Apica Notebook CD-11 lined mustard yellow (A5)

The Apica CD-11 is a Japanese school notebook in A5 format that has been used as an everyday note-taking companion in Japan for decades – and for good reason. The structured softcover in thick card stock features a fine embossed texture, while the interior consists of 28 sheets of acid-free, fountain pen-friendly paper at 81.4 g/m². The mustard yellow colour gives the notebook a warm, earthy character that stands out in any bag.

Features

• Fountain pen-friendly paper, 81.4 g/m²: The smooth, lightly coated surface allows ink to flow cleanly – no feathering, no show-through, even with wet nibs. Shading comes through visibly, whilst sheen remains subtle.
• Acid-free (pH-neutral): The paper won't yellow and remains stable long-term – notes, sketches and ink samples are preserved.
• Thread binding: A single sewn gathering of 14 sheets holds the 56 pages together durably. The spine is additionally reinforced, and the notebook lies flat when writing.
• 25 lines, 7 mm ruling: Each page has a free margin at the top for the date or title, followed by 25 evenly spaced pale grey lines – subtle enough not to dominate your handwriting.
• Structured softcover card stock: The cover features a fine laid texture with baroque-style embossing – grippy, lightly matte, pleasant to hold.
• Compact A5 format: 148 × 210 mm fits into any jacket pocket, notebook sleeve and A5 planner insert.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pens with fine to broad nibs: The paper handles broad nibs and wet inks without issue – show-through is minimal even with highly absorbent nibs, leaving both sides usable.
• Ink samples and nib testing: With 56 pages and a compact format, the CD-11 is perfect as an ink sample notebook – assign each page an ink, nib or combination.
• Bullet journalling and tracking: The 25 lines per page and date/title area at the top make the notebook a natural framework for daily logs, habit trackers or reading journals.
• Travel and on-the-go use: The slim notebook (28 sheets) is light enough for a trouser pocket or a traveller's notebook insert in A5 format.
• Calligraphy with broad nibs or stub nibs: The 7 mm ruling provides sufficient line height for Latin scripts such as italic or copperplate in medium size.
• Fast-drying inks recommended: The paper takes up ink quickly – if you work with highly shimmering sheening inks, you can deliberately test the sheen effect on broader nibs.

For Paper Enthusiasts

The CD-11 appeared in 1987 and has been a core part of Apica's range ever since. The name derives from the internal product code – "C" stands for "College", "D" designates the ruling standard. The paper is not a coated glossy paper but a lightly calendered wove paper: smooth enough for fine nibs, with minimal tooth that particularly gives ballpoint pens and felt-tip pens pleasant feedback. Apica was founded in 1916 as a notebook manufacturer in Japan – the CD notebook is still in use in Japanese primary schools today.

Technical Specifications