Kokuyo Campus Semi B5 And Apica 6A-10 Basic: Practically Identical Notebooks!

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Backstory: I was visiting a friend in Boston a few weeks ago and we were going through his collection of pen, ink, and notebooks. He's a super generous pal and let me take a couple of notebooks home to try out, as I'm pretty new to the whole fountain pen world. I got to really love the Kokuyo Campus Semi B5 size notebook– such a good size! Nice paper that isn't toooo slick for note taking in class! And I could totally get one of those Kokuyo notebook covers for it and just be super cool and prepared for ANYTHING. Yeah.

 

Buuuuut then I went on Jetpens and loaded up my cart with more Campus notebooks as well as the cover plus a few other fun things, and was less than impressed with the shipping rates to Canada. It's free to the U.S. for orders over $25, but I was to be charged $49 shipping on a $88 order? Um, no thank you.

 

I was pretty determined to find a way around that shipping charge, but amazon.ca and other online retailers didn't yield great results. All hope was lost… UNTIL TUESDAY. That morning, I was at a local stationer and absentmindedly browsing the selection of Apica notebooks, and picked up the 6A-10 Basic notebook. 100 pages! Semi B5 size! Paper that looked almost identical to Kokuyo Campus, with the ruling etc! Something had to be up.

 

So, I bought the Apica notebook, and here's my official comparison between the two: they are the SAME except with different covers, table of contents, and Apica's paper is off-white compared to Kokuyo's white. I'm inclined to think that it's recycled paper from the "100" and arrow thing on the back of the notebook.

 

Pictures! My apologies that they aren't the greatest, but I figured that iPhone photos are good enough for the purposes of this post.

 

 

It looks like they have the same paper manufacturer? Or parent company? Makes sense, now.

 

 

Paper colour comparison (Apica on top)

 

 

Table of Contents (Apica on left)

 

 

Writing sample on Apica with different pens and inks

 

 

Writing sample on Kokuyo Campus with different pens and inks

 

 

I didn't find any difference in the writing experience. Both papers caused some feathering to the flex writing, but that's no surprise. I highly doubt I'd be doing any of that while taking notes, anyhow!

 

So, what does this mean? For those living in the U.S. or where both brands are readily available without exorbitant shipping costs, it's probably not a big deal. If you're in a situation like me, though, maybe this helped! I am such a big fan of the B5 size for notebooks, since I find the width of A4 size notebooks difficult to quickly scan across when I'm reviewing notes. These notebooks are both 100 pages, 6mm rule. A little hint for students: I actually went back and counted how many pages I ended up using in my last few notebooks, and it was always 70-80 per course. No need for 200 page notebooks, anymore, since I can get away with 100pg and not have extra paper at the end! Yayyy.

 

I might still order that Kokuyo Semi B5 Refillable Notebook Cover from Jetpens, and the shipping will be a liiiittle better if that's all I get, but at least I know I can get my Apica refills right here in town

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Oh, and the back of the pages (Apica on top):

 

[WaskiSquirrel]

I like Apica and Kokuyo notebooks quite a lot. I don't know if they have the same paper source, but I also noticed the similarities. I've settled on Kokuyo but would be perfectly happy using Apica. One fun thing with Apica is that they do have some more expensive notebooks, if you're into that kind of thing.

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I like Apica and Kokuyo notebooks quite a lot. I don't know if they have the same paper source, but I also noticed the similarities. I've settled on Kokuyo but would be perfectly happy using Apica. One fun thing with Apica is that they do have some more expensive notebooks, if you're into that kind of thing.

I'm dying to try more Kokuyo but it's just that darned shipping. Are you referring to the premium CD series? Those are soooo great, or at least the paper feels lovely every time I go to my local B&M stationery to stroke the pages (not creepy at all).

[napalm]

I have a CD premium and I don't love it.

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I have a CD premium and I don't love it.

 

May I ask why? I'd like to know so I don't end up making a reckless purchase!

[napalm]

It's a muddy off white and the paper has spots here and there that are absorbent (so you'll get occasional feathering / blotting). It is very smooth though. If you like Japanese paper I would recommend the Tsubame notebooks instead, the paper has a better defined color (a clean cream) and of consistent quality with better resistance to feathering / bleeding. It also has a watermark pattern, and is less smooth (it's not rough, it just gives you more tactile feedback).

