Yes, it’s the long most awaited release for the 2021st edition and it’s one that shouldn’t be missed, for me at least. Why? Because who doesn’t like pink and a soft pink at that? Also because, who isn’t a fan of Chibi Maruko-chan? Probably just me and others who still continue to watch every Sunday. But, who cares right?
Beginning October 1st, Hobonichi released their animé design series, which mostly included very nostalgic animé titles, i.e., Ranma 1/2, Astroboy, another release of Doraemon and last but not the very least Chibi Maruko-chan! If you’re not familiar with these titles, go check them out.
I think I went all out with my second purchase but that’s because I was mostly buying gifts for friends and I’m really fond of the Hobonichi Weeks that I wanted to share the love~ ❤
First up, let’s talk about the Weeks. I just had to get a clear cover for it because the planner cover is just too delicately pretty to be smudged with anything. The front cover has the 2021 gold foil print on it and the back cover has the similar design. Inside you’ll find the vinyl pocket you could stick on the planner for your inserts as well as a card size paper explaining what the animé is (this is also same for the Sesame Street design).
Next up is the Hobonichi original cover, Chibi Maruko-chan version! I’m not really using the original planner and to be honest, I had a hard time deciding on this. However, the very mention of necktie fabric cover which I really liked with my previous and current Weeks didn’t stand a chance. Then again, the pink just won me over. The embroidered design feels and the cover overall feels good to touch. The mandala design on the front cover is looking totally zen. And guess what? It comes with a free sticker, yay!
If you’re not familiar with Chibi Maruko-chan, it is an old school manga by Momoko Sakura who passed away two summers ago, bless her soul. I’m not familiar with the manga really but I regularly watch the series still airing every Sunday. The main character itself is a funny grade schooler and her experiences with her grandpa always humors me (I probably miss my grandpas). Anyhow, check it out as it might just humor you like it does to me. Especially during this time, we simply need a good laugh once in a while.
Additional purchases I did were the classic black with white stripe and cherry blossom colored Weeks that were in vinyl and thin book covers, respectively. I wasn’t really into the current clear cover designs but I found they still continue to sell the cute one with pastel colored circles on it. So I got that for the cherry blossom because it will be disheartening if it will be tainted. I didn’t pass up on the original Chibi Maruko-chan pencil board because I was exhilarated with the Weeks version that I first bought and I thought I just had to get the other size too! I also got extra blue and black refills for the Jetstream tri-colored pen that came with the 2020 planner because surprisingly, I used up both and I just can’t stand using the red one normally (kinda hurts my eyes).
On my recent discovery, I found this pen glue with the same brand as the roller adhesive tape that I’m currently using and I was just curious how it works and if it works. Oh yes, it did work and does a good job at cleanly covering edges to paste.
So that’s it for my quick sharing of Chibi Maruko-chan ❤ and I hope you enjoyed reading my take on this, whatever it was. Since I already have the all-rounder Sesame Street Weeks from the first release for 2021, I’d probably have to make the Chibi Maruko-chan Weeks version as my mindfulness journal. I haven’t really gotten into that practice but I’d like to try and see how it will do me good. What about you? What type of planners do you use and what do you use them for? I’d like to know what other potential planners are available and how other use them. Comment below your thoughts ❤
~ヾ(＾∇＾) Happy brewing!
-Louie
In the coming year, I don’t think I would have as much opportunity to do a daily log for the Hobonichi original like this year. Also, I have decided to use different planners to differentiate work, family, and personal matters. For this weekly planner, it would be solely for work-related note taking. 
I got my sister the Hobonochi weeks last year but for this year she wanted more space to write, thus, the Hobonichi weeks MEGA! It will be good reference later to show the difference in the pages the MEGA has compared with the normal weeks.
As with all Hobonichi weeks, this one also came with an adhesive plastic insert where you are able to keep paper mementos or receipts. 
Checking out the detail on the inside cover, the word “HOBO” is printed all over with that angled “O”s. 
Finally, “Hobonichi” could be found embossed at the lowest left part of the planner as you close it from the back cover. Really, that Tokyo Tower at night is just so cute.
When I decided not to get the Hobonichi planner or original this year, I thought of what use I could make of the cover I had. I feel bad not using it since I decided to get it thinking I would be continuing to use Hobonichi every year. Sadly, I just couldn’t keep up filling a page daily with my upcoming lifestyle. Good thing they had this memo notebook offered in the same A6 size!
Now for the Hobonichi weeks MEGA, my sister chose the raspberry color cover as opposed to the blue black one. The mega version sports a soft cover and a glossy embossed “2020 MEGA” on it. 
Compared with the normal weeks, it has almost double the number of pages. They added more gridded notes which especially works for people who likes to double their planners as their notebooks. 
If you order your planner online, you get a free 3-color (red, black, blue) Jetstream ballpoint pen by Uni in red. This pen is totally the best of the best when it comes to standard ballpoint pens, in my opinion. I lost my black Jetstream click pen a while back so it’s good that I got this with the purchase. Really, you should get a Jetstream pen, you won’t regret it.
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