--- title: "Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5: 20% Cotton Paper" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/midori-md-notebook-cotton-a5/" description: "Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5 explained: 176 blank pages of soft white 75 g/m² MD Paper Cotton with 20% cotton pulp, 210 × 148 mm, thread-sewn, vs MD Paper." category: "Notebooks" type: "Journal" published: 2026-10-22 updated: 2026-10-22 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 4 products: - name: "Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5, blank, 176 pages (15392006)" brand: "Midori" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "MD Paper Cotton, 75 g/m² (20% cotton pulp), soft white; thread-sewn with cheesecloth spine; glassine jacket" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per notebook, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Designphil Inc. (Tokyo); the MD line is now sold as MD PRODUCT" model: "15392006 (A5, blank)" mpn: "15392006" gtin: "4902805153928" url: "https://md-product.com/products/md-notebook-cotton-a5" --- # Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5: 20% Cotton Paper > The Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5 is the blank, thread-sewn MD Notebook made with MD Paper Cotton, which contains 20% cotton pulp. Midori lists it at 210 × 148 × 10 mm and about 240 g, with 176 pages of soft white 75 g/m² paper, a glassine jacket and index stickers. It is made in Japan. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/midori-md-notebook-cotton-a5/ - Category: Notebooks - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-22 - Updated: 2026-10-22 ![Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5 with its glassine jacket, closed and opened flat on blank soft-white pages](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/midori-md-notebook-cotton-a5-16x9.png) *The Cotton A5 closed and open, drawn to scale (1 mm = 1 px).* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5, blank, 176 pages (15392006) | Midori (by Designphil Inc. (Tokyo); the MD line is now sold as MD PRODUCT) | Japan | Japan | MD Paper Cotton, 75 g/m² (20% cotton pulp), soft white; thread-sewn with cheesecloth spine; glassine jacket | – | $$: $5–20 per notebook | - Made in (Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5, blank, 176 pages (15392006)): Japan. Midori's Japanese MD PRODUCT store gives Country of Origin: Made in Japan for the MD Notebook Cotton A5. Source: https://md-product.com/products/md-notebook-cotton-a5 ## Key takeaways - Midori's Japanese store lists the A5 at 210 × 148 × 10 mm (8.3 × 5.8 × 0.4 in), about 240 g and 176 pages. - MD Paper Cotton contains 20% cotton pulp and weighs 75 g/m², against 80 g/m² for the cream MD Paper in the standard MD Notebook. - It comes blank only, in A5 and in a 146 × 146 mm A5 Square. - Midori's Japanese list price is ¥1,650 (about US$10) with tax; US prices put it in our $$ band ($5–20). - Midori lists it as made in Japan. ## What is the Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5? **It is Midori's MD Notebook made with MD Paper Cotton, a soft white paper with 20% cotton pulp, in a blank, thread-sewn A5 book.** The build matches the standard [Midori MD Notebook A5](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/midori-md-notebook-a5/): a plain cover held with cheesecloth at the spine, a glassine jacket and index stickers. Midori describes the paper as soft and airy, with a gentle texture that adds depth to handwriting. The soft white, it says, makes ink and colored pens stand out. ## Midori MD Notebook Cotton A5 specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Size | A5, 210 × 148 × 10 mm (8.3 × 5.8 × 0.4 in) | | Weight | About 240 g (8.5 oz) | | Pages | 176, blank | | Paper | MD Paper Cotton, 75 g/m², 20% cotton pulp, soft white | | Binding | Thread-sewn, opens flat to 180° | | Cover | Plain paper cover with cheesecloth spine; glassine jacket | | Extras | Bookmark string, index stickers (label and bookplate types) | | Item number | 15392006 | | List price (Japan) | ¥1,650 (about US$10), with tax | | Made in | Japan | Every figure comes from Midori's Japanese MD PRODUCT store. ![MD Notebook Cotton A5 and A5 Square drawn to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/midori-md-notebook-cotton-a5-sizes.svg) *The two sizes of the Cotton notebook; both hold 176 pages.* ## How is the Cotton notebook different from the standard MD Notebook? **The Cotton notebook uses lighter, whiter paper with cotton in it, and comes only blank.