Step into a quiet, dreamy landscape every time you plan your day. The Hiroko Kubota: Waiting on the Chord HON features a whimsical illustration built around a single idea: on the front cover, a white cat sits on the piano key for the note Mi, cradling a red flower bud as though listening closely for someone's arrival. Turn to the back cover, and a black cat sits on that same key, quietly reading a book beside a large violin and a small blue bird. If the two cats could only move a little closer, they'd be near enough to form a chord together. A wide lawn stretches out before them, carrying the scent of fresh grass, as if music is only a matter of time. Refined silver foiling marks the year 2026 on the front cover and spine, catching the light as you write.
Japan is world famous for its thoughtful stationery culture, and the Hobonichi Techo line sits at the very heart of it. Illustrator Hiroko Kubota brings this lineup to life with her imaginative scenes of animals and peaceful landscapes. The HON model features a built-in hardcover design, transforming your daily planner into a self-contained book that's easy to carry anywhere.
This English edition comes in the spacious A5 size with a Monday-start, January-start layout. It contains the standard Hobonichi Techo Cousin interior pages, offering daily pages, two-page weekly spreads with time schedules, and bonus back pages like Memories 2026, 12 Switches to Help You Focus, and For a Comfortable Night's Sleep.
The durable Tomoe River paper provides a smooth writing experience that handles ink wonderfully. Thanks to its traditional thread-stitch binding, the planner opens a full 180 degrees and stays flat on your desk without being held down. As an exclusive extra, this HON comes with a clear pencil board complete with 5mm grid lines, ruler markings in 1mm increments along one side, and an attached pen holder clip.
For a matching set, pair this techo with the coordinating Hobonichi Graph Notebook, Another Night of Falling Star Sparklers, also illustrated by Kubota. This item is brand new.
Hobonichi Techo 2026 HON A5 daily planner, “Waiting on the Chord,” illustrated by Hiroko Kubota. Available in English or Japanese edition, January start, Monday start.
The cover features Kubota’s artwork of a white cat holding a red flower bud while sitting on the piano key for Mi, with a black cat reading on the back cover. A violin and small blue bird appear on the back cover. The front cover and spine display “2026” with silver foil detailing.
Contents are the same as the Hobonichi Techo Cousin book, including daily pages and weekly layouts with one week across a two-page spread and a time schedule. Thread-stitch binding allows the planner to open fully flat at 180 degrees. Made with thin, lightweight, durable Tomoe River paper for smooth writing and good ink performance.
Includes bonus pages: Memories 2026, 12 Switches to Help You Focus, and For a Comfortable Night’s Sleep. HON-exclusive clear pencil board included, with 5 mm grid lines, a 1 mm increment ruler, and a clip-style pen holder.
