Is Tomoe River Paper Changing?

[D Armstrong]

We had an disturbing thing happen here a few weeks ago. A local wholesaler imported a shipment of Tomoe Rover paper directly from Tomoegawa, the manufacturer. The order was made from the Tomoegawa sample book, with a sample of Tomoe River paper I had provided, for comparison. This wholesalerer has a purchasing agent in Japan, and has specialized in the importation of Japanese paper since the 1980s.

The sizing used on the paper was a complete bust for fountain pens. Even a dry-writing pen bled right through. The weight, color, and feel was an exact match, but the sizing was totally different. Behaved almost like blotting paper.

We are investigating, and the wholesaler is checking with their agent. We know that Tomoegawa is a major paper manufacturer. They sell only in huge quantities. This means that a distributor like Rakuten has bought such a large shipment, and is slowly selling it off in 4,000 sheet increments to us.

The only reason I can think of for the difference in this local shipment, horrifying though it is, is that the manufacturer has changed the paper. This is something which happens relatively often in industry. The TR line of paper is specifically made for mail-order catalogs and technical manuals, where weight is a major factor. With this application, the amount of sizing would be relatively irrelevant, and might even be considered an extra expense.

So my questions are:

1. Has anyone recently had a fresh shipment of TR paper from Japan? Is it the same as the TR we all love?
2. Has anyone ever bought TR paper from a source other than Rakuten? If so, is it the same bullet-proof sizing that we all love?
3. Can anyone think of another reasonable explanation for a discrepancy in these shipments?

Thanks.

[7188photo]

Is this Tomoegawa paper available as notepads etc. or are you talking about sheet paper? If they sell it in stationary shops in Japan I might pick one up today or tomorrow and check it. But then, I wouldn't know if it has changed since I never used it before :/

[tandaina]

you will know. Tamoe river paper is magic. Smooth as silk and nothing goes through it, not fountain pen ink, not water color. Nothing. If it has changed there will be great wailing and gnashing of teeth. I use it in my Hobinichi journal and the idea of that paper changing makes me so sad.

[Silverbreeze]

you will know. Tamoe river paper is magic. Smooth as silk and nothing goes through it, not fountain pen ink, not water color. Nothing. If it has changed there will be great wailing and gnashing of teeth. I use it in my Hobinichi journal and the idea of that paper changing makes me so sad.

Hope not, I love it

[D Armstrong]

I doubt you will find it in Japanese stationery shops. It seems to be an industrial product which has been used by a few specialist vendors to make notebooks, and sometimes sold as loose stock. But it is marketed in this way by only a few, and aimed directly at the fountain pen and calligraphy communities.

[ChrisC]

I think it has changed a bit even before this story.

This is a vague recollection, at best, but if I recall, a sample that I tried from late 2012 was different from the batch i bought in early 2014. Take this with a pound of salt though; I never got to test them side by side, or with the same pens. I just "feel" like they weren't the same, that the 2012 one was better somehow, not in performance, but in feel. Performance, as I recall, was the same, with neither bleeding through from any sort of FP writing. The first sample came from Earthdawn (Cary), the second was a full order from Paper for Fountain Pens. Maybe Cary can weigh in on this?

[bluefeathers]

I noticed a difference between the sample I ordered from Nanami paper and the paper in the paper for fountain pen book, though I can't say with any certainty when they ordered the batches. The paper in my case was ordered just months apart last year. Though both performed the same, I preferred the feel of the paper from Nanami, which seemed a bit crisper. Maybe different vendors are receiving slightly different batches of paper, as you hypothesize?

[bec11mort]

I hope that tomoe river paper isn't changing. I've never been so in love with a paper as I am with TR. I have noticed differences in paper from different vendors as well, particularly my (recently purchased) hobonichi planner which seems to bleed through easier than any of my other TR paper.

[reprieve]

I sincerely hope it hasn't changed. It's my favorite paper. I use the Seven Seas notebooks, the Hobonichi planner, and I have a few reams of loose sheets ordered directly from Japan a few years ago. I haven't noticed any change in feel or performance between them, but I haven't tested them side-by-side. I do know that I use wide wet nibs regularly and have never once experienced any bleed-through or feathering.

[sgage]

I just ordered 100 sheets of TR cream from Jay at PaperForFountainPens. I was checking out the Nanami Seven Seas site, and Dave had put up a notice that he'd heard the rumors, but that TR has always made a 'catalog' grade of paper, which is apparently what the wholesaler had imported. Dave said NOT TO WORRY, nothing has changed with the 'notebook' grade of TR paper.

