Yamamoto Paper has been a fun entrant into the stationery world over the past few years. CEO Taizo Yamamoto has transformed what was once a traditional, family-owned, paper wholesaler in Osaka, Japan, into a fun and functional stationery manufacturer with a wide range of retail products available.
I first met Taizo when he brought his Paper Tasting sampler to the San Francisco Pen Show in 2017. Listening to him talk about how important finding the right paper for every user is was eye opening, but not quite as eye opening as all of the paper he brought that I had never seen, much less experienced, before.
Shortly after my introduction to the loose sheet wonder that Paper Tasting is, Yamamoto Paper launched a bound notebook called the Ro-Biki Notebook. Two things set this notebook apart: The wax coated paper cover, and the dimensions.
We have reviewed the Ro-Biki notebook before (twice, in fact) and they have proven to surprise and delight even the biggest skeptics of the format. It is a tall, skinny notebook that makes you wonder “What am I going to do with this thing?” right up until the point you get it in your hands, feel the cover and watch it wear, and handle every pen, pencil, and ink you throw at it with ease. They are truly excellent notebooks.
Needless to say, I am a fan of the company and the product. And, when I first saw pictures of their new Ro-Biki Notebook Covers I knew I had to get it.
Seeing it in pictures I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it has a lot going on in what seems like a simple cover. First off, it folds open in the middle, allowing you to slide the notebook cover into a side pocket, book cover style. You can fit multiple A5 slim notebooks into the middle section (including Traveler’s Notebooks.)
The front cover doubles as a zip pouch, allowing you to stash pens, pencils, and accessories along with you. It can hold quite a lot, but I wouldn’t overstuff it you write on the back side of the notebook pages, as those will lay on top of the uneven surface of the pouch when writing.
The exterior cover is what I haven’t quite figured out yet. The back of the cover has a built-in full-width pocket than runs approximately 2/3 of the depth of the case. The front features the same, but it is split vertically in a 1/4, 3/4 fashion. The 1/4 side it a perfect pen pocket, but there is already a pen pouch included. And I’m not sure what accessories, notebooks, or loose sheets I would trust to the wider openings on the front and back.
There is an elastic book band that helps keep it all in check, but I’m not sure how useful it is. It does look great, making it more form over function for me. And I’m not sure why this color is called Gray - it’s definitely more of a Khaki to me.
This is a highly specific cover for a highly specific notebook, both of which I can get behind. If you are a fan of the brand, like I am, then you will enjoy the full Ro-Biki Note setup that this product offers.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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