Compiled from 3 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Hobonichi Book Band with Charm (White Cat) is an elastic band with a hook that keeps a Hobonichi Techo HON closed, adjusting to both the A6 and A5 sizes. It holds two pens and carries a faux-leather charm by illustrator Yumi Kitagishi. Hobonichi lists it at 40 × 160 × 6 mm, about 11 g, for ¥1,430 (about US$9.10).
On this page12 sections
The band on an A6 HON and laid flat, at 1 mm = 1.3 px.
Product facts
Product
Hobonichi Yumi Kitagishi Book Band with Charm, White Cat
Polyester and rubber elastic band; PU (faux leather) charm
Released
2026*
Price range
$$$5–20 per item
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Notes on these facts
Made by Hobonichi Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Hobonichi's Japanese and English store pages give size, weight and materials but no country of origin, and the Amazon US listing doesn't state one either. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Hobonichi labels it 2027 NEW, part of the stationery lineup for the Hobonichi Techo 2027.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Hobonichi lists it at H40 × W160 × T6 mm (1.6 × 6.3 × 0.2 in) and about 11 g.
A hook closure adjusts the band to fit both the A6 and the A5 Hobonichi Techo HON.
It has a pen holder for 2 pens of different thicknesses, plus a PU charm of a white-cat house.
The Japan price is ¥1,430 (about US$9.10); Amazon US showed 50+ bought in the past month on October 24, 2026.
Hobonichi doesn't state where it's made.
What is the Hobonichi Kitagishi Book Band with Charm?
It’s an elastic band that keeps a planner or book shut in your bag, with a pen holder and a faux-leather charm drawn by illustrator Yumi Kitagishi. Hobonichi made it for the 2027 Hobonichi Techo lineup, alongside Kitagishi’s covers and White Cat stickers.
The charm, in Hobonichi’s photos, is a little pink house with a red roof and the white cat in the doorway. The band is red.
Book band specs
Spec
Value
Maker
Hobonichi Co., Ltd. (Tokyo), with Yumi Kitagishi
Size
H40 × W160 × T6 mm (1.6 × 6.3 × 0.2 in)
Weight
About 11 g
Closure
Hook; move it to fit A6 or A5
Pen holder
2 pens of different thicknesses
Materials
Polyester and rubber band; PU charm
Fits
Hobonichi Techo HON, A6 and A5
Japan price
¥1,430 (about US$9.10), tax included
Made in
Not stated
Price band
$$ ($5–20)
The band laid flat at 1 mm = 3 px.
Which Hobonichi books does it fit?
Hobonichi says the HON in both A6 and A5: you change where the hook fastens. The HON is Hobonichi’s hardcover planner.
The A6 Original and A5 Cousin share those page sizes, so the band should fit them as well, though a thick cover adds bulk. We haven’t tried it on a Cousin in a cover yet. See our Hobonichi lineup guide for each book’s thickness.
How do the pen loops work?
Two loops on the band hold two pens, one thicker than the other, so a gel pen and a fountain pen can both ride along. Hobonichi doesn’t publish the loop diameters.
Because the pens sit on the band, they also stop it sliding off the book. A planner with a built-in pen holder, like the Colors cover, may not need it.
Is it worth buying?
If you carry a HON or want Kitagishi’s cat on a plain book, yes: it’s a useful closure first and a charm second. On Amazon US it showed 50+ bought in the past month on October 24, 2026, priced in our $$ band.
The charm is a fixed part of the band, so you can’t move it to a bookmark. For a charm you can hang anywhere, look at the Hobonichi Techo Mini Keychain.
How does it compare with other ways to keep a planner closed?
It’s the only option here that adds pen storage and a charm; a cover with a pen loop does the closing job without a band.
A band also works on books Hobonichi didn’t make, such as a novel or a memo pad, which Hobonichi suggests bundling together.
What else is in the Kitagishi series?
Hobonichi’s 2027 lineup pairs the band with Kitagishi covers, stickers, an embroidered bookmark, ballpoint pens, a clip and pouches. The embroidered White Cat bookmark costs ¥1,320 (about US$8.40) in Japan, per Hobonichi’s store data.
Kitagishi is a picture-book author as well as an illustrator; her books include しろくろねこの ゆうびんやさん (Akane Shobo).
What are the downsides?
The charm is sewn to the band, the band is bright red, and Hobonichi gives no origin or loop sizes. If your pens are very thick, check the loops in person first.
Where is it made?
Hobonichi doesn’t say, so we list it as Not stated. Its store pages give the size, weight and materials only; other Hobonichi accessories, such as the mini keychain, are labeled made in China, but that doesn’t tell us about this band.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Kitagishi book band fit a Hobonichi Original or Cousin?
Hobonichi says it fits the HON in A6 and A5. The Original is also A6 and the Cousin A5, so it should close those too; a book in a thick cover may need the looser hook position.
How many pens does the book band hold?
Two, of different thicknesses, per Hobonichi. The loops sit on the band itself, so the pens ride on the outside of the book.
What is the charm on the Hobonichi book band made of?
PU, a faux leather, printed with Yumi Kitagishi's white cat. The band itself is polyester and rubber elastic.
How heavy is the Kitagishi book band?
About 11 g, per Hobonichi, and 6 mm thick, so it adds little to a planner in a bag.
Who is Yumi Kitagishi?
A Japanese illustrator and picture-book author whose white cat appears across Hobonichi's 2027 covers and stationery. Her books include Shirokuro Neko no Yubinyasan.
Is the Hobonichi book band made in Japan?
Hobonichi doesn't say. Its store pages give size, weight and materials but no country of origin, so we list it as Not stated.
