Naty's Eclectic Passions

A place where I ruminate, remark and review topics of interest.

I’m a multi-hobbyist and healthcare professional residing in HKG who takes pleasure in the likes of photography, home coffee and self-hosting. I also run a tech-focused site over at BurgeonLab.com.
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A transparent plastic folder partially reveals a white card print. The card reads "Edit New Life" and lists topics such as choosing tools and exploring spaces. The background is a speckled gray surface.

Japanese Planner Review: MARK’S EDiT Planner (Semi-A5 Weekly + Notes)

Table of Contents

Saying Goodbye: Hobonichi and Nolty Planners

Although I started in the world of Japanese planners with Hobonichis, I realised the way I journal has changed over the years. The Hobonichi Weeks’ layout is flexible but I find the overall size and grid a bit too cramped. The Hobonichi A6 Daily is not something that appeals to me any more as I prefer a weekly layout now; and the A5 Cousin is too bulky to carry around and the vertical 24 hour layout hasn’t worked out for me.

Nolty planners, on the other hand, has been satisfying my needs in the last few years with considerably more layout options to choose from. I enjoyed the Nolty 2281 thoroughly (you can read my review of the Nolty 2281 here), but I do have a few things I did not like about it:

  • Paper was a bit too yellow for my preference
  • Grid markings on weekly spread (3mm) is a bit too small for my handwriting
  • The left (narrow) column in the monthly view doesn’t allow for much use – too small for me to log anything reasonable
  • Having a monthly mini calendar on every weekly spread feels like a waste of space

Trying out MARK’s Planners and Diaries

Two packaged planners are shown on a speckled surface. The left planner has a visible label with text about recycled materials, while the right planner is black with Japanese text on the label. Both are part of the EDiT brand collection.
A close-up of a notebook package with various labels. It includes details like "Edit New Life," "Made in Japan," size specifications, and "Made from Recycled PVC." The phrase "Enjoy your lifelogging" is displayed on a circular yellow sticker.
Close-up of a product label on a clear binder. The label includes text in both Japanese and English, indicating item details like "EDIT 2025" and a timeline from 2024.12 to 2025.12. A barcode and pricing information are visible.
Close-up of a metallic-silver zippered pouch on a speckled surface. The pouch features small, embossed text in its bottom right corner. The top edge has a black zipper extending along its length.
A close-up of a shiny brown file folder on a speckled countertop. The folder is corner-opened, showing its glossy texture. Shadows cast on the surface suggest overhead lighting. Text on the folder reads, "MADE IN KOREA.
Gallery of packaging and PVC case of the Light Latte brown colourway.

After searching around for a similar layout to 2281 in the Japanese planner world, I found a relatively uncommon / not much documented (in English) layout by MARK’s. The model I bought for 2025 is called “EDiT planner 2025 – Schedule Book Starting December 2024 – Weekly Note Semi-A5 Stockage” with a Monday-start, “3-section vertical type” weekly layout. (Product code: 25WDR-ETH03).

I managed to find and decide this was the planner to get for next year just as I was heading to Osaka for a holiday! I emailed Mark’s directly to see which branch of stationery shop like Loft or Hands would stock this particular model. A sales representative called Kurano San replied very swiftly (in English) about the only one(!) branch that stocked it in Osaka. I managed to buy it on the first day and there were only three in stock…

