The Midori MD Notebook might seem humble, but beneath the simple cardstock cover is a high-quality notebook that is beloved by writers and artists alike. The smooth, cream-colored paper provides a pleasant surface for all kinds of creative endeavors. Read on or watch the video below to learn more about the Midori MD Notebook’s minimalist aesthetic as well as its thoughtful details. We’ll also introduce other products in the MD lineup at the end of the guide.
Video: Midori MD Notebook Guide
Midori is celebrating 15 years of the innovative MD Notebook with a limited edition series of some of their most iconic products.
Midori is celebrating 15 years of the innovative MD Notebook with a series of new products! Choose from MD Block Memo Pads, Dip Pens, limited edition Loose Leaf Paper, and more.
Table of Contents
Midori MD Notebook Features
Midori MD Notebook Design
Most MD Notebooks come with a book jacket made of wax paper to protect the cover.
The Midori MD Notebook has a simple and no-nonsense appearance that focuses all of the attention on its superb construction. Many of the notebooks come with a book jacket made of delicate wax paper. When left on the notebook, it will crumple and burnish over time for a unique look. The jacket can be removed to reveal the cream-colored cardstock beneath.
MD Notebooks include thoughtful details.
The cover is blind embossed with the MD logo in the front. The notebook is thread bound, which allows it to lie completely flat. Some of the notebooks expose the super, a cloth-like material that protects the threads on the outside. The tactile, mesh-like texture is a pleasant contrast against the smooth cardstock that makes up the rest of the cover. Almost all MD Notebooks come with a ribbon marker glued to the spine. The ribbon’s color is different depending on what ruling the paper uses.
Each notebook includes a sheet of stickers that is made of the same paper found inside. The longer stickers can be used to label the spine, and a bookplate can be used to add details like who the notebook belongs to.
Midori MD Paper
MD Paper works well with all kinds of writing instruments.
A notebook is only as good as its paper, and MD paper doesn’t disappoint. The cream-colored Midori Diary paper found in MD Notebooks and Diaries has been continually refined since the 1960s. It pairs well with fountain pens and rollerballs thanks to its bleed-resistant and feather-resistant qualities. Light watercolor washes also work without the paper pilling, though the paper will crinkle as it absorbs water. The paper also has a subtle amount of texture so that pencils have plenty of grip as you write.
Midori MD Cotton Paper
MD Cotton paper is thicker and has a slightly whiter color than MD paper.
Made from 20% cotton pulp, Midori's luxurious MD Cotton paper is used in notebooks and paper pads. Compared to standard MD paper, MD Cotton paper is whiter in color, thicker, and has a cushioned feel. It is slightly more textured as well, which makes it especially suited for graphite. However, MD Cotton is just as bleed resistant, feather resistant, and fountain pen friendly as MD paper.
Midori MD Notebook Lineup
The MD Notebook is the one that started it all.
The MD Journal comes in three special styles.
MD Notebook Journals are similar to MD notebooks but come in special styles. Originally released to celebrate the MD Notebook’s 10th anniversary, the Frame and Dot Grid notebooks were so popular that they were added to the permanent lineup.
The Frame Journal has three boxes at the top that can be used for headers and dates. One large box takes up the rest of the blank page. The Dot Grid Journal brings this popular ruling style to Midori MD Notebooks. The Grid Block Journal is the newest addition with pages divided into quadrants so you can easily create graphs or organize your notes.
The MD 1 Day 1 Page Notebook Journal has enough pages to write an entry every day.
If the typical MD Notebook doesn’t have enough space for notes and memories, the 1 Day 1 Page Notebook Journal includes a whopping 368 pages. Unlike the other MD notebooks, this journal does not include a bookmark ribbon. Instead, the bottom corners of the covers and pages are perforated so that they can be torn off as the notebook is filled up. It comes in blank and dot grid versions.
The MD Notebook Light is a set of three lightweight booklets.
The MD Notebook Light is a lightweight version of the standard MD Notebook, with fewer pages and a simple staplebound binding. Each set includes three booklets in your choice of blank, graph, or lined paper. It’s an excellent option if you prefer a separate notebook for each project, or a lighter backpack while commuting.
