Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5 Blank
The Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5 Blank provides 176 unruled pages for writing, drawing and developing ideas without a predefined layout. Its soft white MD PAPER Cotton contains 20% cotton pulp, creating a smooth, airy surface that gives handwriting depth and helps fountain pen inks, coloured pencils and drawing pens retain their individual character.
It is an excellent choice for illustrators, fountain pen users, students and journal writers who want one Japanese notebook for sketches, mind maps, personal notes and creative planning. The A5 format is easy to carry, while the open notebook creates an A4-sized spread that can be used as one continuous canvas.
MD PAPER Cotton performance
MD PAPER Cotton combines conventional pulp with 20% cotton pulp. Its fibres contribute to a soft texture and durable feel, while the natural white tone allows ink and pencil colours to stand out clearly. It has a noticeably different character from standard cream MD PAPER and is intended for users who enjoy feeling the contact between the nib, pencil or pen and the page.
The paper is fountain pen friendly and designed to manage ink cleanly, although drying time and the final result will always depend on the chosen ink, nib width and flow. Its blank surface also works well with pencils, mechanical pencils, ballpoints, fineliners and light drawing techniques.
Thread binding and flat opening
The notebook uses durable thread-stitched binding so that it can open fully to 180 degrees from the first page to the last. It remains comfortably flat while you write or draw, making it easier to work across the centre fold. The exposed mesh along the spine is an intentional part of the minimal construction and gives the notebook the flexibility required for this flat opening.
Instead of a conventional outer cover, the notebook is wrapped in glassine paper inspired by the dust jackets of old books. Keep it in place to help protect the white covers from marks or remove it for a simpler appearance. A bookmark string and coordinating index stickers are also included for organising and personalising the notebook.
Creative use and compatible covers
The completely blank pages can move naturally between handwriting, illustration, lettering, diagrams and visual journaling. For additional protection, pair it with the MD Notebook A5 goat leather cover or the Midori paper cover for MD Notebook A5.
Package contents
Contents: one Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5 with 176 blank pages.
Included accessories: bookmark string, label and bookplate-style index stickers, and a protective glassine paper wrapper.
(Product photographs are for guidance and minor differences from the original item may occur.)
Technical specifications
Format: A5.
Dimensions: 210 × 148 × 10 mm.
Number of pages: 176.
Layout: blank and unruled.
Paper: soft white MD PAPER Cotton.
Paper composition: contains 20% cotton pulp.
Paper weight: 75 g/m².
Binding: thread stitched.
Opening: lies flat at 180 degrees.
Outer protection: glassine paper wrapper.
Approximate weight: 240 g.
Country of origin: Japan.
Frequently asked questions
Is MD PAPER Cotton suitable for fountain pens?
Yes. It is designed to provide a pleasant fountain pen writing experience and to display ink colours clearly. Drying time and performance may vary with the ink, nib width and flow.
Are all 176 pages completely blank?
Yes. There are no lines, dots or grid ruling, leaving the entire page available for handwriting, sketching, lettering and creative layouts.
How does Cotton differ from standard cream MD PAPER?
MD PAPER Cotton is soft white, weighs 75 g/m² and contains 20% cotton pulp. It has a more airy texture and is especially suited to expressive writing and drawing.
Does the notebook remain flat while in use?
Yes. Its thread-stitched construction allows a full 180-degree opening, making both single-page work and continuous double-page compositions comfortable.
Can it be used with MD Notebook A5 covers?
Yes. Its dimensions match the standard MD Notebook A5 format and it accepts the dedicated A5 covers sold separately.
Brand history and philosophy
MD PAPER originated in the 1960s through the development of writing paper focused on the sensory pleasure of putting pen to page. MD PAPER Cotton followed in 2013, combining 20% cotton pulp with the brand’s paper-making experience to achieve a soft, durable texture created for expressive writing and drawing.
MD PRODUCT sees handwriting as a purposeful pause: a moment to arrange thoughts, observe and reconnect with personal ideas. The brand calls this space Yohaku. By removing unnecessary decoration from the notebook, its design gives greater presence to the paper, the writing instrument and the person using them.
“A quiet white page and the gentle touch of cotton give every idea room to become visible.”
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