With my old-stock Tomoe River paper dwindling, I'm beginning to worry

[feralist]

Not to rehash the most over-discussed issue of our hobby's time, but I'm starting to worry that nothing out there is ever going to give me the same set of features that Tomoe River 7 so reliably provided. I've spent months collecting and experimenting with different kinds of FP paper in preparation of my old stock drying up, and I've yet to be satisfied in a way that gives me the confidence to invest in a new paper brand.

 

I will say, when you find a good batch, Sanzen's TR paper gets me about 90% of the way there. Problem is, as you might know, the lack of consistency with their paper makes purchasing a roll of the dice. Just take a look at Hobonichi's 2025 planners.

 

I guess I don't necessarily have a question to posit here, maybe more of a paper therapy session with those like-minded individuals who might be able to relate. A part of me assumes that at some point either Sanzen will get their quality under control, or another paper maker will come along and collectively blow us all away with a brand new product.

 

If you're like me, how have you dealt with the situation? I've got one brand new Nanami Crossfield with TR7, and I'm irrationally dreading it might be my last fully enjoyable writing experience for a while.

[Penguincollector]

  Sometimes Yamamoto-san finds caches of TR 52 machine 7. It might actually be worth corresponding with him to see if there’s a current paper that he recommends. I did that when I ran out of NFC 35 and he recommended Glassine. Sometimes, you can find people destashing on eBay or etsy, or locally. Keep an eye open. I really like Cosmo Air Snow and Light, even though they are also on the way out. 

[Claes]

May I recommend Iroful?

 

Have fun!
Claes in Lund, Sweden

 

[feralist]

  On 3/15/2025 at 6:36 PM, Penguincollector said:

  Sometimes Yamamoto-san finds caches of TR 52 machine 7. It might actually be worth corresponding with him to see if there’s a current paper that he recommends. I did that when I ran out of NFC 35 and he recommended Glassine. Sometimes, you can find people destashing on eBay or etsy, or locally. Keep an eye open. I really like Cosmo Air Snow and Light, even though they are also on the way out. 

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Funny you bring up the de-stashing. I've come across a few listings where I show up 1-3 weeks late! Will keep an eye out. I do find that CAL and CAS broaden my lines, but otherwise they do perform quite well!

 

  On 3/15/2025 at 6:38 PM, Claes said:

May I recommend Iroful?

 

Have fun!
Claes in Lund, Sweden

 

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Thanks! Iroful can handle pretty much any ink I throw at it. But it does broaden my lines like Cosmo Air Light. I wonder why that happens.

[lamarax]

May I suggest Graphilo? It may not be of the same exact type as OG Tomoe River, but then neither Iroful (nor for that matter, CAL) is. Well, nothing is, really.

 

A couple of other nice fountain pen friendly papers that I discovered on my quest for substituting TR (although tbh, I've stashed tons upon tons of it) are "new Chiffon cream", which Yamamoto-san uses in his own branded "Ro-biki" notebooks, and Nakabayashi Yu-sari, which feels akin to hmm... Rhodia maybe(?), but better 😛

 

To a whole different category would fall Takasago Premium and its lighter sibling Mitsubishi "bank paper", but those are another story* (like Glassine is, imo) 🙂

 

 

 

*what I'd call 'parchment-like'

[Lithium466]

Graphilo has a rougher texture than TR, it's thicker too. Yu-Sari tends to broaden the lines and well, there's always Clairefontaine Smart print and the Kokuyo thin paper!

[lamarax]

  On 3/15/2025 at 10:53 PM, Lithium466 said:

Graphilo has a rougher texture than TR, it's thicker too.

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Yes, it feels more like Midori MD. Very pleasant (to me). But it's unbeatable in showing sheen and shading among all the papers I've known, plus no line broadening whatsoever! It will show the true width of a nib.

[feralist]

  On 3/15/2025 at 8:24 PM, lamarax said:

May I suggest Graphilo? It may not be of the same exact type as OG Tomoe River, but then neither Iroful (nor for that matter, CAL) is. Well, nothing is, really.

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I do like Graphilo a lot, I'm just frustrated by the lack of options out there for that kind of paper. If there was a big ol' Crossfield-adjacent Graphilo notebook out there, I'd be all over it

[CSSD]

Another vote for Clairefontaine !!

 

Way Way back when I bought my first Real Fountain Pen, a pal then said,  "now you need some Real Paper:  Clairefontaine."