Midori MD Diary and Calendar Lineup
Midori also makes planners and calendars that match the notebook’s aesthetic. Each MD Diary has dated monthly calendars for scheduling events, and undated pages for everyday planning and note-taking.
The MD Diary has plenty of space for daily planning.
The Midori MD Diary is very similar in appearance to the standard MD Notebook. It includes 113 lined pages as well as 32 blank pages for sketches. The lined pages are divided into four horizontal sections for a total of eight boxes on each spread. The MD Diary is sold out for 2023.
The MD Thin Diary is a slim planner option.
The Thin Diary is a good option for those who need space to schedule events but don’t require as much room for notes. It has eighty gridded pages to reduce bulk, plus one blank page. The MD Thin Diary is sold out for 2023.
The MD 1 Day 1 Page Diary is a beautiful softcover book that you can treasure as a keepsake.
The beautiful 1 Day 1 Page Diary lets you record special moments in your everyday life. The Midori MD Diary is bound like a softcover book with a flexible PVC cover rather than one made of cardstock. The daily pages are undated so you can skip days or dedicate multiple pages to an event-packed day. The unobtrusive hourly tracker can be used to schedule events, or written on like a freeform diary. The 1 Day 1 Page is sold out for 2023.
MD Desk Calendars are handsome organizational tools.
Midori MD Desk Calendars sit upright, making your plans visible at a glance. The Twin style features separate sections that allow it to display two months at a time, odd-numbered months on the left and even-numbered months on the right. The Weekly style not only provides space for your plans each week, but also ample margins for notes, ideas, or future plans. Behind the calendar sheets, all three styles include blank sheets for notes. MD Calendars are sold out for 2023.
+ Stand Diaries can transition from desk calendar to planner.
Midori + Stand Diaries boast a convertible design that blends a desk calendar with a sturdy and portable planner. They include monthly project tracking pages and over a hundred pages of blank graph paper for brainstorming, journaling, doodling, or whatever you choose. An elastic band closure keeps all the pages secure. The MD + Stand Diary is sold out for 2023.
The MD Diary Sticker is a handy way to add a calendar to a notebook.
Midori MD Diary Stickers are a quick and easy way to add calendars to notebooks and other surfaces. The stickers are similar to the labels that are included with Midori MD Notebooks and Diaries. The 2023 version is sold out, but an undated version is still available.
Midori MD Cotton Notebook Lineup
The MD Cotton Notebook uses Midori's premium paper and can even be used as a sketchbook.
Filled with Midori's MD Cotton paper, this notebook is especially suited for those who enjoy drawing alongside journal entries. The paper is thick and durable due to its cotton pulp content, and it will handle watercolor washes and heavy applications of ink with ease. Rather than A or B sizes, these notebooks use Midori's proprietary "F" sizing system. Based on the golden ratio, the notebooks are shorter in length and evoke the appearance of 19th and 20th century French canvases.
Midori MD Notebook Covers & Bags
These covers and bags will keep your notebooks dust-free. They are sized to fit standard Midori MD notebooks and will not fit the Midori MD Cotton notebooks.
The clear cover keeps the notebook clean while showing off the cover.
Those who use the notebook’s cover as a canvas will enjoy using the clear cover. It keeps the cardstock cover visible to show off the collection of art, washi tapes, and stickers applied to it.
The tactile paper cover has a pleasant texture.
Made of tear-resistant material, the paper cover prevents the notebook from gathering scuffs while providing a pleasant texture in the hand. The cover will collect creases as it is used, making it uniquely yours.
A leather cover is a luxurious addition to your MD Notebook.
The luxurious leather cover starts off a pale pink color and slowly darkens over time. It absorbs your hand oils and picks up distinctive scuff marks and scratches that showcase the way you use the notebook.
Keep your daily carry minimal with a notebook bag.
Midori MD Notebook Bags are made from the same plastic or goat leather as their notebook cover counterparts. The horizontal bags have notches cut into the front flaps so pens or pencils can be attached by their clips. The vertical bags have two front pockets for pens and other accessories. The clear bag comes in an A4 format, while the goat leather bags are available in horizontally or vertically oriented A5 bags.
