Paper Review: Graphilo by Kobeha

Earlier this summer I revamped the "Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper" site resource, and one major change I made was to add Graphilo paper as a top-tier option. Graphilo has assumed something of a cult-favorite status due to how difficult it was to obtain in the United States (and when you could find it, how expensive it could be). As it becomes more easily available outside of Japan, I strongly recommend Graphilo as an option for anyone looking for ink friendly paper with exceptionally good color reproduction.

I’ve been using an A5 Slim Graphilo Notebook in my Roterfaden TGS_25 to log all of my currently inked pens.

Graphilo is made by Kobeha, a paper company located in Kobe, Japan. Specifically formulated for fountain pens, Graphilo has survived several different iterations, with each new release fine-tuning the paper formulation. In my opinion, all of them have been excellent, with the last two batches qualifying as superb.

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The Herbin shimmer inks combine shading, sheen, and shimmer, so they offer an excellent example of what Graphilo is capable of.

Even with growing distribution, Graphilo is still relatively expensive, so why splurge? It’s a combination of factors: Most people enjoy this paper not just for its ability to handle any ink you throw at it, but also for its superior color reproduction. You will always get sharp lines without feathering and bleedthrough, but many feel that no paper showcases fountain pen ink properties better than Graphilo, particularly shading and multi-chromatic inks. Color is very subjective - I personally prefer how my fountain pen inks look on MD Cotton Paper and Graphilo, so I tend to use notebooks containing one of these two papers whenever I'm experimenting with new inks or writing out my "currently inked" lists to keep track of what inks I have in which pens.

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Herbin’s Opale Nocturne is one of my favorite shading inks with subtle shimmer. I love how it looks on Graphilo paper.

Another reason that I love Graphilo is that you get the ink friendly performance of Tomoe River in a heavier paper (81.4g) with slight texture for those who dislike the onionskin-like feel of Tomoe River. That said, the biggest downside to Graphilo is the dry time - like most paper intended to showcase fountain pen ink, it's not absorbent, so it may take some time for the ink to dry when writing with especially wet nibs. If you plan to use Graphilo in a context where you are having to turn pages quickly, you may want to use blotting paper.

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Extreme shaders like the Sailor Ancora Rainy Day Ink (Sorry, it’s a Japanese store exclusive) really show off their properties on Graphilo!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Personally, I find Graphilo paper among the most fountain pen friendly paper I have ever used. For those who dislike the ultra thin feel of Tomoe River and similar paper, and prefer a heavier weight with greater durability, Graphilo is high on my list of personal recommendations. I have yet to find a fountain pen ink that bleeds or feathers, and I even know people who have pushed this paper with sharpies and alcohol markers and had decent results.

Though Graphilo is not an inexpensive paper option, the price has gradually aligned over time with other high-end Japanese writing papers. Kobeha has increased production while also making the paper available in a wider range of formats, including A5 Slim, A5 Square, and standard A5, as well as looseleaf, memo blocks, and letter pads. We currently stock all of them in our own shop.

The Graphilo A5 Slim (right) which will be coming back in stock in the hopefully near future.

The Gentleman Stationer carries most varieties of Graphilo paper, though because this paper is imported directly from Japan, specific items may not be in stock at the same time. We regularly order so if the particular paper you are looking for is not showing as available, keep checking back.

Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper: Updated to Include Graphilo and Nebula Note

I just finished updating one of our most popular site resources: “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper,” which was originally a blog post first published in 2021. Due to the expansive comments section, I’ve left it in blog format rather than move it to a stand-alone page. I periodically update the main article to account for changes in paper performance, new brands, and customer/reader feedback. Because I can’t test everything, I leave the comments open for suggestions.

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What Were the Major Developments in 2026?

I added a handful of brands to the resource, and removed one or two others mainly due to availability issues. Here are the major changes:

• Graphilo and Nebula Note Enter Tier 1. Graphilo paper, from Japanese company Kobeha, is one of the most ink-friendly papers I have used, and given that it’s now far more available in the U.S. than it has been in the past, I feel good about adding it to the first Tier. Similarly, I’ve been consistently impressed with Nebula Note, a slightly textured paper from the makers of Colorverse Ink, which comes in a super-convenient spiral format with perforated pages.

