--- title: "LIFE Noble Note A5: Cream Paper, Rulings & Covers" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/life-noble-note-a5/" description: "LIFE Noble Note A5 explained: 148 × 210 mm, 100 sheets of cream 85 g/m² paper, sewn binding, cloth spine, cover colors by ruling, price and where it's made." category: "Notebooks" type: "Softcover notebook" published: 2026-10-20 updated: 2026-10-20 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 13 products: - name: "LIFE Noble Note A5, 100 sheets (plain, 8 mm ruled or 5 mm grid)" brand: "LIFE" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Card cover with cloth spine, sewn cream L Writing Paper (about 85 g/m²)" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per notebook, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "LIFE Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)" model: "N39 (8 mm ruled); N36 (plain); N33 (5 mm grid)" mpn: "N39" gtin: "4990168048425" url: "https://life-st.jp/products/%E3%83%8E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%8E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88-a5-%E6%96%B9%E7%9C%BC" --- # LIFE Noble Note A5: Cream Paper, Rulings & Covers > The LIFE Noble Note A5 is a sewn notebook from Tokyo paper maker LIFE. It measures 148 × 210 mm (5.8 × 8.3 in) and holds 100 sheets (200 pages) of LIFE's cream L Writing Paper, about 85 g/m². LIFE sells it plain (N36), 8 mm ruled with 23 lines (N39) or 5 mm grid (N33) at ¥1,200 (about US$7.60). - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/life-noble-note-a5/ - Category: Notebooks - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-20 - Updated: 2026-10-20 ![Drawing of a light blue LIFE Noble Note A5 for the 8 mm ruled edition, 210 mm tall and 148 mm wide, with a border print, gold LIFE mark and cloth spine, closed and opened flat on cream ruled pages with thread stitching in the fold](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/life-noble-note-a5-16x9.png) *The ruled Noble Note A5 closed and open, with the cloth spine magnified (1 mm = 1 px).* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/life-noble-note-a5-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | LIFE Noble Note A5, 100 sheets (plain, 8 mm ruled or 5 mm grid) | LIFE (by LIFE Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)) | Japan | Japan | Card cover with cloth spine, sewn cream L Writing Paper (about 85 g/m²) | – | $$: $5–20 per notebook | - Made in (LIFE Noble Note A5, 100 sheets (plain, 8 mm ruled or 5 mm grid)): Japan. LIFE's own product page says craftsmen in Tokyo's shitamachi (old downtown) make each Noble Note by hand. Japanese Taste and Paper Whisper also list Japan as the origin. Source: https://life-st.jp/products/%E3%83%8E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%8E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88-a5-%E6%96%B9%E7%9C%BC ## Key takeaways - LIFE's own site lists the A5 Noble Note with 100 sheets in three rulings: plain (N36), 8 mm ruled with 23 lines (N39) and 5 mm grid (N33), at ¥1,200 (about US$7.60) each. - LIFE says the paper is its own L Writing Paper; Galen Leather lists it at 85 g/m² and 148 × 210 × 11 mm, and The Pen Addict gives 84.9 gsm. - LIFE says each Noble Note is made by hand by craftsmen in Tokyo's shitamachi (old downtown), with a sewn binding for durability. - The cover color is tied to the ruling: the 8 mm ruled book has a light blue cover, under a border print and a gold LIFE mark. - LIFE began in December 1946 as a paper wholesaler in Taito, Tokyo, and was incorporated in 1949. ## What is the LIFE Noble Note A5? **It's a classic Japanese sewn notebook from LIFE, a Tokyo paper maker, built around thick cream writing paper.