SAKAE TP Tomoe River FP Notebook A5 Plain 64 Pages
The SAKAE TP Tomoe River FP Notebook A5 Plain 64 Pages is a lightweight way to experience Japanese Tomoe River FP paper. It combines 64 white Sanzen-made pages, a kraft-paper cover and distinctive wine-red centre stitching. Its portable A5 format is well suited to fountain-pen writing, journaling, ink testing, calligraphy and quick sketches.
Unruled pages for flexible writing
The completely blank pages leave handwriting, diagrams, illustrations and ink samples free from a printed ruling. A5 provides a comfortable writing area while remaining easy to carry. With only 64 pages and exceptionally thin paper, the notebook fits neatly inside a folder, case or bag without the bulk of a larger journal.
At Inktraveler, we find this compact format particularly useful as an introduction to Tomoe River FP and as a separate notebook for short projects, travel notes, handwriting practice or an individual ink collection.
52 gsm Tomoe River FP paper by Sanzen
The white interior paper is produced by Sanzen and has a weight of 52 gsm. FP stands for Fountain Pen, reflecting the purpose of this paper range. Its smooth surface supports clean lines and helps reveal ink colour, shading and other subtle characteristics that may be less noticeable on more absorbent papers.
The low paper weight keeps the notebook slim and light. Some writing may remain visible from the reverse side because the sheets are exceptionally thin. This show-through is a natural characteristic of ultra-light paper and is not automatically the same as bleed-through, which will depend on the ink, nib width, flow and amount of liquid applied.
Kraft cover and wine-red stitching
A simple kraft-paper cover gives the notebook a natural texture while keeping unnecessary weight to a minimum. The pages are centre stitched by machine with wine-red thread, the colour selected by SAKAE TP for the plain edition. The exposed outer thread is lightly secured with adhesive to help prevent it from loosening during use.
This construction allows the notebook to open comfortably without the extra weight of a heavier binding. The wine-red thread also provides a practical visual distinction from the related dot-grid edition, which uses navy stitching.
Contents and presentation
The package contains one SAKAE TP Tomoe River FP A5 notebook with 64 plain white pages. Its slim profile makes it useful as a standalone notebook, a companion to a planner or a dedicated record for one project, subject or ink. (Photographs are for reference; the tone of the kraft paper and minor visual details may vary slightly from the product received.)
Technical specifications
Brand: SAKAE TP.
Range: Tomoe River FP.
Product type: plain notebook.
Size: A5.
Dimensions: 148 × 210 mm.
Paper: Tomoe River FP produced by Sanzen.
Paper weight: 52 gsm.
Paper colour: white.
Ruling: plain and unprinted.
Page count: 64 pages.
Cover: kraft paper.
Binding: machine centre stitching with wine-red thread.
Product reference: SRS-A5M-MW.
JAN and EAN-13: 4909171855500.
Country of origin: Japan.
Brand history and philosophy
SAKAE Technical Paper is a Japanese company specialising in writing papers and carefully developed stationery formats. Tomoe River built an international following among fountain-pen users by combining an unusually low paper weight with a surface that presents ink clearly without requiring a thick or heavy notebook.
In 2021, TOMOEGAWA transferred the continuation of Tomoe River production and the related rights to Sanzen Paper Manufacturing. SAKAE TP now uses Sanzen-made Tomoe River paper across its current notebooks and writing products. This 64-page edition simplifies the cover and page count, creating a practical format for discovering the paper or assigning a slim notebook to a specific everyday purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Is this notebook suitable for fountain pens? Yes. Tomoe River FP paper is intended for fountain-pen writing and for observing ink behaviour. Results will still vary according to the ink, nib width and flow.
Is the paper white or cream? This specific reference contains white paper, providing a neutral background for viewing ink colours and tonal variation.
Does visible show-through mean that the ink has bled through? Not necessarily. Because the sheets are exceptionally thin, writing may be visible from the reverse side without actual bleed-through.
How does it differ from the dot-grid version? This model has completely unruled pages and wine-red stitching. The dot-grid edition uses a 5 mm pattern and navy thread.
“A blank page gives every idea the freedom to find its own form.”
