LIHIT LAB Twist Ring Notebook: A5 Rings & Refills
The LIHIT LAB AQUA DROPs Twist Ring Notebook (N-1658) is a refillable A5 notebook with 24 slim plastic rings that open, so you can add, remove and reorder pages. LIHIT LAB lists it at 154 × 210 × 12 mm (6.1 × 8.3 × 0.5 in), with 30 ruled leaves and room for 40. It needs LIHIT LAB's 24-hole leaves.
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Product facts
- Product
- LIHIT LAB AQUA DROPs Twist Ring Notebook, A5, Yellow Green (N-1658-6)
- Brand
- LIHIT LAB
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Not stated*
- Material
- Translucent polypropylene covers, polycarbonate rings, woodfree paper leaves
- Price range
- $$$5–20 for the cover or binder with its starter insert
- Colors
Yellow Green黄緑 (-6)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by LIHIT LAB, Inc.. Country of manufacture not stated: LIHIT LAB's catalog and online store and the Amazon US listings we read don't give a country of origin. LIHIT LAB is a Japanese company; check the packaging. Price: example listing.
- Colors: names per LIHIT LAB Japan catalog, checked October 27, 2026. LIHIT LAB's Japanese catalog page for N-1658 lists six cover colors (色), numbered as in the model suffix; its own Japanese name is in each tile's note, with our English rendering as the tile name. It marks yellow green (6) as the regular color and the other five as 限定生産 (limited production). Tints are hand-picked from LIHIT LAB's color photos on that page, not measured; the covers are translucent. 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
- LIHIT LAB's Japanese catalog lists the A5 N-1658 at 154 × 210 × 12 mm (6.1 × 8.3 × 0.5 in), with 30 leaves and a 40-leaf maximum.
- Its 24 polycarbonate rings open for adding or moving leaves and let the notebook fold back a full 360°.
- LIHIT LAB says standard 20-hole A5 binder paper won't fit; refills are its 24-hole N-1650 leaves, 30 sheets for ¥300 (about US$1.90) before tax.
- The notebook lists at ¥420 (about US$2.70) before tax in Japan; thicker versions hold 100 (N-1641) and 150 leaves (N-1640).
- Its Amazon US listing had about 800 ratings when we checked on October 22, 2026.
What is the LIHIT LAB Twist Ring Notebook?
It’s a slim A5 ring notebook whose plastic rings open, so you can take pages out, add new ones and rearrange them like a binder. LIHIT LAB sells it in Japan as the AQUA DROPs ツイストノート (twist notebook), model N-1658, and in the US as a refillable notebook or twist ring notebook.
It sits between a spiral notebook and a binder: as thin as the first, as editable as the second. Its Amazon US listing had about 800 ratings when we checked on October 22, 2026.
LIHIT LAB Twist Ring Notebook specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | LIHIT LAB, Inc. (Japan) |
| Model | N-1658 (A5), color suffix -5 to -28 |
| Size | 154 × 210 × 12 mm (6.1 × 8.3 × 0.5 in) |
| Rings | 24, opening, polycarbonate |
| Leaves | 30 included, 40 maximum |
| Ruling | B rule, 6 mm × 29 lines |
| Covers | Translucent colored polypropylene |
| Refill | N-1650 A5 24-hole leaves, 30 sheets |
| Japanese list price | ¥420 (about US$2.70) before tax |
| JAN, yellow green | 4903419311001 |
| Made in | Not stated |
LIHIT LAB’s catalog lists yellow green (-6) as the regular color and yellow, green, wisteria, indigo and blue green as limited editions. US listings sit in our $$ band ($5–20).
How do the twist rings work?
Slide the pages at the top and bottom of the rings away from each other and the rings split open; push them back together to close. LIHIT LAB’s US listing describes it as sliding two fingers apart along the page edge.
Once open, you can take out, insert or reorder leaves. LIHIT LAB says the slim rings also turn a full 360°, so the notebook folds back on itself like a spiral notebook.
What paper fits the Twist Ring Notebook?
LIHIT LAB’s own 24-hole leaves; standard 20-hole A5 binder paper won’t fit. LIHIT LAB says it uses a dedicated 24-hole leaf so pages turn smoothly on the slim rings.
The A5 refill is N-1650: 30 sheets of 6 mm ruled paper, ¥300 (about US$1.90) before tax in Japan. LIHIT LAB notes the leaves won’t work in ordinary JIS loose-leaf binders. The Amazon US listing says the rings bind paper punched at a 1/3-inch hole pitch.
Which Twist Ring Notebook should you choose?