** It has 100 sheets in a card cover with a decorative border print, a gold LIFE mark and a cloth spine. LIFE's own site calls the Noble Note its signature notebook (ライフの自信作): craftsmen in Tokyo's shitamachi, the old downtown, make each one by hand, using a sectioned folding-and-sewing binding (分け折り製本) for strength and LIFE's original L Writing Paper for a smooth feel. LIFE's company profile says it began in December 1946 as a paper wholesaler in Taito, Tokyo, was incorporated on December 16, 1949 and took the LIFE name in 1963. The Noble line also includes A4, B5 and B6 notebooks, a Noble Note Mini and Noble writing pads. ## LIFE Noble Note A5 specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | LIFE Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan | | Size | A5: 148 × 210 mm (5.8 × 8.3 in); 11 mm thick per Galen Leather | | Sheets | 100 (200 pages) | | Paper | LIFE L Writing Paper, cream, laid; about 85 g/m² (Galen Leather), 84.9 gsm (The Pen Addict) | | Rulings | Plain (N36) · 8 mm ruled, 23 lines (N39) · 5 mm grid (N33) | | Binding | Sewn, with a cloth spine | | Cover | Card, border print, gold LIFE mark; color tied to the ruling | | Price on LIFE's site | ¥1,200 (about US$7.60) | | JAN | 4990168048425 (N39), 4990168048395 (N36), 4990168048364 (N33) | | Made in | Japan (Tokyo, per LIFE) | Model codes, line count, sheet count, JAN codes and price are from LIFE's own Japanese site; LIFE doesn't say whether its price includes tax, but Yodobashi's ¥1,320 (about US$8.40) tax-included price is exactly LIFE's figure plus Japan's 10% tax. LIFE doesn't publish a paper weight or thickness, so those come from retailers and The Pen Addict. ## Which ruling should you choose? **Pick by ruling; each ruling has its own cover color, so you can tell the books apart on a shelf.** The Pen Addict notes that the cover colors are locked to the paper format: the 8 mm ruled book is light blue (FindTape lists it as "Blue Cover, Lined Pages"), and Galen Leather lists the plain N36 as light brown. We haven't confirmed the grid book's cover color from a listing. ![To-scale drawing of three LIFE Noble Note A5 pages, 148 × 210 mm, in cream: plain with a brown cover strip, 8 mm ruled with a light blue strip and 5 mm grid with an orange strip](https://stationerytimes.com/images/life-noble-note-a5-rulings.svg) *Plain, 8 mm ruled and 5 mm grid pages, with the cover color that marks each; the grid book's color is not yet confirmed.* - **8 mm ruled (N39):** 23 lines a page, wider than US college ruling of 7.1 mm, good for larger handwriting and broad nibs. - **5 mm grid (N33):** for tables, diagrams and bullet lists. - **Plain (N36):** for sketches and free layouts. There is also a Kleid × LIFE Noble Note, sold as a separate collaboration. ## Is the Noble Note good for fountain pens? **Most reviewers say yes.** Retailers call the paper smooth, ink-resistant and fountain-pen friendly, and Galen Leather and The Journal Shop describe it as acid-free. In its July 30, 2025 review, The Pen Addict found no feathering, bleeding or skipping, and only a little show-through that didn't stop it writing on both sides of the sheet. It found the paper smooth with a little feedback, and called it ivory rather than white. For heavier or coated papers, see our [best notebooks for fountain pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-notebooks-for-fountain-pens/). ## How does it compare to the Midori MD and Apica? **All three are sewn A5 notebooks on Japanese paper of similar weight; the Noble Note has the most pages.** | | LIFE Noble Note A5 | [Midori MD Notebook A5](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/midori-md-notebook-a5/) | [Apica Premium C.D. A5](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/apica-premium-cd-notebook/) | |---|---|---|---| | Size | 148 × 210 mm | 148 × 210 mm | 148 × 210 mm | | Pages | 200 | 176 | 192 | | Paper | About 85 g/m², cream | 80–90 g/m² (retailers), cream | 86.5 g/m² | | Rulings | Plain, 8 mm, 5 mm grid | Plain, 7 mm, 5 mm grid | Lined, grid, blank | | Cover | Card, border print | Paper | Card | The Noble Note's color-coded covers and printed border give it the most traditional look. The MD Notebook adds a ribbon bookmark. ## Does the Noble Note lie flat? **It's sewn with a cloth spine, which lets it open wide; Paper Whisper and Galen Leather both describe it as lying flat.** As with most new sewn books, pressing the spine open at each signature helps at first. ## Where is the LIFE Noble Note made? **In Japan: LIFE says craftsmen in Tokyo's shitamachi (old downtown) make each Noble Note by hand.