Hobonichi Pencil Board // Tomitaro Makino

Out of the Hobonichi original accessories, the Hobonichi Pencil Board is one of the most popular items. Keeping it underneath the page you’re writing on allows the reinforcement to provide an enjoyable writing experience. They fit perfectly to the size of the techo book, and will prevent your pen from sliding on the page, and not leave indentations on the opposite page, making for a comfortable writing experience.

The pencil boards designed in collaboration with Dr. Tomitaro Makino, known as the Father of Japanese Botany, would be good partners for your daily life with the botanical illustrations drawn with detailed and thorough observation.

For the A6 Original size, the colored botanical illustration depicting a Kanto dandelion and Japanese thistle is printed on it.

For the A5 Cousin size, a colored botanical illustration of a Korogi-ran is printed alongside memos written in pencil.

For the Weeks size, the global thistle, cornflower, chamomile, and calendula flowers are drawn in sumi ink, describing how each flower is attached.

The colors of the back of each pencil board are different, too. The Original size is in yellow reminiscent of dandelions, the Cousin size is green like the stem of the Korogi-ran, and the Weeks size is in purple like a global thistle. One side is labeled by millimeter to act as a metric ruler, and a “Today” tab on the corner marks the current page if you’d like to use it as a bookmark as well.

You might want to match them with a techo cover or Weeks, designed in collaboration with Dr. Tomitaro Makino’s botanical illustrations. Try the Hobonichi Pencil Board for yourself and you’ll see how great it is to use.

About Botanist Tomitaro Makino

Born April 24, 1862 in present-day Sakawa Town, Kochi Prefecture. Raised in the rich natural surroundings of Tosa City, he began to study botany independently as a young child. Moved to Tokyo and devoted himself to botanical research through the Department of Botany at Tokyo University’s Faculty of Science.
Founded “The Botanical Magazine” with a close friend; they collaborated to publish their discovery of the flowering plant Yamatogusa in 1889. Collected over 400000 specimens during his 94-year lifespan, and named over 1500 discovered species. Known as the “Father of Japanese Botany.”

Information provided by the Makino Botanical Garden.