Fans of the original lightweight Tomoe River Paper were disappointed to hear last year that it was being discontinued. After a lot of back-and-forth over whether the paper was truly gone forever, it was announced that Japanese paper company Sanzen had purchased the formula and naming rights from Tomoegawa, and Tomoe River Paper would go back into production. But would it be the same? That’s the big question.
A comparison of the original Tomoe River (top) vs. the new Sanzen version (bottom). I have more comparisons of writing samples below.
A good friend of mine placed a large order direct from Yamamoto Paper in Japan, and was kind enough to add a package of A4 Sanzen Tomoe River sheets to his order for me. I’ve had a week or so to test this paper out, and can offer you my initial thoughts. Short Answer: Those looking for an exact replica of classic 52gsm Tomoe River Paper (in terms of both feel and how the paper showcases ink colors) are going to be dissatisfied, those who appreciate any lightweight writing paper that handles fountain pen ink without feathering or bleeding will like this paper just fine, and those who use pencils in addition to fountain pens might strongly prefer the new paper over the old. Let me break this down:
Sanzen Tomoe River Paper feels stiffer and has more tooth. While it still manages to have that “crinkly” feel that some people loved about the original, the Sanzen version feels different - more like a traditional writing paper such as Midori MD. It also has more feedback - it’s not rough or scratchy, but the feedback is definitely noticeable when you do a side-by-side comparison with the original. I’ve heard some people complain about the paper “dragging” on nibs, and while I personally would not describe the feel as “draggy,” that may depend on the specific nibs you use and how sensitive you are to writing feel.
Sanzen Tomoe River Paper showcases ink much differently than the original. It’s neither good nor bad, but inks look different on the Sanzen paper than on the original: darker with less shading and sheen, and less-pronounced color variation in multi-chromatic inks. You will either like or dislike this property/feature, depending on how you want your inks to look, but there’s really no way to tell other than trying some for yourself. I tend to use less exciting inks for my daily writing than most people, and I don’t use my papers for art and/or calligraphy where ink properties might be more important, but if you do, you may end up disappointed.
Sanzen Tomoe River Paper may have less show-through and “ghosting.” I’ve had several questions via Instagram about whether there is “ghosting” with the new Sanzen version. For purposes of answering this question, I’ll equate “ghosting” to “show-through”, meaning that you can still see the writing on the reverse side of the page, even if the ink technically doesn’t bleed through. The short answer is yes, there is still show-through (as you would have with any thin paper - it’s unavoidable), but it’s not as pronounced. I say “may” above because it will likely depend heavily on the ink you use.
Note: I personally define “ghosting” differently, and use it to refer to the transfer of ink or graphite from one page to another when you write on the back of a page that already has writing on it. With pencil, it’s near certain that you’ll experience some ghosting with anything HB or softer. With pens, it’s more a function of the ink used rather than the paper, but ultra-smooth paper will exacerbate the tendency of highly saturated or slow-drying inks to ghost.
Sanzen Tomoe River Paper will likely be more durable than the original. If I had one complaint about original Tomoe River Paper, it’s that the paper could be so thin and crinkly (especially in looseleaf form), that it could tear easily. For this reason, I often avoided using Tomoe River paper at work, and in situations where I needed a notebook or writing pad to travel in a backpack or briefcase. While far from scientific, I did a “tear test” on both the original Tomoe River and the Sanzen Tomoe River, and the Sanzen version feels stronger and rip-resistant.
Sanzen Tomoe River Paper is better for pencil. Given the additional tooth/texture, those of us who use pencils as much as fountain pens may well prefer the Sanzen version to the original, which could be a bit too “glassy smooth” for pencils. Because of the lack of texture, many found that the original Tomoe River Paper smeared with darker pencil, probably because ultra-smooth papers don’t hold the graphite as well as toothier versions.
In this picture, you can see a pronounced difference in color between the inks on Sanzen Tomoe River Paper (top) and the original 52gsm paper (bottom). The two inks are Vinta Perya and Vinta Sirena, respectively, both of which typically have multi-chromatic shading, which is not as visible on the Sanzen paper. To be fair, the lighting in my kitchen makes the Sanzen writing look darker than in real life, and the effect is more pronounced on the blue Perya than the more green-ish Sirena.
Note: In comparing Sanzen Tomoe River Paper with the “original” Tomoe River Paper, I am not distinguishing between any of the formulation changes in the original. Prior to being discontinued, the original paper changed at least once (to much discussion among paper connoisseurs). Because I could never tell a difference between the “new” and “old” original Tomoe River, and because the different versions are not easily identified, I’m not taking that into account in this comparison.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
Sanzen Tomoe River Paper is not widely available at the moment, though that will likely change as it works its way through the supply chain. Personally, I think I’ll be perfectly happy with this new version, should I ever need to purchase additional Tomoe River notebooks, or should companies like Traveler’s Company and Musubi decide to start using this paper in their notebooks. (I have a lifetime supply of pretty much any sort of paper in existence, so I’m not particularly concerned about running low on original Tomoe River.) That said, the Sanzen Paper is different, and if you’re a die-hard fan of the original you shouldn’t expect it to duplicate the experience you’ve grown to love. This is essentially an entirely new paper, and should probably be considered on its own merits.
So where can you get this paper? The Yamamoto Paper Etsy Shop is currently the only source I’m aware of. It’s currently priced at $6.50 for a pack of 50 A4 sheets, with shipping costs of nearly $20 so you’ll want to stock up and make your order count. I expect I’ll be able to offer this paper in the Curated Shop at some point, though if you’re a die-hard fan of old Tomoe River you’ll be happy to know that I still have some 52 gsm paper available in the Traveler’s Notebook “Lightweight Paper” Specialty Refills, in both Standard and Passport sizes. (I tried to stock up on these while they’re still available for purchase). Lochby A5 and pocket notebook refills also feature the 68gsm Tomoe River, and I hear this paper will remain available but that’s by rumor only.
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