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Transparency, Trust, and Testing
We want to share an important update about the paper we are using in our 2026 Wonderland 222 planners and notebooks by answering some frequently asked questions.
After months of research, testing, and reflection, we’ve made the decision not to use Sanzen Tomoe River paper for our 2026 lineup.  Although Sanzen served us beautifully in the past (2024 books – all formats, and 2025 A5 Undated books), wide spread concerns raised across the stationery community regarding recent quality issues other brands experienced with this paper had us nervous for the same fate in 2026.Â
With our customers’ high standards, and our own, this was not a decision made lightly as we have been very happy with Sanzen Tomoe River paper in the past.
Many of you rely on your planners and notebooks not just for organization, but for the joy of writing: the perfect pen, the shimmer of an ink, the feel of paper that elevates the experience, or simply, for the love of Tomoe River paper. We understand this deeply because we feel the same way.
Rather than wait and hope the quality issues with Tomoe River paper by Sanzen were resolved, we took a proactive step. While we believe at this time, there is still no true replacement for the original legacy 52gsm Tomoe River paper by Tomoegawa (we are hoping Sanzen can perfect their process to get closer in the future), but there are alternatives that perform very well.
We sourced and tested papers from around the world, and one showed very promising results with most fountain pen inks, gel pens, and even watercolor. It maintains the lightweight feel and delicate texture you’ve come to expect from papers like 52gsm Tomoe River. But with that being said, no paper is perfect and with a change this significant, there’s always some risk.
We’ve gone back and forth with this question. As a small business, we’ve worked hard to create something unique, and part of that means protecting the details that set our brand apart.
In the end, we made the decision not to disclose the source at this time. Our priority has been to find a reliable, high-quality alternative to Sanzen Tomoe River paper. Â We searched for a new paper that feels right in your hands and holds up to the tools you love using.
While the sourcing will remain confidential, we are committed to being open about how the paper performs.
Although we recently shared a small round of pen and ink tests, we are gathering suggestions directly from you and actively purchasing the inks and pens we don’t already have in the studio (This is the fun part for me as I can't wait to try many of your suggestions!).
Our goal is to create a more personalized, real-world overview of how our 2026 paper performs with the tools you actually use and love. While we may not be able to test every combination, we will do our best to cover as many as possible. Once we receive additional paper samples, we will share more detailed results to give you more clarity and information about specific pen and ink performance.
If your favorite pen or ink doesn’t love the new paper, we understand how disappointing that might feel. Our hope is that with the extensive pen and ink tests we share, and from the long list that work beautifully—you might discover a new pairing that still feels just as magical and keeps you excited to use your Wonderland 222 planners and notebooks.
Thank you for believing in us, for supporting small makers, and for allowing us to grow with care. This journey only works because of your feedback and your trust.
**Feel free to share your favorite inks and/or pens in the comments below and we will try to make sure we test them.
With gratitude,
Team Wonderland 222
41 comments
Thank you for listening to the planning community and taking seriously the issues that some have had with some pages of Sanzen TRP this year. It is disheartening for consumers to hear that apparently all Sanzen’s paper had passed their QC. I imagine it must be even more worrisome for you. Thank you for taking the time and effort to test lots of papers to find what you consider to be the next best thing.
As well as wanting Wonderland222’s 2026 paper to hold up well to my fave writing instruments, I also want to raise the concern about binding. The year that Kokuyo changed the paper in their Jibun Techos, I feel that the book I received did not lay as flat as the previous year’s — the new paper was ever so slightly thicker, & I feel that the bindery had not properly adjusted the amount of thread needed to sew the signatures and bind the books to make them truly lay-flat.
Pens and writing implements: Sakura Pigma Microns in 01 and 05, and an assortment of fountain-pen inks: mostly Diamine Inkvent inks from 2023 & 2024, which encompass a variety of shimmer, sheen, standard, and scented. They range from very wet and write wider than the nib I’m using to sorta dry. I use Sailor Hocoro, Pilot Iro-Utsushi, and Kakimori bullet — all dip pens.
I use the muji gel pens which I’m not fixed on but if the mildliners don’t work I’ll be majorly disappointed.
Would love to see how the Benu fine and medium nib fountain pens to on this paper, especially with wetter inks!
So for those of us that don’t use fountain pens, and have been nothing but happy with our super fine tip pens (Micron), this change is potentially the end. If the main reason we buy your planner is for the Tomoe River Paper for the feeling, light weight, and soft texture, then how are we to be sure we will like the new paper?
Could there be an option where, rather than telling us what paper you have chosen, you send a small sample of it (think paint sample cards)?
So, I guess try the extreme fine tip Micron pens (.05, .01, .001) and let us know. But the price point on these planners (has always been well worth it) prohibits trying the planner out and risking not liking it.
My dream planner is a monthly Tomoe
River Paper planner with Sunday start and plenty of note space between the months for my lists. I use your weekly pages just for the lists and deal with the Monday start all because I love the Tomoe River Paper.
I just need more assurance the feel and texture of the new paper is the same and am hoping to feel it before buying again.
I use a mix of fountain pens with Iroshizuku inks (generally either EF or F nibs).
It’s a shame as even the 2025 TRP seems acceptable to me and I much prefer the smooth feel. I look forward to seeing/trying samples though (although I’ve already ordered 2026).