Kokuyo Field Sketch Book red

The Kokuyo Field Sketch Book is a Japanese field notebook with a long history: originally developed in 1959 for surveying engineers, today a classic for anyone seeking a sturdy, compact notebook for on the go. The red hardcover of the Trystrams Colour Edition is covered with a paper-textile blend, giving the notebook its characteristically firm, slightly textured grip. The 3 mm grid interior paper – printed in light blue – bears the Japanese name Sketch because it was originally used for field sketches and measurement data.

Features

• Hardcover made from laminated card – rigid enough to hold the notebook in one hand and write with the other, without a surface underneath.
• 3 mm grid (Sketch ruling) – printed in light blue, visually recedes whilst writing; the tight grid structures sketches, diagrams and notes equally well, without restricting creative freedom.
• Kokuyo Fine Paper – smooth, wood-free quality paper with a pleasantly calm surface; accepts ink without shedding fibres and shows minimal show-through or feathering even with fine to medium nibs.
• Thread binding – pages lie flat, can be cleanly removed and remain securely bound even with frequent use.
• Pocket format (95 × 165 × 6 mm) – fits in a jacket inside pocket; at just 40 sheets (80 pages) the notebook remains slim and lightweight.
• Trystrams Colour Edition in Red – matte, richly pigmented cover; the gold-embossed "Sketch Book" lettering on the spine is a detail that preserves the heritage of professional field use.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pens and fine-tip pens: The fine paper works well with fountain pens featuring fine to medium nibs. With very wet nibs or highly saturated inks, minimal show-through may occur – both sides of the page can still be used.
• Pencils and gel pens: The smooth surface enables quick, low-resistance writing – ideal for rapid note-taking and sketching whilst standing.
• Field sketches and technical drawings: The 3 mm grid allows proportionally accurate sketches without a ruler – a direct legacy from its original use as a surveyor's notebook.
• Daily logging and bullet journalling: The 80 pages cover a compact period; if you maintain several notebooks in parallel, you'll benefit from the slim format and uniform size.
• Cover note: The red cover material can rub off slightly under heavy friction – take care when combining with light-coloured cover jackets or protective sleeves.

For Notebook Enthusiasts

The Field Sketch Book is known in Japan as Sokuryo Yacho – literally "surveying field notebook". It was developed by Kokuyo in 1959 and has scarcely changed since, which explains its status as a timeless classic. The Trystrams Colour Edition is a special edition with coloured covers that retains the original's identical format and paper. The cover consists of a paper-textile laminate (paper cloth paste), which is thinner and lighter than traditional hardcover board yet yields almost not at all. The thread binding enables the notebook to open completely without strain on the spine – even after extensive use, the block remains perfectly rigid.

Technical Specifications