Yamamoto Notebook Canopus Note

The Canopus Note is an A5 notebook by Yamamoto Paper from Japan, with its core being the specially developed Canopus paper: a microcoated high-bulk paper with 73 g/m², which achieves a physical sheet thickness of 120 ± 3 µm – comparable to coated paper of 150 g/m², but about 50% lighter. The blank pages reveal every ink nuance: shading, sheen, and the vibrancy of colored fountain pen inks come into their own on this surface. Yamamoto Paper spent three years developing this paper, refining the formulation, basis weight, and surface finish through repeated test runs.

Special Features

• Microcoated high-bulk paper, 73 g/m²: The fine surface coating slows the ink absorption just enough so that shading and sheen are fully visible – without the pen dragging or the ink smudging. The basis weight of 73.0 g/m² was selected after extensive testing as the optimal balance between writing comfort and the guide sheet showing through.
• Lightweight volume, solid tactile quality: With identical sheet thickness, Canopus paper weighs about half as much as matte art paper. At 176 pages, the finished notebook feels surprisingly compact and light without the pages appearing thin or unstable.
• Thread-bound spine, lay-flat: Each page is bound with thread at 12 points with approximately 1.5 mm of thread, with stitches spaced 15 mm apart. This allows the notebook to lie flat on the table – even in the middle of the book without counter-pressure on your hand.
• Rounded corners: The corners of the cover are rounded, which significantly reduces the bending of the cardboard during daily use.
• Blank pages with included guide sheet: The inside pages are uncoated, and the included guide sheet is printed on both sides: one side with 6 mm grid, the other with 12 mm lines. This allows you to choose the layout as needed without printed lines interfering with the paper itself.
• Enhanced paper whiteness: The surface is intentionally brightened so that colored inks appear vibrant and high-contrast – particularly advantageous for inks with pronounced sheen or multi-colored shading gradients.

Application & Tips

• Fountain pens with medium to broad nibs: Canopus reveals its character most clearly with more absorbent inks and broader line widths. Broad nibs apply more ink to the surface – shading gradients and sheen reflections then stand out particularly clearly.
• Inks with shading or sheen: The slightly moist writing feel and controlled drying time give inks the opportunity to display their color depth. For inks with gold sheen or color-shifting effects, the brightened surface is a clear advantage.
• No bleed-through, minimal ghosting: Even with wetter fountain pen inks, the reverse side remains usable. Pages can be written on both sides – this reduces paper weight per page with the same page volume.
• Sketches and lettering: The subtle texture of the surface gives the nib a slight resistance, which improves control during precise calligraphy strokes or controlled lines in lettering.
• Use the guide sheet flexibly: The included guide sheet can be placed under any pages. The 12 mm ruling is suitable for letter writing, while the 6 mm side is ideal for journaling or grid layouts.
• Gel pens and fineliners: Fast-drying gel pens and fineliners also work on Canopus paper without feathering. Ballpoint pen refills with oil-based ink glide somewhat less smoothly – fountain pens, gel pens, and fineliners are the strongest combination.

For Ink Enthusiasts

Canopus is a microcoated high-bulk paper – a paper category that achieves high volume with low basis weight through special manufacturing processes. The microcoating applies a very fine, uniform layer to the fiber surface that slows ink penetration without completely blocking absorbency. This allows the ink to remain on the surface longer and the pigments to fully settle before the ink penetrates deeper into the paper – this is the physical reason why sheen is so distinctly visible on this surface. Based on user feedback from the international fountain pen community and multiple test runs, Yamamoto Paper set the basis weight to exactly 73.0 g/m²: light enough for the guide sheet to show through the page, heavy enough for the page to remain stable during writing. The thread binding with 12 stitch points per page and 15 mm stitch spacing is designed for durability – the pages won't come loose from the pad even with intensive regular use.

Technical Specifications