KOKUYO Systemic Notebook Cover: A5 Size & Pockets
The KOKUYO Systemic is a water-repellent cover that holds two A5 notebooks at once, one in each deep inner pocket. KOKUYO lists the synthetic-leather version (ノ-V685B) at 232 × 175 mm (9.1 × 6.9 in), sold with a 50-sheet twin-ring A5 notebook, three bookmark ribbons and pockets for pens and cards.
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Product facts
- Product
- KOKUYO Systemic two-notebook cover, ring-notebook type, synthetic leather, A5, Navy (NO-V685B-DB)
- Brand
- KOKUYO
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- China*
- Material
- Polyester and synthetic leather cover; twin-ring notebook with woodfree paper
- Price range
- $$$$20–75 for the cover or binder with its starter insert
- Colors
Black黒 (D)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by KOKUYO Co., Ltd.. Made in China: KOKUYO's official global online store lists the country of origin of the A5 Systemic cover (NO-V685B-DB) as China. KOKUYO's Japanese product page doesn't state it. Source. Price: example listing.
- Colors: names per KOKUYO Global Online Store, checked October 27, 2026. KOKUYO's global store color selector lists Gray, Black and Navy for the A5 Systemic cover (tints are the hex of its color chips, not measured). KOKUYO's Japanese page also gives a fourth cover color, brown (茶, suffix S), which has no chip we could read, so it carries no tint. Japanese names: 黒 D, 紺 DB, グレー M, 茶 S. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
- 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
- KOKUYO lists the A5 cover at 232 × 175 mm (9.1 × 6.9 in), for notebooks of 210 × 148 mm.
- It ships with a twin-ring A5 notebook of 50 sheets, 28 lines, refill code ス-TJ105B.
- KOKUYO's list price for the synthetic-leather ノ-V685B is ¥3,200 (about US$20) before tax; the polyester ノ-685B is ¥2,950 (about US$19).
- Its Amazon US listing had about 2,600 ratings averaging 4.8 stars on October 22, 2026.
- KOKUYO's global store lists China as the country of origin.
What is the KOKUYO Systemic notebook cover?
It’s a cover that carries two A5 notebooks at once, so you can keep, for example, a work notebook and a diary together. KOKUYO, the Osaka maker of Campus notebooks, sells it in Japan as a “2-book” cover notebook (2冊収容) and pitches it as a way to manage notes and a schedule book as one set.
Systemic comes in several types; this guide covers the A5 ring-notebook type in synthetic leather, ノ-V685B. It’s a long-running import favorite in the US: its navy Amazon listing had about 2,600 ratings averaging 4.8 stars on October 22, 2026.
KOKUYO Systemic A5 specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | KOKUYO Co., Ltd. (Japan) |
| Model | ノ-V685B (NO-V685B), color suffix D, DB, M or S |
| Cover size | 232 × 175 mm (9.1 × 6.9 in) |
| Notebook size | A5, 210 × 148 mm (8.3 × 5.8 in) |
| Included notebook | Twin-ring, 50 sheets, 28 lines, edge-title ruling |
| Refill | ス-TJ105B |
| Cover material | Polyester and synthetic leather, water repellent |
| Extras | 3 bookmark ribbons; pen pocket; card pocket |
| Japanese list price | ¥3,200 (about US$20) before tax |
| JAN, navy | 4901480308586 |
| Made in | China (KOKUYO’s global store) |
KOKUYO’s global store listed it at US$47.10 on October 22, 2026, and Amazon US for much less, so we place it in the $$$ band ($20–75). KOKUYO doesn’t publish a weight or a thickness.
How does the two-notebook system work?
Each half of the cover has a deep inner pocket that grips one notebook’s front cover, so two notebooks sit side by side. KOKUYO says the pockets are deeper than on its earlier covers, so a single side of a notebook cover is enough to hold it firmly.
The right pocket is made for a ring notebook: KOKUYO says it keeps the ring notebook’s best trick, folding back on itself, so you can write in a small space. The left pocket suits a bound notebook, a diary or a memo pad.
What fits in the KOKUYO Systemic A5?
Any A5 notebook, plus thick notebooks, ring notebooks and memo pads, according to KOKUYO. The Amazon listing puts the total capacity at up to about 1 inch (25 mm), roughly two 100-page notebooks.
