Jump to content

... KOKUYO Century Edition Record Book Review ...


Recommended Posts

This is a review of the KOKUYO 100TH RECORD BOOK - CENTURY EDITION

 

This is the 5mm grid variant .

(There is a lined variant)

 

This gridded variant comes in black , grey, and  orange.

The Soft cover comes in a clear plastic book sleeve.

DSCF9722.JPG.1ac54049071f14a0147447541ec08e83.JPG

 

 

very nice , textured cover paper

the texture recalls to mind the pattern like on the body of the PILOT JUSTUS fountain pen

this sample being reviewed is black

DSCF9727.JPG.ce7fbdc8a3a78b809b8127695fc0d3e6.JPG

 

 

The shopkeeper told me that this notebook was made to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of Kokuyo ?

DSCF9724.JPG.5b2bcbe16a943cd425bc0b6d179bc1f7.JPG

 

A5 size

DSCF9726.JPG.5c28fc893c2d66c3090d1397d46eeb10.JPG

 

and dimensions specified

DSCF9725.JPG.3f835bdbb4e41ebf4da2809acdd9db53.JPG

 

Here is the loose leaf jacket

DSCF9759.JPG.537a008f8530249940e0f81b38e1970c.JPG

 

DSCF9761.JPG.696b5144ece42f72a902f369e1266e57.JPG

 

DSCF9760.JPG.d9a0634ae927bbfab4e892b28c300a82.JPG

 

DSCF9762.JPG.99bfea28cbd1bb190b1a3ce5abb4f792.JPG

 

DSCF9763.JPG.dc197777dcc047e8227a47491a7527eb.JPG

 

DSCF9764.JPG.92eeb9f143e741b28bce1a759dcd600e.JPG

 

DSCF9765.JPG.46c77e3a88656f1a7541587d70444ce2.JPG

 

 

Back to the spine

DSCF9731.JPG.108d5a862ae6c7b7dfe50428d5e72924.JPG

 

DSCF9732.JPG.c00f7d3f0f4b02dfeb5a4eca613967c2.JPG

 

DSCF9733.JPG.5dbc147d30b03266fd6a3b432c775b2f.JPG

 

DSCF9734.JPG.c5eae97192c56fb67f788791bd62348c.JPG

 

I think this is the article number

DSCF9730.JPG.29dbb90041e06542657d8d023e2e5f12.JPG

 

 

The Book Block

The book block has this nice herringbone? pattern in black lines.

Very nicely done 👍

(This pic is of a orange cover variant)

This is the top of the notebook

DSCF9735.JPG.36d10e6d6b0f4e2a406af35461ab9dea.JPG

 

Long side of the notebook

DSCF9736.JPG.a806b7e28b1251a6055ca904dd4c5fc8.JPG

 

Bottom side ...

all the same pattern but extremely exacting in position and perfectly printed, ie no faded parts or unprinted patches

DSCF9737.JPG.39c5b65ce69234381695e427b2eb01ca.JPG

 

 

The Binding

The binding seems to be a 'perfect binding' , ie glued.

I couldn't find stitches.

as you would expect of Japanese workmanship, the binding is really very well done.

The book keeps its crisp form and shape, no deformity in any X , Y or Z axis.

There's a little of a 'gull wing' effect (not illustrated here) from this kind of glueing but even so, it is very well minimized because of the care and precision in binding.

DSCF9744.JPG.72018968a877f9073906f343dafd85ea.JPG

 

I cannibalized the notebook to craft an A6 journal.

(Sorry , I couldn't resist putting good paper into a nicer book.)

Here you see the cover ripped from the bookblock.

DSCF9755.JPG.cd114e67982d9ee0ecd31be8714e93f3.JPG

 

 

The Writing Paper

 

There are only 70 sheets in this notebook.

So this means 140 writing pages.

 

As specified on the loose jacket, the writing paper is

KOKUYO (high grade) CYO-BO paper , 100g , acid free.

This gridded version is in 5mm grids.

 

The grids are printed in medium or light grey tone , (not black) which is a good design because it doesn't distract your note taking.

Greys or blues are kinder on the eyes. And it doesn't compete with ink colours  should you decide to go psychedelic in your ink choices.

 

The grid is very very precisely printed.

Very impressive .

Look at how the grids end on each edge of the paper....

There is a consistent distance away from each edge of the writing page, including the spine edge !!!

This pic below is bottom right corner.

