Hobonichi 2025 Spring Edition Weeks Japanese: Tokyo National Museum Hasegawa Tohaku – Pine Forest
*Available in Japanese language as a Spring April 2025 start, only.
In this work, the artist avoids the prominent outlines typical of ink painting, using only delicate gradations to depict a windswept pine forest with hazy light seeping through the mist. Off in the distance are snow-capped mountains, filling the image with humid, cold air.
Pine Forest is a work of art that was painted by Hasegawa Tohaku nearly 420 years ago during the Azuchi–Momoyama period. The painting currently resides in the Tokyo National Museum as a national treasure and is considered a masterpiece in early modern ink painting.
This popular national treasure, which has stolen people’s hearts with its enigmatic charm, is now available as a Hobonichi Techo Weeks book.
The techo cover focuses on the right-hand screen of the original Pine Forest painting. The material is made with a lightly textured cloth on a hard cover with some give to it so it still bends.
You can see how ink alone still gives the artwork a feeling of depth with incredible applications of gradation and meticulous brush strokes.
The year 2025 is foil-pressed in a matte silver. The year is only featured on the spine of the book to leave the artwork on the front cover unobstructed.
The back cover is white with a bluish tint to evoke the image of thawing snow. The bottom left includes logos for the Tokyo National Museum and Hobonichi.
The book comes with an informational card that gives an overall view of the entire original Pine Forest painting, which stretches across a left- and right-hand screen. You can bend the card and stand it up to have a miniature version of the original.
Hasegawa Tohaku was born in 1539 in Nanao, Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture. He painted Buddhist pictures in his hometown of Nanao as a painter until his early 30s, after which he was discovered by Sen no Rikyu and moved to Kyoto. He was believed to be in his 50’s when he painted Pine Forest. Some believe that Tohaku, who lost his son at a young age, may have painted this image from memory while imagining the coast of his hometown where he walked with his son.
Looking at this artwork can put your mind at ease, provide a sense of comfort, and remind you of your own hometown or memorable place. Pine Forest has an almost magical charm to it in the way the scenery transcends time and place to resonate with all viewers. We hope this techo will bring comfort to those who carry it on them.
When you order this Hobonichi Techo Weeks, you’ll receive a clear, adhesive corner pocket you can stick anywhere you like.
The book uses thin and light yet durable Tomoe River paper. This paper that underwent an overhaul with the 2024 edition techo is more resistant to bleed through, lighter despite being the same thickness, and has a smoother surface by adjusting the fibers of the paper.
The Spring edition Weeks book has space for writing in plans or journal entries, and it also has 73 pages of grid paper memo pages in the back. The back of the book contains bonus pages, including Sample Symbols and Icons and Recommended Noodle List of 47 Prefectures.
Important information, hints and tips
In order to provide you with the most satisfaction for your product, we’ve compiled a list of warnings, potential issues, and tips to keep in mind for this particular product. Please be sure to read this information carefully before placing your order.
1. Test fountain pens before regular use
The Hobonichi Techo’s Tomoe River paper is designed to prevent bleed-through, but some fountain pens and water-based ink pens are not compatible with this paper. When switching to a new pen, we recommend testing the pen somewhere in the book, such as the back memo pages, to see if the ink bleeds through or takes an especially long time to dry.
2. Pattern alignment varies by product
The patterned fabric has not been aligned to a specific layout, so the placement of each design will vary by product. The product will not be an exact replica of the one in the product photographs.
3. Use caution around sharp objects
The material in this product snags easily on sharp objects, so please handle with care.
4. Characteristics of materials and product design may result in white spots on the edges and corners of the front and back.
Characteristics of materials and product design may result in white spots on the edges and corners of the front and back. The corners of the cover contain light traces of press marks, shines, and lumps. This is an unavoidable part of the manufacturing process.
Specifications
| Size |
H: 188 x W: 94 x T: 11 mm / H: 7.4″ x W: 3.7″ x T: 0.4″ *Specifications may vary slightly |
|---|---|
| Weight | Approx. 135 g |
| Main material | Rayon / Paper |
Contents
| Language | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Pages | 240 pages |
| Paper Type / Binding | Thin, light Tomoe River paper resistant to bleeding and designed for planners / Stitch-binding |
| Graph Paper Size | 3.55 mm |
| Start of Week | Monday-start week |
| Yearly Calendar | 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| Yearly Index | Apr. 2025 – Mar. 2026 (2 pages) |
| Monthly Calendar | Mar. 2025 – Apr. 2026 (28 pages) |
| Daily Quotes | One per week (Japanese) |
| Weekly Pages |
Feb. 26, 2025 – Apr. 6, 2026 (116 pages) *All weekly pages include quotes. |
| Graph Paper | 73 pages |
| Bonus Pages | Shorthand Note-Taking / Using Common Items to Measure Size / My 100 / Sample Symbols and Icons / Recommended Noodle List of 47 Prefectures / Solar Terms / Emergency Preparedness / Age Table / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Contact List / Personal Notes |
| Listed Information | Week of the year / Rokuyo (traditional Japanese calendar) / Solar terms / Japanese holidays / Moon phase (weekly pages include every phase, monthly calendars only include full and new moon) |
| Other | See the Exploring Each Type page for more details |