MARK’s EDiT: Content / Layout Showcase

A black binder with open pages displaying dark inserts. The cover is black, and the background is a patterned surface. Text at the bottom reads "© 2024 ECLECTICPASSIONS.NET".
Open book on a speckled surface. Left page is black, and right page is white with the text "EDiT 2025" printed in the center. ©2024 ECLECTICPASSIONS.NET is visible at the bottom of the left page.
An open planner on a gray-speckled surface displays calendar years 2024, 2025, and 2026. The left page shows 2025, while the right page has 2024 and 2026. The planner is ring-bound and has a glossy cover. Text at the bottom reads "©2024 eclecticpassions.com".
A planner lies open to a year plan for 2025, showing monthly calendars from January to December. Each month is neatly arranged with dates in a grid format. The planner features a grey speckled background.
Open planner showing a full yearly calendar for 2025. Each month from January to December is displayed in a grid format. The planner is laid on a gray speckled surface.
An open planner displaying partially filled pages labeled "Plan 2023" and "Review 2023." Sections for year vision, review, planning list, and topics are visible. The planner is on a gray speckled surface.
An open planner notebook showing a project timeline spread, with columns for project name, December, January, March, April, May, and June. The pages are blank, and the background is a speckled surface.
An open planner showing December 2024. The left page features a lined section for notes and to-do lists. The right page displays a monthly calendar grid for December. The planner is placed on a speckled surface.
An open planner showing the month of March 2016. The calendar includes days of the week, space for notes on the left, and highlighted Sundays in red. The planner rests on a speckled surface, and a website watermark is visible at the bottom.
An open planner displaying a weekly schedule from November 25 to December 1, 2024. The pages are blank, set on a speckled gray surface.
An open planner displaying a weekly calendar layout for the end of December 2024 and the beginning of January 2025. The dates shown are from December 29 to January 5, with spaces for notes at the bottom. The background is a speckled gray surface.
An open notebook with lined pages lies flat on a speckled gray surface. The binding is on the left, and the notebook appears unused. At the bottom center of the open pages is a faint watermark with text.
An open book displaying a list of international holidays for 2015, organized by country. The book rests on a gray marbled surface, with text detailing various holidays and their corresponding dates for regions including France, Germany, the UK, and the USA.
Open book showing a world time chart with a world map displaying various cities and their corresponding time zones. The page is set against a speckled surface background.
An open book displaying a detailed map of the Tokyo subway system. The map features various colored lines representing different train routes, station names in both Japanese and English, and a key for line identification at the bottom.
An open book displaying detailed subway maps for Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe, and Amagasaki. The maps include various colored lines and station names in both Japanese and English, set against a speckled gray background.
An open notebook displaying detailed subway maps of Sapporo, Sendai, Yokohama, and Fukuoka on the left page. The right page has sections for name, phone, address, and email, with no entries.
An open planner lies on a textured surface. On the left page, there's a form titled "PERSONAL DATA" with fields for contact information. The right page is black and blank. The bottom reads ©2024 ecletricpassions.net.
An open, empty black album with transparent plastic pockets on a speckled surface. The album's spine is visible on the left, and a partially obscured web address is seen at the bottom.
All the layouts in the 2025 MARK’s EDiT Semi-A5 Weekly Note Planner.

Deciding Factors

I feel other brands like Takahashi, Nolty, Midori, Hobonichi, and Kokuyo Jibun were more prominent while I was in Japanese shops that sold planners. But this did not put me off MARK’s as I really liked the layout offered and the pocket built into the PVC cover. Having done some pen tests after opening it; I’m pleased to say also the paper quality is good enough for my fountain pen use. None of my pens, including an BB architect nib with Sailor Kiwa Guro, showed any signs of bleed-through or feathering. The Japanese paper is smooth to the touch and is thinner than their European counterparts as usual.

Mark’s EDiT Planner Semi A5 Weekly NoteNolty 2281
300 g with cover250 g with cover
Semi-A5 (200 x 155 x 15 mm)B6 (188 x 133 x 15 mm)
Weekly spread w/ half page daily columns split into three sectionsWeekly spread w/ half page daily columns split into two sections
Whiter paperYellow tinged paper
Rows are 5 mm tallGrid is 3mm
Monthly calendar represented as a timeline on the bottom of the weekly spreadsMonthly calendar on the left corner of weekly spreads
Highlights and differences compared to Mark’s EDiT Planner Semi A5 Weekly Note.

MARK’s EDiT: The Details

I bought a shitajiki (pencil board) to match the slightly off size A5 perfectly. I do love a dark coloured shitajiki because it helps hide any show-through due to the thinness of the paper. There’s two included fabric bookmarks which I have reinforced at the bottom with some Elmer’s glue to prevent fraying. Lastly, I do love the timeline view of the month with the current week highlighted at the bottom of the weekly spreads. It’s nice to see it in a linear fashion.

A book with a cover showing a diagram of an open planner or notebook. The text is mostly in Japanese, detailing product features and dimensions. The background is a speckled gray surface, and a copyright notice is at the bottom.
A black EDiT notebook on a textured surface. The notebook has a white label with Japanese text, a small open book icon, and "A5" indicated. A ruler is printed on the left edge, and the word "TODAY" appears at the top right corner.
A grid-patterned notebook with a label featuring Japanese text and the word "EDiT" in English. The notebook is placed on a speckled surface.
An open planner displaying a weekly layout from March 3 to March 23, 2025, with blank spaces for notes. The pages are set on a speckled gray surface, and the planner's bottom edge shows a copyright mark: ©2024 ECLECTICPASSIONS.NET.
Close-up of a planner open to yearly calendars for 2024 and 2025 on a speckled gray surface. A tab labeled "Today" is visible in the upper right corner. The planner shows months with days of the week marked.
An open planner lies on a textured surface, showing the week of July 7 to July 13, 2025. The pages are blank with a black bookmark ribbon placed across them.
Open planner showing the end of December 2024 and the beginning of January. The calendar displays days and dates with a dotted space for notes. The planner is placed on a textured surface.