The cover’s outer pocket holds pens and sticky notes, and the inner pockets take loose papers and business cards. The Amazon listing also describes an elastic closure and a pen loop.
| Fits well | Check first |
|---|---|
| KOKUYO twin-ring A5 refills (ス-TJ105B) | Two thick hardcover notebooks (about 1 in in all) |
| KOKUYO Soft Ring A5 notebooks | Notebooks larger than A5, such as B5 |
| A5 diaries and memo pads | Two thick notebooks at once |
Which Systemic version should you buy?
Choose the synthetic-leather ノ-V685B for a dressier cover, or the polyester ノ-685B to save a little. KOKUYO lists the polyester ノ-685B at ¥2,950 (about US$19) before tax, with two ribbons instead of three.
Both come in A5 with a 50-sheet notebook and in B5 with a 40-sheet notebook. If you’d rather have a single cover for a single small book, see the Hobonichi Colors cover; for a binder you can refill page by page, see the KOKUYO Smart Ring.
What are the downsides?
It’s synthetic leather, not leather, and it’s sized for A5 only. The synthetic-leather surface is water repellent but not waterproof, and KOKUYO’s own list price is much lower than some US import prices, so shop around.
Where is the KOKUYO Systemic made?
In China, according to KOKUYO’s official global online store. KOKUYO itself is a Japanese company based in Osaka, but its Japanese product page doesn’t state the country of manufacture.
For how Systemic compares with leather traveler’s covers and ring binders, see our notebook systems comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What size notebook fits the KOKUYO Systemic A5 cover?
A5 notebooks, 210 × 148 mm (8.3 × 5.8 in). KOKUYO says ring notebooks, thick notebooks and memo pads fit too, and the Amazon listing gives up to about 1 inch of total thickness.
Can the KOKUYO Systemic hold two notebooks?
Yes, that's the point of it. Each half has a deep inner pocket that grips one notebook's front cover, so you can carry, say, a notebook and a diary together.
What refill does the Systemic A5 use?
It comes with KOKUYO's twin-ring A5 edge-title notebook ス-TJ105B, 50 sheets with 28 lines. Any A5 notebook that fits the pocket works as well.
Can you fold a ring notebook back inside the Systemic?
Yes. KOKUYO says that with a ring notebook in the right pocket, you can fold it back and use it compactly, just as you would without the cover.
Is the KOKUYO Systemic cover waterproof?
It's water repellent, not waterproof. KOKUYO says the cover material is durable with a water-repellent finish.
What colors does the Systemic A5 come in?
KOKUYO's Japanese page lists black (D), navy (DB), gray (M) and brown (S) for the synthetic-leather ノ-V685B; its global store lists black, navy and gray.
Is there a B5 KOKUYO Systemic?
Yes. KOKUYO lists B5 versions of the ring-notebook-type cover, sold with a 40-sheet B5 notebook.
Is the KOKUYO Systemic made in Japan?
No. KOKUYO's global online store lists China as the country of origin for the A5 Systemic cover, although KOKUYO is a Japanese company based in Osaka.
Sources
- コクヨ: システミック ２冊収容,リングノートタイプ合皮カバーノート A5 紺 (ノ-V685B-DB; ¥3,200 before tax; cover 232・175 mm; notebook 210・148 mm; 50 sheets, 28 lines; refill ス-TJ105B; JAN 4901480308586; colors D, DB, M, S; read October 22, 2026)
- コクヨ: システミック ２冊収容,リングノートタイプカバーノート A5 黒 (polyester ノ-685B-D; ¥2,950 before tax; two bookmark ribbons; JAN 4901480259550)
- KOKUYO official global online store: SYSTEMIC Note Cover A5 Size Navy (NO-V685B-DB; 232 × 175 mm; country of origin China; read October 22, 2026)
- Amazon: KOKUYO Systemic Synthetic Leather Cover Notebook, A5, Navy (NO-V685B-DB; elastic closure, pen loop, three bookmarks, up to 1 in total thickness; about 2,600 ratings; read October 22, 2026)
- Amazon: KOKUYO Systemic Cover Notebook, Semi-B5, Black (NO-683B-D; B5 twin-ring notebook ス-TJ4B)
- KOKUYO Global Online Store: SYSTEMIC Note Cover A5 Size Navy (color selector: Gray, Black, Navy)