• NOLTY Makes an Appearance. NOLTY is a relatively inexpensive Japanese brand that is sold everywhere in Japan but still uncommon in the United States. NOLTY paper comes in white and off-white variants, and while they are known for their planners, their notebooks are also excellent. I’ve added NOLTY to Tier I, and we look forward to carrying their notebooks in the near future, having previously carried their PAGEM B6 log books.

• Notsu and Blackwing belong in Tier II, and Baron Fig Drops Off the List. I feel more comfortable including Notsu as a Tier II brand, not because there’s been any decline in their paper quality (they make the best fountain pen friendly notecards on the market), but rather because they have been rapidly expanding their line to include a wider range of notebooks and papers of different types, some of which may not be intended for fountain pens. Similarly, standard Blackwing paper is pretty good, including the “Illegal Pads,” but there can be wide variation in the paper used in the special edition notebooks. Baron Fig has fallen off my radar entirely, and has gone more mass market in recent years so I do not feel comfortable ranking it in terms of fountain pen friendliness.

Note that this is not intended to be a “ranking,” and the order in which these papers appear in each tier are not intended to suggest that any one is objectively “better” than another. Also, even non-fountain pen friendly paper can be quality stationery. Certain high-end cotton papers are tactile and highly absorbent - quite pleasant to write on with pencil, ballpoint, and rollerballs - but they can’t handle the water-based ink found in most fountain pens. Enjoy, and as always, drop a comment if you have suggestions on paper I may not have tried.

Five Boutique Paper Brands I'm Watching Closely and Why

Major paper brands don’t change much over the years. The predictability of brands like Midori, Clairefontaine, Maruman, Kokuyo, and others are a big reason why they remain so popular. You know what to expect, and larger companies (usually) manufacture their own products, so they buy paper in large quantities and maintain a healthy supply on hand in case of disruption. For example, this is why Hobonichi was able to continue producing its planners using the “old” Tomoe River Paper for years after it was discontinued.

Smaller boutique brands, on the other hand, usually have to outsource manufacturing and nearly always have to source their paper from a third party. As a small business owner myself, I know firsthand how difficult it is to source materials - especially when you can’t afford to purchase multiple years’ worth of supplies at once - and maintain consistent results from any sort of outside contractor. But as a retailer who sells many different brands, as well as an enthusiast who loves to support smaller makers, it also means that I have to periodically test certain smaller-batch products to make sure paper stock (and performance) hasn’t changed.

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Archer & Olive has one of the few hardback A5-Slim notebooks available.

Over the past year, I’ve made an effort to add to our curation smaller makers whose paper has been consistently high-performing, including with fountain pens. While I continue to watch any small boutique brand closely for things like paper stock, these five have performed consistently enough while I’ve had them in the shop that I can comfortably recommend them to anyone looking to try something different.

1. Notsu. I discovered Notsu by chance, when I was buying up samples of different brands of index cards looking for a dot grid layout with paper/cardstock capable of handling fountain pen inks. Not only have their index cards remained consistently good, but Notsu has been adding new formats and expanding their line of organizational accessories that almost make it an index card notebook system.

2. Lochby. I love Lochby’s waxed canvas covers and planners, but my favorite Lochby product line is the 68gsm Tomoe River Paper Notebooks. I’ve heard mixed rumors about whether or not the 68gsm Tomoe River Paper is still being made by Sanzen, so I’m encouraged by the fact that you cannot only still get it through Lochby but that Lochby is continuing to release new formats, including B5, TN (A5-Slim), and A7.

3. Levenger. As a lifelong user (sort of an exaggeration but not much) of Levenger products, I’ve learned to hoard their writing pads and Circa disc-punched paper when they source a good batch, because it has been inconsistent for fountain pen users over the years. The current version that we carry is wonderfully fountain pen friendly and I really hope that Levenger sticks with this paper supplier. If you’re looking for meeting-style or Cornell-ruled notetaking paper, the Annotation-ruled pads are a personal favorite.

