with thicker mm pages thats for sure regardless of the country. So yes anything else is better than freaking Five Star hyped brand lol 😂
Hey Jetpens team, I think your subs are borked. They're appearing right at the beginning in a huge paragraph and then don't appear for the rest of the video. Think you may need to relook something...?
how is it 2023 and american notebooks are still the exact size of backpacks stabbing the zippers with the corners, yet schools are starting to enforce small-backpack rules. I already struggled with those metal spirals getting stuck in zippers when I was a kid.
Are Japanese notebooks really better? 🤔 Let us know what YOU think in the comments!
I find it quite interesting that a lot of Japanese notebooks with special features, especially certain bindings, are genuinely more disability-friendly than literally any American notebook I've ever seen. My sister is left-handed and has arthritis in her hands at 29; those squishy-ring notebooks would be far easier for her than the few good flip-top memo pads she has. I'm autistic and the majority of cheap American paper has a texture that genuinely makes me want to take sandpaper to my fingertips; Japanese paper is soothing to touch. They're luxury items, but they make life easier.
For me, if something makes my life easier, it is not a luxury. I also deserve to function well.
True! Wish there were ways that they could be more affordable to more people.
I can relate to that. I used to have a thing in school where I hated the feel of paper but yet I couldn’t avoid compulsively feeling it and scratching at it and coincidentally one of my teachers was the same way. Sometimes I think I’m “on the spectrum” and even took an online test that says I am.
I'm in my 60s now, but even in my 20s, I knew that life's too short to deal with junky stuff. I bought my own pens, Post-Its, and Liquid Paper for my job and my husband's job. The Liquid Paper especially. Where I worked, the agency had a contract for Wite-Out, which is THE worst correction fluid ever invented. It took 20 minutes to dry, and then you couldn't write over it. Liquid Paper dries in 2 minutes and you're back in business. Back in the day, it was 79 to 89 cents a bottle, and at back-to-school sales, it would be 2/$1. I'd buy 6, which was enough to get us thru the year. I'd rather spend the 50 cents across 3 months, than the 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. (I wasn't the best typist.)
Because they take education very very seriously.
I'm still using basic spiral notebooks I bought about 15 years ago at Office Max, during back-to-school sales. They were 1 cent each. I bought over 100.
I’ve bought a ton over the years for myself and for my kid for school, but they aren’t the same. There’s a real difference between quality paper and basic “American” notebooks.
I know... but at a penny each, compared to 89 cents or higher, I figured I couldn't lose. After I brought them home, my husband had a fit - not because I bought them, but because HE had just bought one for work, for $1.29. 😆
literally me! holy crap! im almost done with my composition books!
1 cent? 1 CENT? Bro what kinda sale is that fr
@UNKNOWN _ it was about 15 years ago during back to school sales in August. There was a limit of 3 per sale, but we had bought a laptop a few days earlier, then 2 of our friends bought the same laptop within 2 days (they liked ours), so the manager let me get what I wanted. I spent 45 minutes in line while the cashier rang them out, 3 at a time. I bought 102, for 34 "sales". As I said to a friend: I spent 45 minutes, but saved over $90. ($.89 regular cost × 102 - $1.02 = $89.72 + 7% sales tax= $96.00). I didn't earn $90 for 45 minutes work at my job, so I figured it was worth it. Once in a lifetime deal. Grabbed it and ran.
I use squishy-ring notebooks almost exclusively now because rings getting in the way was always driving me crazy!
I can relate to this. I've bought a whole lot of notebooks in the past that I didn't end up using. You really got to be smart with what you buy.
Japanese notebooks have turned me into a total paper snob, lol. They're way better for fountain pens, and those Kokuyo slide ring binders are the BEST! I wish I had those back in high school and college!
As a teacher, I love the whiteboard notebook. That helps me a lot helping students when walking around in the classroom.
Maruman septcouleur notebooks are my favourite since I was a middle school student. I love the texture of the paper and writing on it creates ASMR sounds ❤❤❤
I’m a Kokuyo Campus fan and the half-size ones are a GAME CHANGER!
japanese paper is really on another level !! i have kokuyo campus and midori md notebooks on the way right now
Um. That Jersey accent at 6:25 is awesome. You should do entire reviews in that voice.
The half size Kokuyo are on my wishlist, but we totally converted as a homeschool family to Japanese notebooks last year- better paper, better sizes, lightweight- all the things. Maruman for formula notebooks for Chemistry and Physics, Kokuyo Campus for subjects, planners/to do list notebooks- oh the meetings notebook is also on my wishlist. 😂
the flat notebooks and the half size are what always think that a good notebooks need to have omg I want those
I’ve completely converted to Midori MD. There’s no looking back. It’s a bittersweet feeling when you sort of get to ”the end”. At least I can focus on buying way more too many fountain pen inks!
