Compiled from 6 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Kobeha GRAPHILO A5 Grid Notebook is a thread-sewn, 64-page notebook of 210 × 148 mm with a 4 mm grid, made in Japan on paper that Kobeha developed for fountain pens. Kobeha's shop listed it at ¥1,100 (about US$6.96) with tax on November 2, 2026; Yoseka listed it at US$15, out of stock.
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Notes on these facts
Made by Daiwa Shuppan Printing Co., Ltd. (Kobe). Made in Japan: Kobeha's shop page lists the manufacturing country as Japan. Source. Price: example listing.
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
Kobeha lists the A5 at 210 × 148 mm with 64 pages, a 4 mm grid with margins on all four sides, and a thread-sewn center binding.
Kobeha says it developed GRAPHILO paper with a paper maker and fountain pen users: smooth ink flow and sharp lines, but ink soaks in slowly.
On June 9, 2025 Kobeha said it renewed the paper after a raw material was discontinued; new stock has R6 on the back of the pack, so old paper may still be on sale.
Kobeha's shop listed it at ¥1,100 (about US$6.96) with tax on November 2, 2026, in our $$ band ($5–20); Yoseka listed US$15 the same day, out of stock.
Kobeha gives no paper weight or notebook weight, and we haven't tested the paper.
What is the Kobeha GRAPHILO A5 Grid Notebook?
It is a thin, thread-sewn notebook made for fountain pens, with a 4 mm grid. Kobeha, the stationery label of Daiwa Shuppan Printing in Kobe, says GRAPHILO takes its name from the Greek words for writing and loving, and that it began with a wish for paper that suits how a fountain pen writes.
Kobeha sells the notebook in grid, plain and 8 mm lined versions; this guide covers the grid. We read Kobeha’s English site and its Japanese online shop on November 2, 2026. For its small wiping paper, see our SUITO cleaning paper guide.
What are the size, pages and binding?
210 × 148 mm, 64 pages and a thread-sewn center binding. Kobeha puts the A5 as a balance of space and portability, and notes that open it is about A4.
Spec
Kobeha’s figure
Size
A5, 210 × 148 mm (8.3 × 5.8 in)
Pages
64
Ruling
4 mm grid, margins on all four sides
Binding
Thread-sewn through the center
Cover
Textured paper
Weight and thickness
Not stated
Kobeha says the sewn binding opens easily, but makes no claim about how flat it lies. Our notebook sizes chart shows where A5 sits against other formats.
What is GRAPHILO paper like?
Kobeha says it is smooth, with sharp lines and less show-through, but ink soaks in slowly. The shop page tells how Kobeha tried dozens of papers, then dozens more with small changes to the mix and process, writing on each. It credits a paper maker and fountain pen users for the result.
Kobeha lists five traits: smooth ink flow it calls “wet”, sharp line edges, rich ink color, less bleed-through from broad nibs or overwriting, and little difference between the two sides of a sheet. It adds that the slow soak-in means the feel depends on the pen and ink, so test with your own. We haven’t tested it, and Kobeha states no paper weight.
Yes: Kobeha said on June 9, 2025 that it renewed the paper. A raw material used in the old GRAPHILO was discontinued, so it revised materials and process, aiming to keep the writing feel and color of the old paper as far as it could.
The new paper went on sale first at a Japanese stationery fair on July 19 and 20, 2025. Kobeha said the names and package designs stay the same, and that new stock carries “R6” on the back of the package.
The other products would switch as old stock sold out, so a notebook you buy may hold either paper. We can’t tell which a given shop has.
Can you draw on it?
Kobeha says so: it notes that GRAPHILO has lately drawn attention as paper to draw on as well as write on. It says the sheet is about as thick as copy paper but doesn’t wrinkle or show through easily when you wash ink with water or layer color, and that the slow soak-in suits blending a fountain pen line with a water brush.
Who is the GRAPHILO A5 Grid Notebook for?
It suits people who want a thin A5 grid notebook for notes, planning or sketching with a fountain pen.
Journaling and planning: it has 64 pages with a 4 mm grid and margins on all four sides, per Kobeha.
Drawing and sketching: Kobeha says the paper, about as thick as copy paper, takes water washes and layered color without wrinkling or easy show-through.
Skip it if you want a thick notebook or fast-drying ink: it has 64 pages and Kobeha says ink soaks in slowly.
Where is it made, and what does it cost in the US?
In Japan, per Kobeha’s shop, and at ¥1,100 (about US$6.96) with tax there on November 2, 2026. That is in our $$ band ($5–20). Kobeha’s page notes a price revision on October 1, 2024.
In the US, Yoseka Stationery listed Kobeha’s A5 notebooks at US$15 on November 2, 2026: the lined and plain were in stock and the grid was sold out. Yoseka’s listing describes the paper as fountain pen friendly; that’s the shop’s wording, and we haven’t tested it. For notebooks that suit fountain pens, see our best notebooks for fountain pens and our guide to stopping ink bleeding.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages does the GRAPHILO A5 notebook have?
64 pages, thread-sewn at the center, per Kobeha's shop. Yoseka Stationery's listing also says 64.
How big is the 4 mm grid?
Kobeha says the squares are 4 mm and that the grid leaves a margin at the top, bottom, left and right of the page.
Is the GRAPHILO notebook good for fountain pens?
Kobeha made the paper for fountain pens and describes smooth flow, sharp lines and less show-through. It also says ink soaks in slowly, and results depend on the pen and ink. We haven't tested it.
Does the notebook lie flat?
Kobeha says the thread-sewn binding opens easily, but gives no flat-opening or degree claim. Yoseka's listing says it lies flat; we haven't checked.
What changed in the 2025 GRAPHILO paper?
Kobeha said on June 9, 2025 that a raw material was discontinued, so it revised materials and process to keep the old feel. The new paper's packs have R6 printed on the back.
How much does the A5 grid notebook cost in the US?
Yoseka Stationery listed Kobeha's A5 notebooks at US$15 on November 2, 2026, with the grid version out of stock. Kobeha's own shop listed the grid at ¥1,100 (about US$6.96) with tax, in Japan.
Does the notebook come with a pen loop or pocket?
Kobeha's page lists no pocket, loop or closure. It describes a paper cover and a thread-sewn block.