** | | MD Notebook Cotton A5 | MD Notebook A5 | |---|---|---| | Paper | MD Paper Cotton, 20% cotton | MD Paper | | Color | Soft white | Cream | | Weight of paper | 75 g/m² | 80 g/m² | | Weight of book | About 240 g | About 258 g | | Rulings | Blank only | Blank, lined, grid, dot grid, frame | | List price (Japan) | ¥1,650 (about US$10) | ¥1,210 (about US$7.70) | Choose the Cotton for blank-page sketching and writing where the paper's feel and a whiter page matter; choose the standard book if you want lines or a grid, or the warmer cream tone. ## Which size should you choose: A5 or A5 Square? **Choose the A5 for writing and the A5 Square for drawing or wide layouts.** The A5 is a standard 210 × 148 mm portrait book that fits A5 covers and most bags. The A5 Square measures 146 × 146 × 10 mm and weighs about 165 g, per Midori. Midori notes that it unfolds horizontally when opened, into a wide landscape spread of about 292 × 146 mm, which suits panoramas, mind maps or a two-page sketch. Both sizes have the same 176 blank pages, and Midori sells special-size covers, including leather, paper and clear ones, for both. ## How do you use the glassine jacket and stickers? **Use the notebook as it comes, or take the glassine jacket off and keep it clean for later.** Midori says the jacket recalls old paperback books and also protects the plain cover from dirt. The index stickers match the plain cover and come in two types, label and bookplate, per Midori. They let you number and title a shelf of notebooks once you have filled a few. ## Is MD Paper Cotton good for fountain pens? **Midori says MD Paper Cotton keeps MD Paper's resistance to bleeding and bleed-through while absorbing ink softly.** We haven't tested it ourselves. For a ranked list, see our [best notebooks for fountain pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-notebooks-for-fountain-pens/). ## What else is made from MD Paper Cotton? **Midori also sells MD Paper Cotton in pads, letter paper and envelopes.** The [Midori MD Paper Pad](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/midori-md-paper-pad/) guide covers the pads, and our [Midori MD Letter Pad](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/midori-md-letter-pad/) guide covers the standard letter paper. If you like plain cotton-rich paper, the A5 Square Cotton notebook gives a wide landscape spread for drawing. ## Where is the Midori MD Notebook Cotton made? **Midori's Japanese MD PRODUCT store lists the MD Notebook Cotton as made in Japan.** Midori is a brand of Designphil Inc. in Tokyo; Midori has made MD Paper since the 1960s. Our [Midori history](https://stationerytimes.com/stories/midori-history/) tells how the paper and the company grew. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between MD Paper and MD Paper Cotton? MD Paper Cotton contains 20% cotton pulp, is soft white rather than cream and weighs 75 g/m² instead of 80 g/m², per Midori. Midori describes it as softer and airier to write on. ### Is the MD Notebook Cotton lined? No. Midori sells the Cotton notebook blank only, in A5 and A5 Square. ### How many pages are in the MD Notebook Cotton? 176 pages, the same as the standard MD Notebook A5, per Midori's Japanese store. ### Is cotton paper good for fountain pens? Midori says MD Paper Cotton keeps MD Paper's resistance to bleeding while softly absorbing ink, and that its white tone brings out ink colors. We haven't tested it ourselves. ### Does the MD Notebook Cotton lie flat? Yes. Midori says it opens a full 180 degrees and is bound with durable thread. ### What size is the MD Notebook Cotton A5 Square? 146 × 146 × 10 mm and about 165 g, per Midori, with the same 176 blank pages; it opens to a wide landscape spread. ### Is the Midori MD Notebook Cotton made in the USA? No, in Japan. Midori's Japanese MD PRODUCT store lists it as made in Japan. ## Sources - [MDノート コットン［A5］ (MD PRODUCT Japanese store: 20% cotton pulp, 75 g/m², 210 × 148 × 10 mm, 176 pages, about 240 g, thread-stitched, glassine jacket, item 15392006, ¥1,650, made in Japan; read October 22, 2026)](https://md-product.com/products/md-notebook-cotton-a5) - [MDノート コットン［A5スクエア］ (MD PRODUCT Japanese store: 146 × 146 × 10 mm, about 165 g, 176 pages, item 15391006)](https://md-product.com/products/md-notebook-cotton-a5-square) - [MD PRODUCT USA: MD Notebook Cotton [A5] (US store, UPC/JAN 4902805153928)](https://md-product-usa.com/products/md-notebook-cotton-a5) - [MDノート［A5］ (MD PRODUCT Japanese store: standard MD Notebook, 80 g/m² cream MD Paper, 176 pages, about 258 g)](https://md-product.com/products/md-notebook-a5)