If you would prefer to carry multiple notebooks at once, the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter uses a versatile clip binding system that can hold up to three Midori MD Notebook Light booklets. To add booklets to the Taschenbegleiter, simply lift the top and bottom clips, slide in the booklet, and close the clips.
Other Midori MD Products
Midori MD paper is not limited to notebooks and planners. This luxurious paper can also be found in letter pads, envelopes, and TRAVELER’S notebook refills.
MD Block Memo Pads include five hundred sheets of MD paper.
The hefty MD Block Memo Pad includes five hundred sheets of MD paper. It’s an excellent desktop addition for writers who want access to excellent paper for jotting down quick notes. You can also use them to cover up mistakes in your MD Notebook by sticking them down with glue or glue tape. Choose from blank, grid, and lined sheet styles.
Write elegant letters with an MD Letter Pad.
For letters that exude elegance and a vintage flair, use the Midori MD Letter Pad. It includes fifty sheets of cream-colored paper that are printed with unobtrusive lines. Spaced 9.5 mm apart, they allow sentences to breathe without looking cramped.
MD Cards are sized for elegant notes and thank you cards.
Midori MD Cards are perfect for elegant notes, thank you cards, and more. Each pack includes eight cards made of heavyweight paper plus eight sheets of unlined message paper. They pair well with envelopes for mailed missives.
These MD Envelopes are perfectly sized for the MD Letter Pad.
These envelopes are perfectly sized for MD Letter Pad sheets that have been folded in half. The flaps have convenient, water-activated gum applied so you won’t have to fuss with glue to seal the envelopes. If you like to use fountain pens for letter writing, we recommend using a waterproof ink for the addresses so that your mail makes it safely to its destination.
MD Paper Pads put ninety sheets of fountain pen friendly paper at your fingertips.
The simple Midori MD Paper Pad can be used for memos, sketches, and more. The pads are glued on the top and right sides, so the pages stay in place whether you use the paper vertically or horizontally. A small notch cut into the pad makes it clear as to which side is unglued. These paper pads come in your choice of blank or grid paper.
MD Sticky Memo Pads are both convenient and high quality.
The Sticky Memo Pads combine the convenience of sticky notes with the quality of Midori MD paper. They're available as A7 pads with your choice of ruling, such as dot grid, blank, grid, or lined. You can even get frame sticky memo pads to match your Frame Journal. As a bonus, the sticky notes themselves are slightly smaller than the standardized size, so they fit neatly inside a notebook without sticking out past the edges of the pages.
The MD Fountain Pen has a cream-colored barrel that matches MD Notebooks.
This lightweight fountain pen takes its design cues from the Midori MD aesthetic, with a simple appearance and cream-colored barrel that matches the paper of MD notebooks. Its steel medium nib is smooth and consistent for everyday writing and drawing. It’s compatible with cartridges and converters.
The MD Dip Pen is inked by dipping the nib into a bottle of ink.
Writers who want to swap between different inks at a moment’s notice will appreciate the MD Dip Pen. Rather than using cartridges or converters, the pen is inked by dipping the nib into a bottle of ink. The pen’s barrel is made of MAPKA, a resin composed of 51% paper. We should note that users who want to keep the pen pristine should be careful when dipping the pen in ink, as the barrel is easy to stain. Additionally, the nib is the same as that found on the MD Fountain Pen, and we found that it has a more tactile sensation on the paper than other nibs of the same tip size.
The 1 Year and 1 Day 1 Page Diaries let you record everyday memories.
Record everyday memories with a daily Midori Diary. The pages are undated, so journalers can start writing in the middle of the year and skip days without leaving blank pages. There are three diaries to choose from, all of which include MD paper: the slim 12 Month Diary is excellent for beginners, the 1 Year Diary fits four entries per spread, and the 1 Day 1 Page Diary dedicates an entire page to each day's writing.
Multi Year Diaries let you look back at precious memories that took place on the same date over consecutive years.
With Midori Multi Year Diaries, you can record special moments and look back at memories at the same time. The 3 and 5 Year Diaries dedicate one page for each day, while the 10 Year Diary uses an entire spread. These pages are divided into sections, so you can write about the same date over consecutive years. Every diary is clothbound with stylish covers, so they even look like notebooks to keep in your collection for years. We especially like the Embroidered 5 Year Diaries thanks to their beautiful covers.
