The planner industry is huge. Within it, there are niche products that are specifically targeted to a certain group. I learned about the Hobonichi Techo due to an odd overlap of the gaming community and fountain pen community I participate in. The creator of the Techo, Shigesato Itoi, is known for creating the cult-classic RPG series MOTHER (Japan) or EARTHBOUND (USA) and the fountain pen community loves the Techo because it uses Tomoe River paper, a sort of unicorn paper that makes fountain pen inks look awe-inspiring.
The Techo is what you make of it. It has daily pages that you can use any way you desire. For some, this openness is what makes this planner a godsend. For others, this openness is stifling because structure is needed. I’ve gone back and forth between those two extremes. But events have lead to an appreciation for the lack of structure.
So… planning 2021 planners.
I’m not going into the Techo cold. I’ve used the three main categories, Original, Cousin, and Weeks.
Paper sizes are an odd thing. At first, A6 felt too small. I used the A6 English Planner in 2017. I decided it was too small and upgraded to the A5 Cousin in 2018. Then the Cousin felt too big, so I switched to Traveler’s Notebooks Monthly and Weekly Planners in 2019. 2020 brought my first time using Passion Planner and well… let’s not talk about that.
My usual reply, “Why not both?” doesn’t quite work here because the Techo are a niche planner in the scheme of planner options and they demand the niche planner price. If one wants an official Hobonichi branded cover along with their planner, they’re looking at a pretty sizeable investment. Every September the shop opens and a select few covers are carried over from the prior year before being retired forever and a new lineup of covers is shown off. August has become the “Hobonichi Preview Month” for me as the Hobonichi groups (did I mention it has a cult following?) speculate and oo and aah over tiny thumbnails showing glimpses of the new lineup.
The downside of that cult following is the FOMO (fear of missing out) becomes insatiably strong. My Girls’ Checkered and Thank You All covers still look beautiful and would have no issue being used another year (or two or five). But it’s not Ochitsuke or MT Washi Red x Yellow Mix, is it? And then, of course, there are unboxings, haul photos or planning photos and the FOMO urges grow ever stronger… As much as I love the communities, I must go away once the actual shopping season begins. Everyone has their vices and I am susceptible to FOMO to the point I will overspend due to it. I know this because my sample cart of “things I desire” came out to over $250. $250 on planners? That’s not even an abnormal order (in fact, it is a small order!) in the Hobonichi Techo communities. See why I must stay away? But if you are interested, I’ve been in them since 2016 and there is relatively little drama compared to other fandom groups. They’re just enablers, hahaha!
With my (hopefully) reasonable hat on, this seems to be the final planner setup:
- A6 Original English Planner, personal use
- Midori Traveler’s Notebook Insert: Date Free Monthly, school use
- Midori Traveler’s Notebook Insert: Date Free Weekly Vertical, meal planning use
I already have 3 A6 covers, one official Hobonichi and 2 off-brands that I can rotate. I’ve used a Traveler’s Notebook for a long time now for general doodles and the size is perfect to take to the store and plan out meals and grocery lists. Hopefully, this combo is where I will find my planner peace, as the planner communities put it.
Though I will say, it does hurt my heart not to have the Ochitsuke cover (featured photo). It is beautiful.
Do you use planners? Do you have a loyal brand you stick with or is every year a new adventure?
Much love,
Desi