Masamune Kusano x junaida: Himitsu Stranger A5 Cousin Size - Techo Lineup

Masamune Kusano x junaidaHimitsu StrangerA5 Cousin Size

The song-art book Himitsu Stranger is based on the lyrics from 13 songs recorded by Masamune Kusano for the music album “Himitsu Studio” by his rock band Spitz. Artist junaida illustrated the lyrical stories for each of the songs. This techo cover is packed with all the charm of Himitsu Stranger as it features an all-over print of the illustrations on the front cover of the special book.

The array of strange characters and items are all straight from the book and were drawn in response to Kusano’s suggestion to draw them in a deformed style.

It’s fun to look through all the images and let your mind wander as you wonder about the story behind each character and in which scene each item appeared.

In order to retain the vibrant colors of the original art, the cover is made with a fine-grain polyester material that’s velvety and smooth to the touch.

The back of the cover also has illustrations hidden inside the pocket. Peek inside and you’ll get a glance at art that’s different from that on the outside.

The cover interior is printed with pencil drawings from the book. From the various stories within the book, you can see recreations of the kind of scenes that go along with what it’s like to use the techo every day, such as scenes from everyday life, the passage of seasons and time, and a broad range of emotions.

The song-art book Himitsu Stranger that this cover is based on is also for sale in the Hobonichi Store so you can experience the rich blend of lyrics with illustrated narratives.

©Kusano Masamune, junaida

About Masamune Kusano

Born in 1967. Musician. Formed the rock band Spitz in 1987 and sang vocals and played guitar. Their first major hit was the single Hibari no Kokoro in 1991. Since then, Kusano has written the lyrics and music for most of Spitz’s songs. Their latest album Himitsu Studio was released in May 2023 and was accompanied by a nationwide tour called Spitz Jamboree Tour ’23~’24 “Himitsu Studio” that ran from June 2023 to February 2024.

About junaida

Born in 1978. Painter and artist. Has won many awards and accolades for his work around the world, including being selected as an artist for HOME (published by Sun Reed) in the 2015 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, Michi and MONSTERIUM (published by Fukuinkan Shoten) winning awards at the Japan Book Design Awards in the children’s book/illustrated book division, and MONSTERIUM winning the IBBY award (Peter Pan Prize). Has most recently been branching out, with a focus on creating picture books. Recent publications include This is Home (text by poet Shuntaro Tanikawa) (published by BlueSheep), World (published by Fukuinkan Shoten), and Tomoshibi (published by Sun Reed).

Putting a rich, beautiful world of artwork on a techo

When I first got the book Himitsu Stranger, it really surprised me. Masamune Kusano from Spitz wrote song lyrics that artist junaida then interpreted into illustrative stories. It really showed me the depth of Kusano’s work, beyond just hearing the songs. And more than anything I was struck by the beauty of that illustrated world. Having that appeal on a techo to make it accessible on a daily basis felt like a really appealing prospect, so I reached out to request a collaboration.

The A6 and A5 size covers have a layout that works directly from the cover of the Himitsu Stranger book. There are so many different motifs across the design that it’s fascinating to look through and never gets old. The back pocket is also a treat if you peek inside, as you can enjoy some artwork different from that on the outside.

The interior material is arranged with pencil drawings. From the 13 stories within the book, we’ve picked out which scenes best depict the passage of time and emotions and put them together for this techo design.

The Weeks cover features the image “Through the Purple Night.” I’d fallen in love with this image when I saw it on the title page and just knew that I wanted to put it on a Weeks techo.

The double-sided pencil board within the set of this Weeks book also features “Through the Purple Night.” The front shows the art as it appeared in the book, and the back features a design based on a closeup of the art. I hope you’ll find both the composition of the scene-setting and the texture of the paint appealing.

Introduction to the Masamune Kusano x junaida series products

(Hobonichi Techo 2025 lineup)

Staff List

Photographer: Styled Images: Masahiro Tamura / Product Detail: Hiroyuki Oe
Stylist: Haruka Kimura

Masamune Kusano x junaidaHimitsu StrangerA5 Cousin Size

¥7,700 - ¥9,350 (incl. tax)
¥4,180 (incl. tax)

20 per item

Available

Normal

Specifications*Specifications may vary slightly

Cover

Size

H: 228 x W: 337 x T: 3 mm / H: 9" x W: 13.3" x T: 0.1"
*Excluding pen holders

Weight

Approx. 170 g

Main material

Exterior: Polyester / Interior: Polyester

Compatible Techo Books

Cousin (A5)
1 page per day
Cousin Avec (A5)
1 page per day 6-month book
Day-Free
Monthly notebook

Cousin | One-Page-Per-Day TypeJapanese / English

type	Monday Start (Japanese) Monday Start (English)
Size	A5 H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 18 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.7" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 445 g
Dates	Jan 2026 - Dec 2026 (Jan start) Apr 2026 - Mar 2027 (Apr start)

A daily techo with lots of space to write

This A5-size techo provides ample space on each daily page. It’s great for keeping in one place at home or at work and you can use it to track your child’s growth or exchange with someone.