The TRAVELER'S notebook is a stalwart everyday companion with refills that use MD paper.
The TRAVELER’S notebook is a customizable system that uses a leather cover and elastic bands to hold slim booklets. Jetsetters can bring Midori MD paper on the road with select TRAVELER’S notebook refills, available in both cream and white Midori MD paper. Learn more about the TRAVELER’S notebook in our comprehensive guide.
The MD Correction Tape perfectly matches the ivory tone of MD paper.
You no longer have to be stressed by mistakes: Midori’s MD Correction Tape perfectly matches the ivory tone of MD paper. The tape is 6 mm wide, so it fits nicely between the 7 mm rule used on most lined MD products. The tape holder is made from MAPKA, so it has a pleasant texture on the outside. MD Correction Tape is not completely opaque, so you will still see a light shadow of writing beneath the applied tape.
Other Midori MD Cotton Products
The MD Card Cotton is receptive to pencils, inks, and even light watercolor washes.
These heavyweight cards are sure to bring a smile to a penpal’s face. The unlined pages are open to your creative output, whether that’s a letter, calligraphy, or ink doodles. They are sized to fit in the matching cotton envelopes.
MD Cotton Envelopes match other Midori cotton paper pads and cards.
Midori MD Cotton Envelopes are sized to fit Midori Cotton paper pad sheets that have been folded in half. The flaps have strips of water-activated gum so they don’t require glue to seal.
The MD Cotton Paper Pad can be used for snail mail or loose sketches.
The Midori MD Cotton Paper Pad may soon become your favorite desktop companion for important notes. The pad is glued on two sides so it can be used vertically or horizontally without fear of flapping pages. The corner on the unglued side is cut out, so it is easy to tell which side to pull from when it is time to remove a sheet.
More Resources
Conclusion
Midori MD Notebooks are carefully designed with high quality materials to ensure that they are receptive to all kinds of writing instruments. It’s no wonder that artists and writers rely on these minimalist notebooks to help them express their creativity. If you’d like to see more specialty notebooks that will help your creativity flourish, check out our guide to the Best Fountain Pen Paper.
Shop This Post
| Midori MD Notebook | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Sheet Styles | Sizes | Add to Cart |
| Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page Notebook Journal | Blank, Dot Grid | A5 | Add Items to Cart |
| Midori MD Notebook | Blank, Lined, Grid | A4, A5, B6 Slim, A6 | Add Items to Cart |
| Midori MD Notebook Journal | Dot Grid, Frame, Grid Block | A5 | Add Items to Cart |
| Midori MD Notebook Light | Blank, Lined, Grid | A5, B6 Slim, A6, A7 | Add Items to Cart |
| Midori MD Diary and Calendar | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Sizes | Add to Cart |
| Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page Diary | A5, A6 | Sold Out for 2023 |
| Midori MD Desk Calendar | Medium | Sold Out for 2023 |
| Midori MD Diary | A5, B6 Slim, A6 | Sold Out for 2023 |
| Midori MD Diary Dated Sticker | 5.5” x 3.7”, 6.8” x 4.6” | Sold Out for 2023 |
| Midori MD Diary Undated Sticker | 5.5” x 3.7” | Add to Cart |
| Midori MD Thin Diary | A4, A5 | Sold Out for 2023 |
| Midori + Stand Diary | Medium | Sold Out for 2023 |
| Midori MD Cotton Notebook | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Sheet Styles | Sizes | Add to Cart |
| Midori MD Cotton Notebook | Blank | F0, F2, F3 | Add Items to Cart |
| Midori MD Notebook Cover & Bag | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Sizes | Add to Cart |
| Midori MD Notebook Bag | A4, A5 | Add Items to Cart |
| Midori MD Clear Notebook Cover | A4, A5, A5 (1 Day 1 Page Notebook), B6 Slim, A6 | Add Items to Cart |
| Midori MD Leather Notebook Cover | A4, A6 | Add Items to Cart |
| Midori MD Paper Notebook Cover | A4, A5, B6 Slim, A6 | Add Items to Cart |