4. Archer & Olive. I’ve only recently discovered Archer & Olive, which makes 160gsm notebooks that handle ink beautifully and are also really nice for writing. Best of all? Archer & Olive notebooks come in an A5-slim/TN/Traveler’s-equivalent hardcover format that’s the best I’ve seen since the old Soumkine notebooks. The notebooks come in either fabric or vegan leather covers, with a range of motifs. I’ve heard via customers who have used their products over the years that Archer & Olive has remained consistently good, so I’m likely going to bring in additional formats.

5. Anecdote. I picked up one of Anecdote’s buckram-covered A5 notebooks in a store somewhere in NYC years ago, and was thrilled to be able to add them directly to our store. While the paper seems to have changed a couple of times, it’s remained fairly fountain pen friendly for most nibs and inks, and the $20 price point makes this an attractive everyday notebook. Buckram behaves a lot like waxed-canvas in terms of texture and how it patinas.

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Smaller brands also experiment more with different formats, like this week-on-a-page planning pad from Notsu.

If you’d like to read more about fountain pen friendly papers and which ones I personally like, check out this long-running (and annually updated) post “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper”, as well as this post from earlier this week where I talk about my favorite of the fountain pen friendly papers.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop (our online store) and pledges via the T.G.S Patreon Program. Come see these and more in our Nashville shop, where we are open from 1-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday!

What's On Your Desk? My Personal Favorite Papers for Fountain Pens, 2025

Over the weekend I updated the long-running post “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” to reflect new products on the market and changes in availability of certain papers that I consider “fountain pen friendly”. I don’t believe that I’ve ever written a designated post discussing my personal favorites from that list, so here goes!

How I Use Paper and How It Affects My Preferences

Because this post addresses my own personal preferences, I should probably talk about what those are first. For my personal writing, I enjoy using more textured, relatively absorbent paper with a softer writing feel. My primary considerations are (relatively) quick dry times and the ability to write on both sides of the page. Because I use a lot of planners and ring or disc notebooks, I also value perforated pages, or at a minimum, paper that comes in tear-off pads or looseleaf sheets that can be hole-punched or cut down to different sizes. What don’t I pay a lot of attention to (at least beyond the basics)? The nuances of ink color and shading/sheen/shimmer, since most of my writing is more functional and not retained long-term, and also because I think Midori MD Cotton - my favorite - does a more than adequate job with ink. Three of the papers on this list are long-timers (both Midoris and the Tomoe River 68gsm), and two are recent additions (Soliste and Maruman Basic).

1. Midori MD Cotton. My all-time favorite writing paper, even if it mostly comes in blank, unruled notebooks and writing pads. Midori MD Cotton strikes an excellent balance between absorbency and ink-friendliness, will dry relatively quickly without feathering or bleeding, and for those who do value color reproduction, actually does a pretty nice job of showcasing inks. I was sad to hear at this year’s San Francisco Pen Show that Plotter is not going to continue to make the A5 and Bible-sized refills featuring the MD Cotton Paper with letterpress ruling, which is what is shown in the pictures here.

2. Yamamoto Soliste. A relatively new paper that Yamamoto has popularized, the off-white Soliste is uncoated and textured, yet not quite as absorbent as MD Cotton Paper. I find that it has a soft feel, which is especially noticeable when used in notebooks like the Yamamoto Ro-Biki system. If you enjoy the feel of papers like Iroful or Cosmo Air Light, but desire something slightly less “spongy” (for lack of a better term) consider giving Soliste a try.

3. 68gsm Tomoe River Paper. Each year, as we watch the “classic” 52gsm Tomoe River Paper undergo production changes and reformulations, I worry about the 68gsm version, which is my favorite of the two. Slightly heavier, and in my opinion, more textured with better dry-times and performance for everyday writing, this is my favorite paper to use in A5-Slim/Traveler’s-size notebooks ever since Lochby introduced its own “Voyager” refill. Currently, third-party companies Lochby and Odyssey notebooks are the only ones who I know who are using the 68gsm version in large quantities, and I worry that eventually it will run out since I don’t believe it is being produced any longer. Hopefully I’m wrong.