I found Campus' binder system and paper when I visited Tokyo a few years back, love how well they work with my fountain pens! Was happy to find how easy they were to get a hold of and not that expensive here in the states
Just added most of these to my Jetpens wish list. Brilliant, all of them! Especially that white board one.
I'm starting college again this fall after about a 9 year hiatus. I might just be bougie and get some fancy notebooks for school, lol.
I’m most anxious to try the Kokuyo Soft Ring notebooks. I’ve been a fan of Kokuyo Campus notebooks for many years, and when I was taking a math class last year I finally tried the Kokuyo Campus Slide Binders. I wish I had discovered them earlier.
Half size notebooks sound amazing!
I have one of the Midori soft color notebooks-it’s so pretty! I have a Kokuyo Campus notebook, too, but not the one featured.
Laconic style notebooks look amazing!
I have the Kleid x Nakamura lay-flat notebook and I use it for cheat sheets for exams and its my favorite paper.
Given i am a total print nerd, but also love fountain pens and writing with them, i make my own notebooks. Bookbinding is a great hobby to tie my other interests together. If you don't need to go full craftsmen on your binding technique its easier than you might think. Just come up with a page design, have it printed for pennies at a copy shop and bind it yourself.
The only commercial Notebooks i use are Hardcover Oxford, since i love the paper.
I really like the stand one.
That Campus half notebook would’ve been awesome a few years ago when I went back to school. I have some of their regular size ones along with two different sizes of the Campus smart ring binders. My favorite is my A5 biz notebook using a combination of Sarasa 6mm rule and 5mm graph paper.
A few of these are really cool looking and I might have to try. Especially the whiteboard ones.
I have tried to go paperless with Rocketbook but just don’t like it. I also have a Kindle Scribe which is great for a lot of stuff but still doesn’t replace real pen and paper.
I’ve bought some pretty nice notebooks and paper here in the U.S., made in the U.S. from wood from our American forests (and they do our new seedling trees in their place), that makes paper in the U.S. lol.. It’s out there and not just at big box retail stores but at specialty shops, card stores, art supply stores, even at places that specializes in architect supplies. Some are inexpensive and some are pricey but they’re worth it if you like to do a lot of writing, drawing, take notes, even starting a junk journal. And there’s different kinds of sturdy spiral, from steel, hard plastic and bound with twine or even leather. I was surprised I did find some good notebooks at chain stores in their stationery section. I just say, paper is paper, it all does all the same work for us. 😊
I love the whiteboards one. They're so useful at work as my work priorities constantly change - I can erase n move without wasting paper. I can chart out process map or work on future projects. I goofingly forgot the pages themselves are whiteboards. I kept only using dividers. Ha!
I have a kokuyo soofa notebook and I love it! I would love to try the Midori +Stand notebooks.
(muttering to myself as i look at the box of notebooks i already need to use)
"I dont need another one, I dont need another one, I dont need another one...."
May the triune God bless you JP Team!
that half size notebook would work really well for note taking or making drawings to illustrate the theme you're writing on while using a laptop, saving the struggle of "they don't fit together" sounds perfect for online classes too
I need those half size and squishy-ring notebooks in my life. Thank you for all that you do.
Many people like dot-grid but I think cross grid is perhapsly the most underrated pagination. First seen of course in a Japanese Yamamoto Ro-Biki ;c)
I love my Gakken write white! Whiteboards are the only things that keep me organized but they can be hard to travel with. When I saw it for sale I bought one right away. I got the small one!
Loving the outtakes!
Those Kleid x Nakamura Flat Notebooks are totally going on my wishlist. 💫
I love my Midori soft color notebook. I have the green one. It’s beautiful to look and, I love to hold it, and it takes gel ink beautifully.
I wish the kokuyo soft ring came in a dot ruled version, not just graph 😩 great video
Midori Soft Color notebooks are what brought me to your site! I use them for writing letters, and I always get compliments from my pen pals on them~ It's also fun to send a few sheets to them to use themselves.
It’s like a tradition to watch these videos before going to school😂
thank you so much for making these wonderful videos
Background music is soothing. 🫶🏽
The midori soft colors look nice!
I am currently using the soft rings notebook, it's my go too for a couple of years now.
I want all of them. 🤩
My favorite Japanese notebooks are Midori, love the minimalist design and high quality paper.
Definitely want to try that black notebook, although I haven't tried any from this list
I want that Kokuyo half size!!
Even in the days before realizing my stationery addiction, I was drawn to notebooks, but those single spiral metal ringed ones drove me mad. Seems they always managed to somehow get out of shape, regardless of how careful I might've tried being with them.
Loved the Boston accent at the end! 🥰
I bought the campus half size notebooks thinking it would be easier for me to write notes without the keyboard getting in the way but I completely forgot that I write with the paper at an angle so it goes over the keyboard regardless. If they make it a ring binder notebook, especially a soft ring since I'm left-handed, I'll definitely get it.