** Hachimonjiya says the same, and Japanese Taste and Paper Whisper list Japan as the origin. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many pages are in a LIFE Noble Note A5? It has 100 sheets, which is 200 pages, per LIFE. Some listings, such as Japanese Taste's, say 100 pages when they mean sheets. ### What size is the LIFE Noble Note A5? It is standard A5, 148 × 210 mm or about 5.8 × 8.3 inches; Galen Leather gives the thickness as 11 mm. LIFE also makes the Noble Note in A4, B5 and B6. ### Is the Noble Note good for fountain pens? It's widely sold as fountain-pen-friendly. The Pen Addict's 2025 review found no feathering or bleeding, with a little show-through that didn't stop writing on both sides. We haven't tested it ourselves. ### What do the Noble Note cover colors mean? Each ruling has its own cover color, as The Pen Addict notes: the 8 mm ruled book is light blue, and Galen Leather lists the plain N36 as light brown. Check the listing photo for the grid version. ### What paper does the LIFE Noble Note use? LIFE uses its own L Writing Paper, a cream laid paper. Galen Leather lists it at 85 g/m² and acid-free, and The Pen Addict gives 84.9 gsm. ### How much does the LIFE Noble Note A5 cost? LIFE's site lists each A5 Noble Note at ¥1,200 (about US$7.60); Yodobashi sells the ruled N39 at ¥1,320 (about US$8.40) including tax. Imported copies cost more, which puts it in our $$ band. ### Where is the LIFE Noble Note made? In Japan. LIFE says craftsmen in Tokyo's shitamachi make each Noble Note by hand, and retailers such as Japanese Taste and Paper Whisper list Japan as the origin. ## Sources - [ノーブルノート (LIFE official site: A5 N33, N36 and N39, ¥1,200, JAN codes, 100 sheets, 8 mm × 23 lines, made by Tokyo shitamachi craftsmen, L Writing Paper)](https://life-st.jp/products/%E3%83%8E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%8E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88-a5-%E6%96%B9%E7%9C%BC) - [会社概要 (LIFE company profile: founded December 1946 in Taito, Tokyo; incorporated December 16, 1949; renamed LIFE in 1963)](https://life-st.jp/pages/%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE%E6%A6%82%E8%A6%81) - [ヨドバシ.com - LIFE ライフ ノーブルノート 横罫 A5 N39 (Yodobashi, Japanese retailer: A5, 8 mm ruled, 100 sheets, ¥1,320 with tax)](https://www.yodobashi.com/product/100000001002667063/) - [ヨドバシ.com - LIFE ライフ ノーブルノート 方眼 A5 N33 (Yodobashi: A5, 5 mm grid, 100 sheets)](https://www.yodobashi.com/product/100000001002667057/) - [Hachimonjiya: Noble Note A5 (made by artisans in Tokyo's downtown, sewn binding, L Writing Paper)](https://hachimonjiya.com/en-us/products/noble-note-a5) - [Galen Leather: Life Noble Notebook A5, 8 mm Lined, 200 pages (148 × 210 × 11 mm, 85 g/m², acid-free, thread bound, cloth spine)](https://www.galenleather.com/products/life-noble-notebook-a5-8mm-lined-200-pages) - [Galen Leather: Life Noble Notebook A5, Blank, 200 pages (model N36, light brown cover)](https://www.galenleather.com/products/life-noble-notebook-a5-blank-200-pages) - [Japanese Taste: Life Noble Notebook A5, College Ruled 8 mm, N39 (laid paper, made in Japan)](https://japanesetaste.com/products/life-noble-notebook-a5-college-ruled-8mm-n39-100-pages) - [Paper Whisper: Life Noble Notebook A5 Ruled (L Writing Paper, sewn binding, origin Japan)](https://paperwhisper.com/products/life-noble-notebook-a5-ruled) - [FindTape: Life Noble Note (blue cover, lined pages; cream paper)](https://www.findtape.com/Life-Noble-Note-Ruled-Side-Bound-Notebooks/p1975/) - [The Journal Shop: Life Noble Notebook A5 (plain, 8 mm ruled, 5 mm grid; laid, acid-free paper; gold LIFE logo)](https://www.thejournalshop.com/products/life-noble-notebook-a5) - [Wonder Pens: Life Stationery Noble Note Lined Notebook A5 (N39, 100 sheets)](https://wonderpens.ca/products/life-stationery-noble-note-lined-notebook-a5) - [The Pen Addict: Life Stationery Noble A5 and B6 Notebook Review (July 30, 2025)](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2025/7/30/life-stationery-noble-a5-and-b6-notebook-review)