... Daiso Notebooks Review ...

TM, thanks for sharing, wonderful find... now I want me some of that paper... or better, one of those B5 white unlined notebooks... but alas, no DAISO in Curaçao... so only virtual enjoyment, so far. Enjoy yours!

October 21, 2016

Daiso is a store full of surprises. One of my favourite time killers is to pick up any product in Daiso and read the english translations of the instructions. Their paper products and stationery in general is amazing value. I have had a very good run with notebooks made in Indonesia and haven't seen the 'Apica' range as yet in Australia. I will keep an eye out for them. The branding on the rear is so Apica I would be stunned if these were not from the same factory.

Incredibly good review - thank you.

October 22, 2016

Yeah ...

They look so much like APICA ,

can someone find out if indeed it comes from the same factory ?

Its quite possible.

Factories do make for more than one client.

If yes, then yes , its GREAT value for money !!!

The APICA journals are not exactly affordably priced ....

October 22, 2016

Here is the review of the third journal booklet - the one with green covers.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5248_zpsd1yixo4t.jpg

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5250_zpsefavsfx4.jpg

40 pages only. 6mm ruled

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5249_zpsjzmsje3g.jpg

Backside label ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5251_zpsigdekk26.jpg

Forgot to take a pic of the inside.

This is already cut up, but you get the picture.

Its cream in colour the paper.

Lines are light grey

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5254_zpsuaen2oow.jpg

By halving the pages, I can make the 355 mini journal.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5255_zpsz4djmnnw.jpg

There are a total of 40 sheets.

so using 5 Folios per signature, 40 divided by 5 = 8 Signatures.

So i decided to use all 8 Signatures to stitch one journal.

So one booklet can yield 2 mini journals, each contain 8 x 5 x 4pages = 160 writing pages , not bad at all for a mini sized journal .

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5256_zps627r5c8b.jpg

How does it take ink ?

Excellently :thumbup:

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5257_zpstdhrk2mn.jpg

Closeup

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5260_zpsuqtjmo1d.jpg

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5261_zpsfkhqgr9y.jpg

Zero feathering

Zero bleedthrough

The backside of that page

white copier paper laid underneath to show the colour tinge

you can see shadow but pretty faint.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5262_zpswyk6mizw.jpg

Closeup

top half

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5264_zpsfa6wheo9.jpg

Cloesup

bottom half

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5265_zpse688fqky.jpg

A simple black sheet of paper underlay works wonders ...

distracting shadows completely eliminated ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5266_zpsptqkwmuy.jpg

The mini journal

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5269_zpshsrqckgg.jpg

Used dental floss , doubled over to get a bit more body ...

8 Signatures instead of my usual 7.

Stitching with dental floss doubled over is kind of challenging.

They tangle easily even tho they are waxed, becos they are so fine.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5279_zpswoxxdg9q.jpg

This green cover booklet is of the same excellent quality as the other two.

Perfectly ink friendly.

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5252_zpsceuqihqn.jpg

I would think 3 of these DAISO booklets is equivalent to one APICA booklet in terms of cost.

So its a great bargain.

To me this is a great find, becos :

1) its THIN but thicker than TOMOE RIVER paper .

This has a little more heft , easier to handle.

2) less shadows or show-through compared to TOMOE RIVER paper.

3) Doesn't crease so easily like TR paper.

If you see them in DAISO, don't hesitate.

Edited October 22, 2016 by TMLee

October 23, 2016

Thanks, great review. I'm a big fan of Daiso and am currently using one of the kraft paper covered ones and they are very good.

Haven't seen the "Apica look" ones but will be keeping an eye out. Yep, I really need more paper and notebooks. Sure.

October 23, 2016

Thanks, great review. I'm a big fan of Daiso and am currently using one of the kraft paper covered ones and they are very good.
Haven't seen the "Apica look" ones but will be keeping an eye out. Yep, I really need more paper and notebooks. Sure.

Thanks , yes, the Kraft covered ones are also pretty decent.

The paper is thinner than the coloured covers type , I reckon about 70g , and white .

They perform very well with well-behaved inks.

Will do a review here soon too.

November 30, 2016

I picked up a few Artesan brand notebooks from Daiso. It's not coated as far as I can tell but the paper is decently smooth and quite thick. No bleed through but there is slight feathering, especially if it's a wet medium.

November 30, 2016

If you find a ripper buy at Daiso stock up as they do change paper grades from time to time. Generally I have had a fantastic run with Daiso and use their loose leaf every day. Same with Muji paper products. Daiso is very inexpensive so I tend to take a risk if I like the look of a product there. Rarely have I been disappointed.

December 1, 2016

wow i never thought the paper quality can be that good... when i go to daiso i will buy a lot notebook

January 18, 2017

Note: If you are buying notebooks branded Kraft A4, it's going to be a one sided writing experience. There is quite significant bleed through, especially if you have a wet medium. Artesan branded A4 notebooks have the same problem, but the bleed through is still tolerable.

January 18, 2017

Artesan branded A4 notebooks have the same problem, but the bleed through is still tolerable.

Interesting. They must have different versions, because I've used the Artesan A4 ones for work for a few years and I've had little if any bleedthrough. I use wet M pens and saturated inks

January 20, 2017

Note: If you are buying notebooks branded Kraft A4, it's going to be a one sided writing experience. There is quite significant bleed through, especially if you have a wet medium. Artesan branded A4 notebooks have the same problem, but the bleed through is still tolerable.

Yes you are correct.

The paper in the Kraft paper covered notebooks are slightly thinner.

Aside from the shadow/showthru which is expected from thinner paper,

I did observe there is some bleedthru with some inks.

In particular, HERBIN Orange Indien,

I am more convinced the coloured notebooks so far are the best performing ...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o704/tmleem4/JOURNALS/2016/THE%20355%20MINI%20Journals/4%20GEMATEX%20-%20Orange/DSCF5252_zpsceuqihqn.jpg

April 4, 2017

Another Daiso notebook (100 pages, small size) found in Cupertino, California store. It has dot-grid pages, not lined. Makes it easy to write in either direction. A Daiso fountain pen fits in the binding rings perfectly.

April 6, 2017

Those are dead ringers for Apica made notebooks, any confirmations that these are indeed made in the same factory?

April 14, 2017

Those are dead ringers for Apica made notebooks, any confirmations that these are indeed made in the same factory?

The style of the Apica notebooks is quite similar, but this is because the style itself with the filigree-border and vintage font is generic for vintage (and modern look-alike) Japanese notebooks. With other words, it's not just Apica that uses this style.

For-example, here is the Tsubame vintage style Japanese notebook from Nanami Paper, read the description:

http://www.nanamipaper.com/products/tsubame-japanese-college-composition-notebooks.html

Edited April 14, 2017 by Drone

October 11, 2017

Another DAISO notebook find that may be worth your attention.

These are A6 in size.

They bear a striking resemblance to APICA notebooks.

I found three variants and bought all three kinds.

Square gridded, ruled and blank.

Rear

Specs & details

Made in Japan

The notebooks are held together by book tape.

Its actually two notebooks , attached together.

Each notebook contains 13 Folios.

13 Folios x 2 leaves each = 26 leaves

26 leaves x 2 notebks = 52 leaves

Each leave has 2 sides,

so 52 x 2 sides (pages) = 104 writing pages

The grid is at 5mm square

Light grey lines

The notebooks are stitched.

Not stapled.

The stations are at exactly 1cm intervals.

Next comes my usual ink and watercolour test

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