 

I've tried a few other brands over the years, and they are plenty nice, but Clairefontaine has remained my most favorite brand.

.

[dbs]

  On 3/15/2025 at 6:19 PM, feralist said:

 but I'm starting to worry that nothing out there is ever going to give me the same set of features that Tomoe River 7 so reliably provided.

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Just let you know, tomoe river 68gsm paper production restarted, not sure who made this:

 

https://www.jetpens.com/Tomoe-River-68-gsm-Artist-Grade-S68-Loose-Leaf-Paper-A4-Blank-Cream-100-Sheets/pd/24459

[A Smug Dill]

  On 3/18/2025 at 5:50 AM, dbs said:

Just let you know, tomoe river 68gsm paper production restarted, not sure who made this:

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Wanna venture a guess?

[Number99]

For reference only.

 

Tomoe River S 68g/m²

 

The link is to the Japanese-language website of Sanzen Paper Mfg.

They state, "In keeping with 52g/m², 68g/m² has been added to the specs."

http://www.sanzenseishi.co.jp/smarts/index/66/

 

 

Edited March 18 by Number99
I added the first line.

[feralist]

  On 3/18/2025 at 5:50 AM, dbs said:

 

Just let you know, tomoe river 68gsm paper production restarted, not sure who made this:

 

https://www.jetpens.com/Tomoe-River-68-gsm-Artist-Grade-S68-Loose-Leaf-Paper-A4-Blank-Cream-100-Sheets/pd/24459

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Thanks, I think there is still some "old" 68gsm paper out there, but I'm usually just trying to hunt down the 52gsm variety.

[A Smug Dill]

  On 3/18/2025 at 2:19 PM, feralist said:

I'm usually just trying to hunt down the 52gsm variety.

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Hobonichi “plain” A5 and A6 notebooks (with pre-printed grids on the pages) from 2023 stock, which I understand have the “old” Tomoe River 52gsm paper made by Tomoegawa, are still available on Amazon when I looked just now.

[feralist]

  On 3/18/2025 at 8:39 PM, A Smug Dill said:

 

Hobonichi “plain” A5 and A6 notebooks (with pre-printed grids on the pages) from 2023 stock, which I understand have the “old” Tomoe River 52gsm paper made by Tomoegawa, are still available on Amazon when I looked just now.

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Worth a shot, thanks!

[SashK]

Graphilo is the most luxurious paper on earth. That paper can take ink abuse like no other paper. It almost feels too luxurious, to be fair. With a pen at B and above, you'll get the same skate-like sensation as OG tomoe river, but with more structure under the nib. 

 

The best you can get if you like nanami crossfield is their A5 slim. It's big, tough, and you can write on it in any position as the cover is thick and sturdy. The other option is to make your own notebook from their loose leaf. 

 

You can also try Monokaki notebooks. They are made from traditional Japanese manuscript paper, and adapted to the notebook format, developed with fountain pens in mind. It is as thin as TR, but it might have several other characteristics that you might not wish for. The paper is off-white, does not sheen or shade as much as TR, although I think every ink looks absolutely stunning on it. Being a manuscript paper, it is designed to reduce eye strain, even when writing long hours. CAL is beautiful, but you almost develop snow blindness when using it for longform writing. Great for swatching and ink play, though. 

 

As to TR7 OG, there is no substitute, only alternatives with different characteristics. If that's what you want, keep searching, and happy hunting! With some patience you'll definitely find the OG stuff online. I'm sure of it. 

[feralist]

Appreciate the encouraging words!

 

  On 3/19/2025 at 8:03 PM, SashK said:

The best you can get if you like nanami crossfield is their A5 slim.

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Is this the A5 slim you're talking about? https://www.jetpens.com/Kobeha-Graphilo-Notebook-Style-8.3-x-4.7-3.5-mm-Graph/pd/22008

 

[SashK]

@feralist Yes that's the one! 

 

Actually mine is also from Jet Pens, though I have the blank version  

[piano]

Japan’s 65 ish gram paper are in high demand there. So quality is good and cheap. I don't understand why buying  68?g TR?    Sanzen is a small mill, mostly making sashimi paper, so…their batch variations might happen.
Also they’ve said tomoe 52g is practically made for Frixion pens. ヽ(・∀・)ﾉ

 

After all I recommend Toyo origami paper. It says 56g, but not sure. It's like Kokuyo level fine. They have a both sides white version, I enjoy pastel colors, larger sizes available for diy bookbinding.
It must be Toyo