4. Midori MD Paper. I would also include Plotter paper under this header. While standard Plotter paper is marketed as a different product and has a different formulation, it comes from the same product family and for my purposes behaves similarly. I love Midori paper for the variety of layouts, ranging from blank or grid pads to dot grid colored paper to memo blocks to letter pads.

5. Maruman Basic (70 gsm). I was late to the party on this one, but I was happy to discover this cost-effective fountain pen friendly paper that I enjoy using for work. Slightly lighter weight than Maruman Mnemosyne, I don’t see much of a drop off in performance, and the sturdy spiral binding and chipboard cover has held up well in my bags. Also: perforated pages! I can’t emphasize how nice that is!

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I wish Midori would expand its use of the cotton paper, like the limited edition Plotter refill shown here. MD Cotton is my personal ink swatching paper of choice, even if some would argue that it darkens the colors.

If I’m drawing or playing around with ink purely for personal enjoyment, there’s a 90+% chance I’m using Midori MD Cotton. For notetaking and everyday work, however, I will probably be using the Maruman Basic Spiral Notebooks or some version of Midori MD Paper (including the various Plotter refills). These papers strike a good balance between performance and cost-effectiveness, and come in a wide range of different rulings and formats.

If I had one recommendation to those looking for that “perfect” paper: test as many different papers as you can. Paper is still relatively inexpensive, so it’s easy to buy a handful of different notebooks and samples to dial in your preferences once you have a general idea of your overall needs and what you think you like. Pen clubs and shows are often great places to test out different papers, as people are usually willing to share. Finally, we keep samples and testers of most papers available in our shop, so if there is something you’d like to see or write on, I will often be able to go get it for you. It gives you a reason to come see us!

Our brick and mortar store is open this week from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday. You can of course always shop with us online, 24-7!

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Maruman Basics Dot Grid Paper: An everyday workhorse.

Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper: Updated Resource!

I’ve spent the last two days updating the site resource “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper,” which was originally a blog post first published in 2021. It’s garnered such a good response - 50+ comments at last count - that I’ve left it in blog format just to maintain the active comment section. I periodically update the main article to account for changes in paper performance, new brands, and customer/reader feedback. Because I can’t test everything, I leave the comments open for suggestions.

What Were the Major Developments in 2025?

I added a handful of brands to the resource, and removed one or two others mainly due to availability issues. Here are the major changes:

• Write Notepads Drops Off the List. Write Notepads left the direct-to-consumer market, at least for now, to focus on B2B sales. While I understand that may change in the future, for now their products are not as widely available so I’m leaving them out of this resource which focuses primarily on retail products.

• Stàlogy and Blackwing Move Into Tier I. While I’ve considered these two brands “Tier II” fountain pen friendly paper in the past, I’ve noticed an increase in consistency so I’ve moved both of them into Tier I. With Blackwing, note that this refers only to their standard paper. Some of their special edition notebooks may use different paper which may or may not perform similarly.

• Notsu and Shorthand Make an Appearance. These two brands make new appearances in Tiers I and II, respectively. Notsu is one of my favorite new stationery brands out there, and their ink friendly index cards have become a staple of my personal rotation. Los Angeles-based Shorthand makes a wide range of notebooks, notepads, and correspondence stationery, and while I would limit fountain pens to extra-fine or fine nibs, I love the feel of their vintage-y off-white paper and sturdy covers and spiral bindings.

Note that this is not intended to be a “ranking,” and the order in which these papers appear in each tier are not intended to suggest that any one is objectively “better” than another. Also, even non-fountain pen friendly paper can be quality stationery. Certain high-end cotton papers are tactile and highly absorbent - quite pleasant to write on with pencil, ballpoint, and rollerballs - but they can’t handle the water-based ink found in most fountain pens. Enjoy, and as always, drop a comment if you have suggestions on paper I may not have tried.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to see any of the papers mentioned here in person, or even try some of them, come by our brick-and-mortar shop located in Nashville!

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