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SHOW NOTES
Today I'm comparing alternatives to Tomoe River Paper for use with fountain pens and watercolors. We'll look at bleed through and ghosting and talk about how Tomoe River has changed.

In my opinion, you probably won't be able to notice a difference between "old" Tomoegawa Tomoe River made pre2021 and "new" Tomoegawa Tomoe River made in 2021 with the same formula by the same company on a different machine.

However, the latest iteration — Tomoe River S by Sanzen — is more complicated. Some of the Tomoe River S may be from old stock, sold under the new name. Or, you might get the brand new version actually made by Sanzen. I have tested some Sanzen paper and felt there was more bleed through with dyebased inks and paints than I get on Tomoegawa Tomoe River, but I understand they may be tinkering with their production. Stick with Tomeogawa for now if you're able to get it.

At this time, Hobonichi, Galen Leather, GoodInkPressions, Odyssey Notebooks, PaperPenguinCo, Taroko Shop, and Yamamoto Paper are all offering Tomoegawa, either "old" or "new." {Find links below to each shop.}

PaperPenguinCo also offers Sanzen. Taroko Shop will likely be transitioning to Sanzen in August.

If you are particular about this, you might want to ask the shop what their current stock is at the time of your order.

PURCHASE PAPER SAMPLES

+ GoodInkPressions at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3khag
+ PaperPenguinCo at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3k9ar


WHERE TO FIND THESE PAPERS IN NOTEBOOKS


52 gsm TOMOE RIVER

This is referred to as “Bible paper thin” but magically resists bleeding with wet media like fountain pens and pigmentbased watercolors. Mileage may vary because, as of 2022, it’s no longer made by the same company. Different iterations are available from these shops:

+ Galen Leather at Amazon (A5): https://amzn.to/3MQzYL5
+ Galen Leather at Amazon (B5): https://amzn.to/3b1H5TL
+ Galen Leather at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3khbg
+ GoodInkPressions at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3k988
+ Paper Penguin Co at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3k8zl
+ Taroko Design at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3k9a1
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #013 at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PU1n1k
+ Yamamoto at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3khax


68 gsm TOMOE RIVER

This is very slightly thicker and less shiny than the incredibly popular 52gsm Tomoe River. It’s designed for artists and takes watercolor and fountain pens with less ghosting than the thinner version.

+ GoodInkPressions at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3k98j
+ Odyssey Notebooks at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3k9a6
+ Taroko Design at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3k9a0


52 gsm VIEW CORONA BRIGHT WHITE

While testing fountain pens, gel pens, markers, student grade watercolors, and artist quality watercolors, I can’t tell the difference between original 52gsm Tomoe River and 52gsm View Corona Bright White. Plain White seems a bit more prone to bleeding with dyebased watercolors, so I’d opt for Bright White.

+ Paper Penguin Co at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3jwuz


MIDORI

Approximately 70 gsm. Very smooth but with less coating, so it performs more like traditional watercolor paper than the shininess of Tomoe River.

+ Midori MD notebooks at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xuuKPj
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #001 (6.5mm rule) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PYoojR
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #002 (square grid) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3anFAPm
+ Traveler's Company Insert #003 (blank) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GMVy1H
+ Traveler's Company Insert #017 (monthly) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QckxzQ
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #018 (weekly, vertical) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xBzhkr
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #019 (weekly, horizontal) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zpwNXs
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #026 (dot grid) (available at Tokyo Pen Shop)


STALOGY

Reported to be 52 gsm; feels a tiny bit heavier. Very similar to Tomoe River but has less coating, so it dries faster.

+ A5 Stalogy 365 (368 pages) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zgt4vq
+ A5 Stalogy Half Year (184 pages) at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xkEsFo
+ Also available in B5, B6, A6, and a range of colors: https://amzn.to/3zTIJkT


COSMO AIR LIGHT

75 gsm. This is nice for fountain pens, but I don't like the way watercolors look like they were painted with markers.

+ Galen Leather at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ObT935
+ Galen Leather at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3khbf
+ Yamamoto at Etsy: https://shrsl.com/3khao


OTHERS I TRIED BUT DID NOT THINK WERE COMPARABLE
Apica
Bank Mitsubishi
Gallery Leather
Moleskine
Onion Skin
Peter Pauper Press
Rhodia
Shiraoi

PATREON
Oops! I discontinued this program in June 2024.

DISCLOSURES
KeyLimeInk is an affiliate of Amazon, Blick, Etsy, Jackson's, Paper House, and Paper Sunday. Paper Penguin Co sent samples for review.