Following the successful pre-order a few months ago, we’re preparing to ship the second batch of the iA Notebook—just in time for the holiday season.

The first batch sold out in 24 hours and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Now the second batch of 1,000 Notebooks is ready to ship, starting in early December—so your Notebook should arrive before Christmas. You can track your shipment and delivery date through our store page.

In the meantime, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the final stages of our journey to capture the Notebook’s essence. Also, check out our updated Notebook page with fresh pics, additional technical details, and FAQs.

Backstage at the photoshoot

The Notebook photoshoot took place in the beautiful coastal town of Kamakura, south of Tokyo. The team consisted of Martin (camera), Masumi (assistant), Yu (art direction), Risa (model), Mariko (writing), and Oliver (buying shirts, pens, and sandwiches).

Martin and Masumi getting the tripod set up for photographing the notebook

Time was short, so our small team had to work efficiently to get everything set up.

Risa kneeling at a small desk while Martin gets the camera ready

Risa did a great job at being our hand model for the day.

The shoot took place at a friend’s property, a beautiful house in the Sukiya-zukuri (数寄屋造り) architectural style. When you think of Japan, this is likely the image of a house that will come to mind.

The garden was equally stunning, so we took the opportunity to get some outdoor shots too. We were lucky to have beautiful weather and natural light, especially in the middle of the rainy season.

It took a while to find the perfect location, but this traditional house had everything we were looking for.

A simple desk with a good pen and notebook: ideal conditions for creative work.

Presentation the Japanese way

To enhance our customers’ experience, we decided to surprise them by shipping the Notebook in a light wooden box, a fairly common practice in Japan. The box is made from falcata wood, a lightweight, fast-growing lumber. Based on the positive feedback we received on social media from our first customers, it’s clear that the packaging is a hit!

We spent a lot of time thinking about how to ship the Notebook and were determined to avoid plastics. We considered options like compressed cardboard containers and tins, but a wooden box felt like the perfect solution. Not only is it better for the environment, it also creates a true unboxing experience. And after you take the Notebook out, you’re left with a handy little box to keep your belongings organized.

On top of looking great, the box offers an extra layer of protection against rough handling during shipping.

Feel free to reuse the box for stationery, documents, makeup…whatever you like!

Want your own iA Notebook? Be sure to order soon to secure your copy from the second batch: iA ノートブック