What is the brand of the fountain pen with the nicely shaped nib you are using at 5:19 on the Midori Soft Color Notebooks, please? 🙏
6:34 I CAN'T 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
i wanna try the nakabayashi logical notebooks
These are cool…. But I need an 8.5 x 11 notebook for school. Any suggestions?
can you recommend books for practicing hangul? also love the black paper but I'm looking for one that also has crossgrid but that's a struggle
All very nice >>>>>> Thank you
"On today's episode of Why Japan Is Better"...
ya’ll gotta stop making such fantastic videos. imma have to put in yet another order! 😂
Wish I knew about these while I was in school
The back ground music really over powered this video. Please turn it down in the next one. Thank you.
Well anything touched by japanese craftsmanship is indeed instantly better due to alot of factors but for the obvious ones you only need to look towards their work ethics and their dedication to the craft which is often unmatch in most industry, but that doesn't mean their product will always become the best but you can be damn sure their quality is going to be top notch 90% of the time.
Are there any treeless notes books or paper? These all look so great. Wanted to know if there are eco friendly options.
Hi there! These Delfonics Rollbahn Notebooks have wood-free paper: www.jetpens.com/Delfonics-Rollbahn-Spiral-Notebooks/ct/6851
You might like our Eco-Friendly Notebooks and Stationery guide as well: www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Eco-Friendly-Notebooks-and-Stationery/pt/345
love it
Cool Japan.
Where to order?😢😢😢
I just got my steno-pad 1 day before this vid came up.
Does anyone know where I can find a squishy-ring version of a steno-pad?
What's the best notebook to check out to pratice writing Japanese?
kokuyo campus
BAJSJS THE BROOKLYN ACCENT TOOK ME OUT-
Where can i buy japanese notebooks in india at cheap rate
Stephanie you are precious
Does the paper feel different than American notebook?
Hi there! Yes, these notebooks have higher quality paper and thus feel different.
@@JetPensI bought some and it feels really smooth!. I really enjoy the texture! Compared to American notebooks! I also bought an 0.7 kokuyo mechanical pencil!
Can you tell me about the backpack?
That's a Doughnut Macaroon backpack! You can find out more by watching our video here: th-cam.com/video/8dFfFAnR4sw/w-d-xo.html
HI Steph!!!
I would really love to try the Kleid x Nakamura, but unfortunately your shipping to the UK is $50. :(
well not only Japanese notebooks, pens, pencils and all stationary in general is far superior to any others countries,
I don't even know why I watch these videos. I use an iPad for 99% of my coursework.
suggestion for loose leaf paper?
Kokuyo Sara Sara for smoothness. Comes in a variety of styles and prints :)
Can I order these??❤
I viewed the links to most of the notebooks, and seems like most of them a graph/grid paper only? What about lined paper?
Hi there! Here are some of our recommendations for ruled notebooks:
www.jetpens.com/Stalogy-016-Notebooks/ct/6486
www.jetpens.com/Maruman-Mnemosyne-Notebooks/ct/765?&f=256af6d408966623
www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Soft-Ring-Notebooks/ct/4946?&f=256af6d408966623_1961bcedbcb5993739171fb0a5b2ceef
www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Perpanep-Notebooks/ct/6280?&f=256af6d408966623
@@JetPens Thank you!
The link for the Kokuyo Soft Ring notebooks shows grid paper, but they also come in lined-both 6mm and 7mm. I use Kokuyo lined paper almost exclusively.
They’re good notebooks, but I just don’t have enough pages for my classes and I don’t want to buy notebooks throughout the year
Are japanese notebooks often available in A4?
Kokuyo offer A4 notebooks in their business and campus lines.
The campus come in A4 6mm (Blue/ B-Line) and 7mm (Pink/ A-line)
Though JIS B5 is the most common size you will done for most Japanese notebooks.
Would highly recommend campus. They can be found online or if you have daiso they are also there. :)
1Q84 Hell yeah
All I know is Five Star notebooks are pricey af with thin paper that can show on the back with bumps from ballpens with noticable shadowing of the ink.
Can find cheaper off brand notebooks with thicker mm pages thats for sure regardless of the country. So yes anything else is better than freaking Five Star hyped brand lol 😂
There is good paper even than these in India
50 rs for 100 pages classmate note
Hey Jetpens team, I think your subs are borked. They're appearing right at the beginning in a huge paragraph and then don't appear for the rest of the video. Think you may need to relook something...?
Thanks for letting us know! We checked the subtitles and they look fine on our end, so we're not sure what's wrong.
Japanese excel in the stationary world.
how is it 2023 and american notebooks are still the exact size of backpacks stabbing the zippers with the corners, yet schools are starting to enforce small-backpack rules. I already struggled with those metal spirals getting stuck in zippers when I was a kid.
❤❤❤
i mean they are pretty cool but are very expensive. 6 per notebook cmon here notebooks cost 1
Uhm… you sure that black paper notebook is Japanese… seems a bit “Français” to me…
can you give me free notebook lol