The standard N-1658 for a slim everyday notebook, a thicker one for a long project.
| Model | Size | Leaves | Max | List price (before tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N-1658 | 154 × 210 × 12 mm (6.1 × 8.3 × 0.5 in) | 30 | 40 | ¥420 (about US$2.70) |
| N-1641 thick | 159 × 210 × 18 mm (6.3 × 8.3 × 0.7 in) | 70 | 100 | ¥530 (about US$3.40) |
| N-1640 extra thick | 166 × 210 × 24 mm (6.5 × 8.3 × 0.9 in) | 100 | 150 | ¥900 (about US$5.70) |
LIHIT LAB also makes B6 (21-hole) and A6 (17-hole) twist-ring notebooks; each size takes its own leaf. If you’re unsure about A5, our A5 vs B5 guide compares the sizes.
How does it compare to other refillable notebooks?
It’s the thinnest and cheapest way to get movable pages; disc systems and binders hold more and take more paper types.
| LIHIT LAB Twist Ring (A5) | KOKUYO Smart Ring (A5) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rings | 24 opening plastic rings | 20 rings |
| Paper | LIHIT LAB 24-hole leaves | Standard 20-hole A5 loose leaf |
| Capacity | 40 leaves | 25 sheets |
| Folds back | Yes, 360° | Yes |
Disc-bound systems such as Levenger Circa or the Happy Planner let you move pages without opening rings, but need their own punch. Our notebook systems comparison covers covers and binders too.
Where is the LIHIT LAB Twist Ring Notebook made?
None of the LIHIT LAB pages or US listings we read state a country of origin. LIHIT LAB is a Japanese company founded in 1938, but that isn’t proof of where this notebook is made.
Check the packaging if it matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do you open the rings on a LIHIT LAB Twist Ring Notebook?
Hold the pages near the top and bottom of the rings and slide them apart in opposite directions; the rings split open. Push the halves back together to close them, as LIHIT LAB's US listing describes.
Can I use regular loose-leaf paper in the Twist Ring Notebook?
Not standard Japanese binder paper: LIHIT LAB says 20-hole A5 binder leaves don't fit. Use its 24-hole twist-ring leaves, or punch your own; the US listing says it binds paper at a 1/3-inch hole pitch.
What refills fit the A5 Twist Ring Notebook?
LIHIT LAB's A5 24-hole leaves, N-1650: 30 sheets of 6 mm ruled paper for ¥300 (about US$1.90) before tax in Japan.
How many pages does the LIHIT LAB Twist Ring Notebook hold?
The A5 N-1658 comes with 30 leaves and takes up to 40. The thicker N-1641 holds up to 100 and the extra-thick N-1640 up to 150.
What sizes does the Twist Ring Notebook come in?
LIHIT LAB's catalog lists A5 (24 holes), B6 (21 holes) and A6 (17 holes) twist-ring notebooks, plus a memo size; each size uses its own leaf.
Does the Twist Ring Notebook lie flat?
Yes. LIHIT LAB says the slim rings rotate 360°, so it opens flat or folds back on itself, like a spiral notebook.
Is the LIHIT LAB Twist Ring Notebook made in Japan?
We can't confirm it. LIHIT LAB is a Japanese company, but its catalog, store and the US listings we read don't state where it's made.
Sources
- AQUA DROPs ツイストノート (LIHIT LAB Japan catalog: N-1658, A5, 24 holes, 154 × 12 × 210 mm, 30 leaves, max 40, ¥420 before tax, PP covers and PC rings, colors, 20-hole leaf won't fit; read October 22, 2026)
- AQUA DROPs ツイストノート Ａ５ (LIHIT LAB official online store: ¥462 with tax, JAN codes N1658-1 to -28)
- オープンリングノート＜適合リーフ＞ (LIHIT LAB Japan catalog: N-1650 A5 24-hole leaves, 30 sheets, ¥300 before tax, not for JIS binders)
- AQUA DROPs ツイストノート＜厚型＞ (LIHIT LAB Japan catalog: N-1641, 159 × 18 × 210 mm, 70 leaves, max 100, ¥530)
- AQUA DROPs ツイストノート＜超厚型＞ (LIHIT LAB Japan catalog: N-1640, 166 × 24 × 210 mm, 100 leaves, max 150, ¥900)
- AQUA DROPs ツイストノート (LIHIT LAB Japan catalog: A6 N-1664, 17 holes)
- オープンリングノート＜適合リーフ＞ (LIHIT LAB Japan catalog: B6 N-1666 leaves, 21 holes)
- 会社概要 (LIHIT LAB company profile: founded May 1938)
- Amazon: LIHIT LAB Refillable Notebook, 8.3 × 6.1 in, Yellow Green (N1658-6; rings pop open by sliding pages apart; 1/3-inch hole pitch; about 800 ratings; read October 22, 2026)