 

Here's how they look like: http://www.mymaido.com/273-tsubame-notebooks

Edited July 25, 2014 by napalm

[EclecticCollector]

Two other Japanese paper notebooks that I like are the Midori MD notebooks (a bit of texture and fast drying without any feathering or bleed-through, even when vintage flex writing) and the Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks (very smooth and less absorbent, allowing for some nice shading).

[inkypete]

Interested to read the ridiculous shipping charges by Jetpens to Canada - same here downunder. Would love to buy from Jetpens but their shipping to Australia is overly expensive too.

[de_pen_dent]

I use a lot of Apica notebooks - the very same 6A10 as yours - for my work, and am a big fan. Inexpensive and really good paper for using both sides.

 

Based on the photos you posted, the Apica paper is actually better than the Kokuyo, btw - less show-through. One reason why i am a big fan. Only Clairefontaine, and to a somewhat lesser extent, Rhodia, are as good in this area.

Edited July 26, 2014 by de_pen_dent

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It's a muddy off white and the paper has spots here and there that are absorbent (so you'll get occasional feathering / blotting). It is very smooth though. If you like Japanese paper I would recommend the Tsubame notebooks instead, the paper has a better defined color (a clean cream) and of consistent quality with better resistance to feathering / bleeding. It also has a watermark pattern, and is less smooth (it's not rough, it just gives you more tactile feedback).

 

Here's how they look like: http://www.mymaido.com/273-tsubame-notebooks

 

Ugh, not a fan of that inconsistency. Thanks for the feedback about that. I'll look into those! Ooooh, they have a 100-page B5.

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Two other Japanese paper notebooks that I like are the Midori MD notebooks (a bit of texture and fast drying without any feathering or bleed-through, even when vintage flex writing) and the Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks (very smooth and less absorbent, allowing for some nice shading).

 

I'll look into those! So many notebooks, so little time (actually, that's a lie; I take a lot of notes for classes or research or reading or whatever, so I know that no notebook I purchase will go unused).

 

Interested to read the ridiculous shipping charges by Jetpens to Canada - same here downunder. Would love to buy from Jetpens but their shipping to Australia is overly expensive too.

 

I feel for you. It's so frustrating! Jetpens has such an expansive selection of products that I should really just block them from my computer so I don't get sad about this again.

 

I use a lot of Apica notebooks - the very same 6A10 as yours - for my work, and am a big fan. Inexpensive and really good paper for using both sides.

 

Based on the photos you posted, the Apica paper is actually better than the Kokuyo, btw - less show-through. One reason why i am a big fan. Only Clairefontaine, and to a somewhat lesser extent, Rhodia, are as good in this area.

 

NIce! I didn't comment on how much better the Apica paper was on show-through, but that was SUPER impressive. Especially for how thin/light-weight the paper feels. My biggest annoyance in my pre-FP life was rollerball ink showing through cheap paper, so I'd consider that one of my most heavily weighted criteria.

 

If only Rhodia made B5 dot notebooks…

[debraji]

I've used the Apica 6A10 (from Goulet Pen Co.) with the Kokuyo Systemic refillable cover (from JetPens) for several months now, and it's a great combination. I love the B5 size, and the paper lets my extra-fine nibs write crisp strokes. No bleedthrough, not even from stubs or wider nibs.

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If Jetpens' shipping to Canada wasn't so ridiculous, I would be using the same system! The 6A-10 is wonderful.

[debraji]

Alas, Goulet pens has sold out of the Apica 6A-10 and I believe they won't be restocking that size. I'm not a happy camper.

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Nooooo, that's a real bummer! I'm lucky that there's a B&M in town that sells them.

[debraji]

Caitlin from Goulet Pens informs me that the manufacturer has discontinued the 6A-10.

[Ambien]

Japanese notebooks tend to have nice smooth paper including off-brand notebooks. Yes, even a $2.00 is FP-friendly. I don't know if the exact manufacturers are the same.

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Caitlin from Goulet Pens informs me that the manufacturer has discontinued the 6A-10.

WHAAAAT. NO. NOT FAIR. will be buying every one I can from my local B&M tomorrow, then. What a shame!

[legitimate3]

I bought 10 of the semi-b5 Kokuyo notebooks for notes and journaling. I am very happy with them so far. I think I'll get an Apica notebook so I can compare sometime in the future.