Daily pages
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Monthly calendar
Weekly pages
Memo pages

View details on features and included content

Cousin Avec | One-Page-Per-Day Type (2-Book Set)Japanese

type	Monday Start (Japanese)
Size	A5 Each Book: H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 10 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.4" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Each Book: Approx. 260 g
Dates	Book 1: Jan 2026 - June 2026 Book 2: July 2026 - Dec 2026

Each 6-month daily techo is thin and light for easy carry

This techo splits the year into two 6-month books, making it easy to carry while keeping the same page design and layout as the standard edition.

Daily pages
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Monthly calendar
Weekly pages
Memo pages

View details on features and included content

Day-Free | Monthly Techo + NotebookJapanese

type	Monday Start (Japanese)
Size	A5 H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 8 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.3" *Specifications may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 220 g
Dates	Dec 2025 - Mar 2027

A monthly notebook with undated pages to write freely

This techo starts with monthly calendars and ends with undated graph paper pages so you can write whenever you want, and as much as you want.

Monthly calendar
Yearly calendar
Yearly index
Graph paper notebook pages

View details on features and included content

Book (Cousin English Edition / English / January Start)

Size	A5 size H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 18 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.7" *Actual book size may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 445 g
Language	English
Pages	544 pages
Paper Type / Binding	Thin, light Tomoe River paper that is smooth to write on and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size	3.7 mm
Start of Week	Monday-start week
Yearly Calendar	2025, 2026, 2027
Yearly Index	Jan. 2026 - Dec 2026 (4 pages)
Monthly Calendar	Dec. 2025 - Mar. 2027 (32 pages)
Daily Pages	Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2026 (377 pages) A page is included at the beginning of each month to help in planning ahead. Every two-page spread includes one daily quote. Includes a mini monthly calendar at the bottom right of every two-page spread (Monday-start). Additionally, a blank two-page spread is featured at the beginning to provide a free area when starting out the book.
Daily Quotes	One quote per two-page spread (English)
Weekly Pages	Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 3, 2027 (106 pages)
Memo Pages	6 pages
Bonus Pages	Time Table / Graph Paper / Favorites / My 100 / Memories 2026 / 12 Switches to Help You Focus / For a Comfortable Night’s Sleep / Words to Remember / 365 Days Check-Off Sheet / Getting the Most Out of Your Hobonichi Techo / Gifts / Addresses / Personal Notes
Listed Information	Day of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars and weekly pages) / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars and weekly pages only include full and new moon)
Other	See the Exploring Each Type page for more details

Book (Cousin / Japanese / January Start)

Size	A5 size H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 18 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.7" *Actual book size may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 445 g
Language	Japanese
Pages	544 pages
Paper Type / Binding	Thin, light Tomoe River paper that is smooth to write on and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size	3.7 mm
Start of Week	Monday-start week
Yearly Calendar	2025, 2026, 2027
Yearly Index	Jan. 2026 - Dec 2026 (4 pages)
Monthly Calendar	Dec. 2025 - Mar. 2027 (32 pages)
Daily Pages	Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2026 (377 pages) A page is included at the beginning of each month to help in planning ahead. All daily pages include daily quotes. Includes a mini monthly calendar at the bottom right of every two-page spread (Monday-start). Additionally, a blank two-page spread is featured at the beginning to provide a free area when starting out the book.
Daily Quotes	One per day (Japanese)
Weekly Pages	Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 3, 2027 (106 pages)
Memo Pages	6 pages
Bonus Pages	Time Table / Graph Paper / Favorites / My 100 / Memories 2026 / 12 Switches to Help You Focus / For a Comfortable Night’s Sleep / Solar Terms / Emergency Preparedness / Gifts / Age Table / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Addresses / Personal Notes
Listed Information	Day of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars and weekly pages) / Old lunar calendar / Rokuyo (traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar) (listed on monthly calendars) / Solar terms / Japanese holidays / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars and weekly pages only include full and new moon)
Other	See the Exploring Each Type page for more details

Book (Cousin Avec / Japanese / January Start / 2-Book Set)