Secondary Notebooks / Planner in My Setup

Hands Gantt chart notebook

While I was at Hands (Shinsaibashi Parco Branch), I noticed they offered their own in-house Gantt Chart notebooks. I have always wanted to try tracking side projects with one and was seriously considering getting the Jibun Techo just because it offered it in the monthly pages. The notebook is very minimal and has a plain card type cover. The paper is quite yellow as you can see when compared to the MARK’s EDiT.

Japanese planner with a vertical schedule layout spanning from December 2024 to March 2026. It includes columns for daily entries and additional notes. The header displays "hands" branding and instructions in Japanese.
Back cover of a Japanese monthly planner, showing details like the price and contents in Japanese text. It includes logos for FSC certification and Save the Children Japan. Background is a gray, textured surface.
A blank white piece of paper is placed on a gray, speckled countertop. The paper has no visible markings or text. In the bottom center of the paper, small text reads "©2024 eclecticpassions.net".
An open blank card lies on a terrazzo countertop. The card is plain with a solid color, creating a simple and minimalist appearance. The copyright text at the bottom reads "@2024 ECLECTICPASSIONS.NET.
Open notebook displaying a Gantt chart diary title page with the text "A6 Gantt Gantt Chart Diary 2021/12 - 2022/03" and "hands". The background shows a terrazzo-patterned surface.
A 2024-2026 yearly calendar spread open on a marble surface. The calendar displays months from January 2024 to December 2026 in a compact grid format. The bottom of the page shows a copyright notation from eclecticpassions.net.
An open planner displaying a monthly calendar view for December 2023. The layout includes numbered days in columns, with weekends in red. The planner rests on a textured gray surface, and a round object is partially visible on the left.
Open planner showing a March 2024 calendar spread with grid lines for each day. The days of the week are listed across the top, and the month and year are noted at the top left. A decorative object is partially visible on the left side.
An open notebook with grid paper is centered on a speckled surface. A black mug with a celestial design sits to the left of the notebook. The text "© 2024 ECCLECTICPASSIONS.NET" is visible at the bottom of the image.
An open book showing a page with a table filled with numbers and years, against a gray textured surface. The right page is blank except for a partial circle. The bottom of the left page reads ©2021 ECLECTICPASSIONS.NET.
A book opened to a page filled with various charts and graphs. The layout includes numbered sections, colored lines, and text in Japanese. The page appears to contain structured data or schedules. The bottom of the image has "©2024 EclecticPassions.net".
An open planner displays a calendar for October 2025 on the left with vertical lines for daily tasks. On the right, a project timeline section features columns for project names and dates. A pen is placed between the pages.

Midori Flat Diary

The last planner in my 2025’s setup is the Midori Flat Diary. It has a really sturdy cover which I’ve retained for the last two years. The refill is very thin and has only a monthly view with nothing extra. I look forward to using the Hands Gantt Chart Notebook in conjunction with the Midori Flat Diary which I use exclusively for health tracking. The Hands Gantt Chart fits into the Midori Flat Diary hard cover so it makes it quite streamlined along with the MARK’s EDiT!

A closed black notebook with a textured cover lies on a speckled gray surface. Text at the bottom edge reads “©2024 ECLECTICPASSIONS.NET”.
A close-up of an open planner on a grey patterned surface, displaying a page with "2025" and the text "2024 October - 2026 January Monthly Schedule." Calendar months are printed in small font.
Open planner displaying calendars for the years 2025 and 2026 on a gray textured surface. The planner shows months arranged in a grid layout with days of the week headers. The website "ECLECTICPASSIONS.NET" is printed at the bottom.
An open planner lays on a gray speckled surface, displaying a monthly calendar for October 2024. The calendar is blank with dates marked in a grid, spanning from Monday to Sunday. A small calendar for the following month is visible at the bottom.
An open planner for January 2024 displayed on a gray speckled surface. The left page features a grid layout for notes, while the right page shows a calendar with dates marked in red and black. "©2024 ECLECTICPASSIONS.NET" is printed at the bottom.
A reflective, metallic journal with a black spine and a protruding ribbon bookmark is placed on a speckled surface. The word "Diary" is embossed in the bottom right corner. In the image's bottom, "©2024 Eclecticpassions.net" is visible.
A stack of two tablets or electronic devices lies on a speckled gray surface. The top device has a shiny, reflective surface with a zipper partially visible on the edge. The bottom device has a textured dark finish.

Disclaimer: Not sponsored by any of the mentioned brands. I’m just a planner user sharing my experience. YMMV.

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