That said, I'm glad I got my order in ;-) Still thinking about one of those Seven Seas Writer notebooks. Has anyone here used one of them? What do you think?

[D Armstrong]

That is interesting. My contact indicated that there was only one option available for this paper in Tomoegawa's sample book. I wonder who it is that is classifying two grades of this paper as "catalog" and "notebook"? Is it the manufacturer, or a just a distributor?

[sgage]

That is interesting. My contact indicated that there was only one option available for this paper in Tomoegawa's sample book. I wonder who it is that is classifying two grades of this paper as "catalog" and "notebook"? Is it the manufacturer, or a just a distributor?

"IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT regarding Tomoe River Paper rumors: We were alerted to a rumor that Tomoe River paper is changing and will no longer be fountain pen friendly. Apparently, a thread was started on the FPGeeks and FountainPenNetwork forums by someone that had tried the "catalog" version of Tomoe River paper and found that it did not take ink well. Please do not worry - we sell ONLY the Tomoe River "Notebook" paper, and we also test the paper before the notebooks and pads that use it go into production. Thanks to those of you that brought this to our attention."

Perhaps you should take it up with Dave at the Nanami/SevenSeas website:

http://www.nanamipaper.com/products/seven-seas-writer-tomoe-river-a5-journal-7mm-lines.html

[D Armstrong]

We are looking into the possibility that there may be multiple grades, possibly with different sizing:

http://www.tomoegawa.co.jp/english_2/product/p_ssm/ssm1301.html

This seems to indicate that there may be as many as three or four. My working theory is that the Toronto distributor bought "mat", when they wanted "high gloss". I'm waiting to hear back from them.

I like my working theory. It means there is still lots of good paper out there...

[sgage]

We are looking into the possibility that there may be multiple grades, possibly with different sizing:

http://www.tomoegawa.co.jp/english_2/product/p_ssm/ssm1301.html

This seems to indicate that there may be as many as three or four. My working theory is that the Toronto distributor bought "mat", when they wanted "high gloss". I'm waiting to hear back from them.

I like my working theory. It means there is still lots of good paper out there...

I think you're right. I think a lot of us were pretty bummed out by the prospect of the TR paper we have come to love was going away! It seems a simple mistake in ordereing was made...

[Mags]

David are you able to bring any of the mat paper on Sunday for me to try please. I have not heard if you are coming but putting it out there just in case.

[D Armstrong]

David are you able to bring any of the mat paper on Sunday for me to try please. I have not heard if you are coming but putting it out there just in case.

I'm afraid I can't make it down in time for the meet-up this time. And I don't have any of the 'mat' either; I believe it all got sent back.

[Mags]

I will miss seeing you. Next time for sure. Hoping to see if you need help at Scriptus too.

[mrcharlie]

We are looking into the possibility that there may be multiple grades, possibly with different sizing:

http://www.tomoegawa.co.jp/english_2/product/p_ssm/ssm1301.html

This seems to indicate that there may be as many as three or four. My working theory is that the Toronto distributor bought "mat", when they wanted "high gloss". I'm waiting to hear back from them.

After looking at that page, I would guess they wanted "pocket book". I certainly wouldn't want to be in the position of buying a bulk overseas order by having to guess though.

[D Armstrong]

I have been in touch with the Toronto distributor, with this information. Apparently they did see two versions of TR in the sample book, and the coated one was "really shiny", and not at all like what I had supplied. So they ordered the one that matched my sample, which came through as above, with not enough sizing.

They will be in Tokyo in a couple of weeks, will get some substantial translation done then, and spend more time with sample books.

Jury's still out, but we're hopeful.

[Urdarbrunnr]

I just ordered 100 sheets of TR cream from Jay at PaperForFountainPens. I was checking out the Nanami Seven Seas site, and Dave had put up a notice that he'd heard the rumors, but that TR has always made a 'catalog' grade of paper, which is apparently what the wholesaler had imported. Dave said NOT TO WORRY, nothing has changed with the 'notebook' grade of TR paper.

That said, I'm glad I got my order in ;-) Still thinking about one of those Seven Seas Writer notebooks. Has anyone here used one of them? What do you think?
I have the Standard (the unlined version) and it is incredible. The cover is tough yet pliable. The heft is great. The page corners are delightfully clipped and smoothed. And the binding -- it is perfect.

Only ever used TR paper from Nanami, so I can't offer much comparison, but I can say it has been every bit as magical as it is reputed to be.