Size	A5 size x 2 books Each Book: H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 10 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.4" *Actual book size may vary slightly
Weight	Each Book: Approx. 260 g
Language	Japanese
Pages	Each Book: 288 pages
Paper Type / Binding	Thin, light Tomoe River paper that is smooth to write on and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Start of Week	3.7 mm
Start of Week	Monday-start week
Yearly Calendar	2025, 2026, 2027
Yearly Index	Book 1: Jan. - Dec. 2026 (4 pages) Book 2: Jul. 2026 - Jun. 2027 (4 pages)
Monthly Calendar	Book 1: Dec. 2025 - Jul. 2026 (16 pages) Book 2: Jun. 2026 - Jan. 2027 (16 pages)
Daily Pages	Book 1: Jan. 1 - Jun. 30, 2026 (187 pages) Book 2: Jul. 1 - Dec. 31, 2026 (190 pages) A page is included at the beginning of each month to help in planning ahead. All daily pages include daily quotes. Includes a mini monthly calendar at the bottom right of every two-page spread (Monday-start). Additionally, a blank two-page spread (three pages for Book 2) is featured at the beginning to provide a free area when starting out the book.
Daily Quotes	One per day (Japanese)
Weekly Pages	Book 1: Dec. 29, 2025 - Jul. 5, 2026 (54 pages) Book 2: Jun. 29, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027 (54 pages)
Memo Pages	Book 1: 8 pages Book 2: 4 pages
Bonus Pages	Time Table / Graph Paper / Favorites / My 100 / Memories 2026 / 12 Switches to Help You Focus / For a Comfortable Night’s Sleep / Solar Terms / Emergency Preparedness / Gifts / Age Table / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Addresses / Personal Notes
Listed Information	Day of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars and weekly pages) / Old lunar calendar / Rokuyo (traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar) (listed on monthly calendars) / Solar terms / Japanese holidays / Moon phase (daily pages include every phase, monthly calendars and weekly pages only include full and new moon)
Other	See the Exploring Each Type page for more details

Book (Day-Free A5 size / Japanese / Monthly)

Size	A5 size H: 210 x W: 148 x T: 8 mm / H: 8.3" x W: 5.8" x T: 0.3" *Actual book size may vary slightly
Weight	Approx. 220 g
Language	Japanese
Pages	224 pages
Paper Type / Binding	Thin, light Tomoe River paper that is smooth to write on and designed for planners / Stitch-binding
Graph Paper Size	3.7 mm
Start of Week	Monday-start week
Yearly Calendar	2025, 2026, 2027
Yearly Index	Jan. - Dec. 2025 (4 pages)
Monthly Calendar	Dec. 2025 - Mar. 2027 (32 pages)
Daily Quotes	Included (Japanese)
Graph Paper	171 pages
Bonus Pages	Time Table / Graph Paper / Favorites / My 100 / Memories 2026 / 12 Switches to Help You Focus / For a Comfortable Night’s Sleep / Solar Terms / Emergency Preparedness / Gifts / Age Table / Conversion Chart / Getting the most of Hobonichi / Addresses / Personal Notes
Listed Information	Day of the year / Week of the year (listed on monthly calendars) / Old lunar calendar / Rokuyo (traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar) (listed on monthly calendars) / Solar terms / Japanese holidays / Moon phase (Full and new moon listed on monthly calendars)
Other	See the Exploring Each Type page for more details

User recommendations

If you’ve used any of these products, we welcome your notes on what you like about them or what led you to buy them so we can share it with customers who are currently considering these products. We’d also love to welcome comments from customers who purchased their techo outside the Hobonichi Store or received their book as a gift.

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Please Read Before You Buy

We’ve compiled a list of warnings, potential issues, and tips to keep in mind for this particular product. Additionally, the color of the product may be slightly different in actuality than compared to how it appeared on a computer or smartphone screen.

Cover may contain variations in stitching or loose lining: Due to the structure of the cover that opens flat 180 degrees, exterior stitching areas may appear puckered and lining material may be loose.

Pen holder fits pens up to 13.5 mm wide: The pen holder is designed to fit the 12.2 mm (0.48") diameter Jetstream pen offered as a free Hobonichi Store Exclusive Bonus. Pens with certain shapes and materials may be difficult to pull through the holder. The holder can fit pens up to 13.5 mm (0.53") in diameter.

Color and print may vary slightly: The cover's color and print pattern are created by dyeing or printing onto white fabric. While we take care to ensure consistency during production, slight variations in color or pattern may occur between individual items. This may also happen across a single cover, such as a pocket compared to the rest of the cover. Minor print blurring or uneven coloring may also be present. In addition, on rare occasions, there may be small black or white dots visible on the print. This is an unavoidable aspect of the manufacturing process.