I am a Shikibun Red Pine Notebook. Not paper, but close enough to fool you, and thin enough to make you check twice. Curator's Notes This one is kind of unbelievable. The pages are made from shaved Japanese red pine, cut so thin it almost doesn’t make sense! Around 0.2 mm, which is why it actually behaves like paper when you write on it. It’s based on kyogi, a technique that goes back centuries when thin wood was used in place of paper. But this feels far from historical or outdated. You open it expecting something rigid and instead it’s smooth, flexible, and surprisingly easy to write on. It’s one of those notebooks even serious stationery people might not have come across. I can already think of a few friends who would keep this tucked away and bring it out at the right moment. Shikibun Red Pine Notebook was curated by Angélique Chmielewski Designer/Maker Maker: Shikibun Specifications Dimensions: 4.3" (w) x 5.9" (l) or 110mm (w) x 150mm (l) Weight: 1.5 oz or 43 g Materials: Japanese Red Pine Details Made in Japan Handcrafted notebook made from ultra-thin sheets of shaved Japanese red pine Traditionally inspired by Kyogi sheets historically used for writing Buddhist sutras Softcover design with carefully hand-bound construction Each page features natural wood grain, texture, and the gentle fragrance of red pine Made from unprocessed natural wood that evolves over time Suitable for writing or sketching with pencil, ballpoint pen, or colored pencils Natural wood surface may allow slight ink bleed depending on writing instrument Pages may gradually change color, warp slightly, or develop small tears along the grain as they age Natural red pine oils may appear on the cover or spine over time Smooth wooden texture provides a unique tactile writing surface Each notebook will show natural variations in grain, tone, and character A6 size for compact everyday use 140 pages (70 leaves of wood)
