Sanzen Paper Saga

For those who've followed my channel for a while, you know that I originally planned to use the 68gsm Sanzen Tomeo River paper (TRP) for my planners. I had previously used 68gsm TRP (created by Tomoegawa) and loved its slightly thicker texture, which holds up well to various mediums and appeals to both TRP enthusiasts and skeptics. However, when I received my sample of Sanzen’s 68gsm TRP prior to going to print, it was far from meeting my standards. Feathering and bleed-through were significant issues.

In search of alternatives, I found that Sanzen's 52gsm TRP was the only option that wouldn't drastically delay production. I had enjoyed using Sanzen TRP for a couple of years in planners, journals, and loose-leaf since they took over production in October 2021. While Sanzen's TRP differed from Tomoegawa's versions, it was still among the best fountain pen-friendly papers available. With my experience and recent tests, I decided to use Sanzen's 52gsm TRP for the 2025 planners.

Come September 2024, as Hobonichi launched their 2025 planners, users began pen testing and sharing their frustrations with the paper quality—feathering and severe bleed-through were common. Initially, it seemed more prevalent in the 5-year journals, but soon it became evident that the issues were widespread across their entire lineup. Hobonichi uses a 47gsm version of Sanzen TRP, which led to the belief that the thinner paper was the culprit. However, users of 2025 planners from various shops, including Papertess, AuraEstelle, Sterling Ink, and my own, discovered similar issues with the 52gsm TRP.

Across all brands, Sanzen TRP (whether 47gsm or 52gsm) has shown potential problems. Feathering with fountain pen inks and bleed-through with various writing instruments can occur, and the severity varies from book to book and even page to page.  Some users have been happy with the paper performance while others have found it to be very inconsistent. There’s no surefire way to know if your planner or notebook paper will perform well, but the pen/ink combinations play a significant role. Whether you use Plans by Just Scribble, the Sterling Ink Common Planner, a Hobonichi Cousin, or others, finding the best pen/ink combo might require some experimentation.

As a shop owner, this is incredibly disheartening, especially for a new shop trying to establish a reputation. My goal was to fill a gap in the planner community, and I was already disappointed when I had to change my paper choice for 2025. This ongoing issue with inconsistent batches from Sanzen continues to be frustrating. Transparency and providing the best products have always been my priorities. I've been in contact with both my manufacturer and Sanzen about the paper quality. Sanzen claims that all 2025 paper batches meet their quality control standards and that no changes were made to their formula, though slight variations in thickness and coating between batches can occur.

I believe that while the paper technically meets Sanzen's standards, it does not meet my consumers' expectations or mine. After further discussions with Sanzen, they have committed to improving their formula, aiming to create a paper suitable for various pens. This will take time and require thorough testing to ensure consistency. Meanwhile, I'm exploring other paper alternatives for future releases. I had planned to offer a different paper option to fill another gap in the planner community. I'll continue testing and sharing updates with you. Your support for my shop and patience as we navigate the Sanzen paper saga is truly appreciated. I'm grateful for your excitement about my planner designs and your trust in me to help you find planner peace!