Kokuyo Campus: Original Vs. International

[zuerincolour]

I've searched the forums and this topic hasn't come up so I guess I will talk a bit about it. Since Kokuyo Campus notebooks are known to be fountain pen friendly, I would like to point out the differences between the original Campus books versus the Kokuyo International Campus books.

 

Kokuyo International is marketed as being designed and manufactured for the Chinese market whilst Kokuyo is the, well, the original Japanese version.

 

Here are two Campus A notebooks, the left being Kokuyo and right being Kokuyo International. (Please ignore my silly Pokemon sticker, haha)

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/243qfxc.jpg

 

Although they are both branded 'Kokuyo', the paper quality is a bit different. The original Kokuyo Campus notebook (top) works well with fountain pens (as we know) and has the slightest ghosting on the other side of a page, otherwise, very smooth. Ghosting is more apparent with the Kokuyo International Campus Notebook (bottom) and the ink feathers. There is also a little bleedthrough on the other side. I've used dry inks in the international version so I imagine that it wouldn't hold up well to wet inks.

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/2ljsw2e.jpg

 

 

 

http://i62.tinypic.com/11uvn9v.jpg

 

This is just a simple comparison in case any of you go travelling (especially to Asia) and stumble across both versions of this notebook.

[Seele]

Interesting: as I cannot see the fine details in your comparison picture it gets me wondering: is the Japanese original version made in Japan and the international version made in China?

[zuerincolour]

Interesting: as I cannot see the fine details in your comparison picture it gets me wondering: is the Japanese original version made in Japan and the international version made in China?

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/97p6ib.jpg

 

Both of them are say they are made in Japan, but you never know with the Chinese version. I did buy the Japanese version from Japan though.

Edited March 5, 2014 by joeccentric

[inkypete]

Thanks for the heads up. Disappopinting to see a good brand compromise their quality.

[zuerincolour]

Thanks for the heads up. Disappopinting to see a good brand compromise their quality.

 

No problem. Though you mostly see the original version being sold and Kokuyo's reputation is still top notch.

[Plume145]

Thanks for this! I had no idea. I've only ever seen the japanese version around the web, and back when I could still get these here (Greece) it was the Japanese version - same cover, same paper - even though Greece is not an FP-using country at all. But it's entirely possible I would have picked up the Chinese version at some point by accident if I hadn't known about it

[zuerincolour]

Thanks for this! I had no idea. I've only ever seen the japanese version around the web, and back when I could still get these here (Greece) it was the Japanese version - same cover, same paper - even though Greece is not an FP-using country at all. But it's entirely possible I would have picked up the Chinese version at some point by accident if I hadn't known about it

No problem. I only realised they had an international version when I was travelling around Asia, so I did some research. Glad it could be of help!

[Plume145]

At least they're very distinct - it's pretty easy to tell which one you're looking at.

[zuerincolour]

Yup! Oh, and I don't know if you can see, but on the bottom right corner of the international version, it says 'kokuyo' then has 'international' underneath so it's definitely identifiable from the original.

[Plume145]

*squints* oh yeah, that's true! good tip

[Drone]

These are either made by a Kokuyo-acquired Chinese company like Shanghai-based Hotrock Stationery Co. (Gambol paper products brand); or made in India by a Kokuyo-acquired company like New-Delhi based Camlin (Camel brands).

 

I think it is a huge mistake to tarnish the stellar quality and reputation of the Kokuyo-Japan brand like this. For years I have been loyal to the Japanese-made Kokuyo brand papers, some of which are the most fountain pen-friendly, yet affordable paper products available here in Jakarta.

 

The Kokuyo-India site has Campus brand notebooks and refills that look pretty much like the original.

 

http://www.kokuyo.co.in/site/product_detail/Refill+for+Binder+Notebook

 

Now I don't know what to trust from Kokuyo.

 

Some links:

 

* Kokuyo Co. is to acquire the notebook business of Chinese manufacturer Hotrock Stationery Co.

 

http://www.is-guide.com/news/kokuyo_makes_new_acquisition-8151.aspx

 

* Kokuyo completes acquisition of 50.74% stake in Camlin

 

http://zeenews.india.com/business/companies/kokuyo-completes-acquisition-of-50-74-stake-in-camlin_32609.html

 

* Here's a FPN thread on a poorly performing Kokuyo-Gambol brand notebook:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/281981-kokuyo-notebook-review-gambol-5-subjects/?view=getnewpost

Edited January 6, 2015 by Drone

[Wendell]

Even within Japan, you should check products before you buy. I have some Kokuyo Campus notebooks I bought in Tokyo 20 years ago. They have faintly better quality paper than ones I bought in Tokyo just recently. I had assumed the different quality was due to sending paper production offshore, but I never investigated it.

[a1abhi]

Nice information, thank you for sharing it.

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[athenian]

Thanks for this! I had no idea. I've only ever seen the japanese version around the web, and back when I could still get these here (Greece) it was the Japanese version - same cover, same paper - even though Greece is not an FP-using country at all. But it's entirely possible I would have picked up the Chinese version at some point by accident if I hadn't known about it

p

Where did you get them in Greece?

[minddance]

In China, there are many absolutely crappy versions of Campus notebooks and looseleaf papers. Only 1 type makes keeps a right line and takes alot of ink, perfect behaviour.

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

Invaluable information for me since I've been considering buying Kokuyo Campus for a while now and had no idea about this difference. Thank you truly for the head's up!

I'll pay extra attention and make sure to buy the Japanese version. No need wasting my money since I only use fountain pens for writing.