Compiled from 5 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Japonica Section 5 mm grid notebook (model MJS-5) is Showa Note's B5 graph notebook: 179 × 252 mm, 60 glue-bound pages, 10 mm squares with 5 mm leader lines, in six cover colors, made in Japan. The maker lists it at ¥230 (about US$1.50) before tax. A UK shop sold a similar Japonica grid notebook at £2.99 (about US$3.90).
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Notes on these facts
Made by Showa Note Co., Ltd. (Takaoka, Toyama). Made in Japan: Showa Note's product page lists the producing 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
Showa Note lists the 5 mm version as model MJS-5: B5 portrait, 179 × 252 mm, glue-bound, 30 sheets (60 pages), made in Japan.
The ruling is 10 mm squares with 5 mm leader lines; Showa Note also lists an 8 mm grid with 4 mm leaders (MJS-4) at the same price.
It comes in six covers, light blue, purple, green, yellow, pink and black, and the maker says the colors follow color-universal design, with the color written on the back.
Showa Note's reference price is ¥230 (about US$1.50) before tax on November 5, 2026, in our $ band; subject stickers are included.
The maker gives no paper weight, paper brand or notebook weight, and we have not tested the paper.
What is the Japonica Section 5 mm Grid Notebook?
It is a plain B5 graph notebook from the maker of Japan’s Japonica school exercise books. Showa Note, based in Takaoka, Toyama, launched Japonica in 1970. Section is the Japonica line of grid-ruled notebooks; the maker calls it a simple, functional grid-notebook series made so more people can use it.
We read Showa Note’s Japanese product and company pages on November 5, 2026. Its other Japonica notebooks are ruled for arithmetic and Japanese lessons; for one of those, see our Japonica Sansu 7-square guide.
What are the size, pages and ruling?
B5 portrait at 179 × 252 mm, 60 pages, with 10 mm squares and 5 mm leader lines. Showa Note’s product page lists these figures.
Spec
Showa Note’s figure
Model
MJS-5 (light blue); other colors MJS-5V, 5G, 5Y, 5P, 5K
Size
B5, 179 mm wide × 252 mm tall
Pages
30 sheets, 60 pages
Ruling
10 mm squares with 5 mm leader lines
Binding
Glue-bound
Made in
Japan
Paper weight, notebook weight
Not stated
The maker also sells an 8 mm grid with 4 mm leader lines (MJS-4) at the same price, and a star-pattern cover version of the 5 mm grid. Our notebook sizes chart shows where B5 sits among standard sizes.
Six: light blue, purple, green, yellow, pink and black. The swatches on this page were sampled from Showa Note’s own product photos, so on your screen they are close, not exact.
Showa Note says the covers are designed with color-universal design in mind, so more people can tell them apart, and that the back cover prints the cover color in words. The Title, Class and Name fields on the cover are large and easy to read, and the name field can be written in pencil. The notebook comes with subject stickers; the maker does not say how many.
What is the paper like?
Showa Note says only that the body paper has ruling in a color based on scientific data on what is easy to write on. It does not give a paper weight, brand or whether it suits fountain pens, and we haven’t tested it. The binding is glue, not thread, so do not expect it to lie flat like our best lay-flat notebooks. The maker says the notebook is recommended by the Japan PTA National Congress for school use, a maker statement we have not checked.
Who is the Japonica Section 5 mm Grid Notebook for?
It suits people who want a cheap B5 grid notebook in a bright color for notes and graphs.
Everyday writing: it is ¥230 (about US$1.50) before tax, in our $ band, with 60 pages of B5 paper.
Journaling and planning: the maker lists a clear ruling (10 mm squares with 5 mm leaders) and a count of 60 pages, with subject stickers included.
Skip it if you need a stated paper weight for fountain pens or a stitched spine: the maker gives no weight and the book is glue-bound.
What does it cost, and where is it made?
It is made in Japan and Showa Note’s reference price is ¥230 (about US$1.50) before tax, as read on November 5, 2026. That is in our $ band (under $5). Outside Japan, The Journal Shop in the UK listed a Showa Note “Japonica Notebook” in B5 grid paper with subject stickers at £2.99 (about US$3.90) on the same day. That shop’s listing mixes several grid sizes and does not give a model number, so we cannot say it is this exact series. Showa Note links an online shop from its pages; we did not read its prices. For horizontal-opening B5 notebooks from the same maker, see our Showa Note horizontal-open notebook guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages does the Japonica Section notebook have?
Showa Note lists 30 sheets, counted as 60 pages, glue-bound.
What is the ruling?
The 5 mm version has 10 mm squares with 5 mm leader lines, per the maker. Showa Note also lists an 8 mm grid with 4 mm leaders (MJS-4).
What size is it?
B5 portrait, 179 mm wide by 252 mm tall, per the maker's page.
Which colors does it come in?
Six: light blue, purple, green, yellow, pink and black (models MJS-5, 5V, 5G, 5Y, 5P and 5K). Showa Note says the colors follow color-universal design and that the cover color is written on the back.
What are the subject stickers?
Showa Note says the notebook comes with handy subject stickers; it does not say how many. The cover also has large Title, Class and Name fields, and the name field can be written in pencil.
Where is it made?
Japan, per the producing-country line on Showa Note's product page.
How much does it cost?
Showa Note's reference price was ¥230 (about US$1.50) before tax on November 5, 2026. The same day The Journal Shop in the UK listed a Showa Note Japonica grid notebook with subject stickers at £2.99 (about US$3.90); we could not confirm it is the same series.