DSCF9740.JPG.140983f5640cfcaba5a6fde1fc771a38.JPG

 

 

Same spacing at top-right corner of page

DSCF9743.JPG.7898754c11a497d380ad1b75e16e8a2c.JPG

 

 

Between two pages

Pic of bottom of spine

DSCF9742.JPG.098c190cd4e4218e32b822e02197bfb9.JPG

 

 

The Ink Test

I carried out an ink test of sorts with some of the inks that I had .

Also tested with assorted ballpoint inks 

 

Very good paper.

NO bleedthru

NO feathering

 

The paper surface is smooth.

It is a real pleasure to write if you prefer smooth paper surfaces.

The paper does not have any 'tooth' , however slight, like as in Midori refill booklets.

 

Page 1 of 3

Black paper underlay

DSCF9738.JPG.3e81a2b0be3cb23236936362ff4e13d6.JPG

 

Backside of Page 1

white copier paper underlay

the shadow from the  assorted inks are insignificant. 👍

DSCF9746.JPG.471e59216b0e5edd3ecfdc409b9b9be1.JPG

 

Page 2

Black paper underlay

DSCF9739.JPG.a43ec9c8647d203a90929661789718e1.JPG

 

Page 3

which is also the backside of Page 2

DSCF9745.JPG.c32d24a75796a49584ecb7de7e6f0c75.JPG

 

whole view of page 3

DSCF9747.JPG.2c8de356203a7e26922425e47b284ad6.JPG

 

Very good notebook.

Opens flat and stays flat open (almost)

 

I paid SGD$20 for any 2 copies (sale price)

apparently the distributor set aside a certain number to be sold at a bargain as part of their anniversary promotion.

 

😊

 

 

 

... 671 crafted ... one at a time ... ☺️

instagram

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 9
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • TMLee

    6

  • mhguda

    2

  • amberleadavis

    1

  • awaking

    1

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

Thank you for this very detailed review!

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/1/2021 at 6:33 AM, amberleadavis said:

Thank you for this very detailed review!

 

welcome 🙂

... 671 crafted ... one at a time ... ☺️

instagram

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/29/2021 at 7:29 PM, TMLee said:

 

The Book Block

The book block has this nice herringbone? pattern in black lines.

Very nicely done 👍

(This pic is of a orange cover variant)

This is the top of the notebook

DSCF9735.JPG.36d10e6d6b0f4e2a406af35461ab9dea.JPG

 

 

 

 

I think I know why its patterned as such ...

Its like criss-cross - perhaps signifying grid paper inside.

 

The lined variant has parallel lines , and logically signifying lines inside.

 

They think of everything !

 

😊

 

 

... 671 crafted ... one at a time ... ☺️

instagram

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Great review, they look really nice! 

 

 

I might have to keep an eye out for them as I have been very keen on Kokuyo since arcfide's japanese paper review inspired a purchase.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

what did you make with the cannibalized notebook? I hope at least a book with more sheets/pages...70 sheets is never enough in my view!

It's a good thing though - I was sorely tempted to try and get one of those, and I don't even like grid or lined paper!

a fountain pen is physics in action... Proud member of the SuperPinks

fpn_1425200643__fpn_1425160066__super_pi

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/11/2021 at 8:30 PM, mhguda said:

what did you make with the cannibalized notebook? I hope at least a book with more sheets/pages...70 sheets is never enough in my view!

It's a good thing though - I was sorely tempted to try and get one of those, and I don't even like grid or lined paper!

 

 

Here you go ...

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/302808-homemade-journal-2016/?do=findComment&comment=4463547

 

😊

 

 

... 671 crafted ... one at a time ... ☺️

instagram

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yeah saw that one. I think you got punished for cannibalizing a good notebook... lost the nice herringbone paper edges...

the bookcloth does look good though, and your emboss/deboss is gorgeous with it.

a fountain pen is physics in action... Proud member of the SuperPinks

fpn_1425200643__fpn_1425160066__super_pi

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, mhguda said:

yeah saw that one. I think you got punished for cannibalizing a good notebook... lost the nice herringbone paper edges...

the bookcloth does look good though, and your emboss/deboss is gorgeous with it.

 

 

Haha ...

 

and yes, you would like this shade of bookcloth . its very close to the Indian Red bookcloth but not exactly the same shade.

 

Its very nice. 

... 671 crafted ... one at a time ... ☺️

instagram

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33474
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26573
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...