MD Paper is one of the most respected writing papers in the world. Created by Midori in 1960 and refined continuously since, it's the paper that fills Midori MD Notebooks, Traveler's Notebook refills, and a range of pads, letter papers, and diaries that share the same design philosophy: simple, well-made objects that improve with use.
Understanding what MD Paper is and how it differs from similar papers helps you decide where it belongs in your stationery practice — and why so many writers return to it year after year.
What is MD Paper?
MD Paper is a cream-toned writing paper made from hardwood pulp — specifically developed to produce what Midori describes as the "sounds of writing": the tactile feedback that distinguishes writing on quality paper from writing on something generic. The hardwood pulp yields a softer, slightly more textured surface than conifer-based papers, which gives the paper a characteristic feel under the pen — smooth but not glassy, with enough texture that pencils grip naturally.
The paper's performance with fountain pens is good, though it's a different experience from Tomoe River. MD Paper is more absorbent and dries faster; shading and sheen are less dramatic than on Tomoe River but still present, particularly with wet-flowing pens. Feathering and bleedthrough are minimal with most fountain pen inks. The cream tone changes the appearance of highly saturated colours slightly — blues read slightly warmer, blacks slightly softer.
For everyday fountain pen writing, journaling, and correspondence, MD Paper is one of the most pleasurable surfaces available. For showcasing ink properties — shading, sheen, shimmer — Tomoe River is the stronger choice.
The MD product range
MD Notebooks
The flagship product. Available in six sizes from A7 to A4, in blank, dot grid, graph, and lined ruling. The design is deliberately minimal — a glassine paper book jacket covers a cream card cover with only a blind-embossed logo. Thread-bound, lies completely flat. Most sizes include a ribbon bookmark and a small sticker sheet.
The A5 and B6 Slim sizes are the most popular for everyday journaling; the A6 for pocket carry; the A5 for drawing and longer writing sessions. All sizes use the same MD Paper.
MD Notebook Thick
Same design and format as the standard MD Notebook but with heavier paper (MD Paper Thick) — the same material used for the flyleaves of the standard notebook. Handles watercolour washes and heavy ink applications that would cause the standard paper to cockle. Only available in A5 and A5 Square, and only in blank ruling. The natural choice for artists who want a minimalist sketchbook.
MD Notebook Cotton
Made from paper using 20% cotton pulp, giving a whiter colour, a thicker feel, and a slightly more cushioned writing surface than standard MD Paper. Handles watercolour particularly well — the cotton content adds durability under wet media. Available in A5 Square in blank ruling. The most luxurious of the MD paper types.
MD Memo Block and Paper Pads
Loose paper products using MD Paper — memo block pads in a small desktop format, and paper pads in A4 and A5. The memo blocks in particular are popular desk companions: a stack of MD Paper for quick notes and drafts, tear-away sheets that carry the same quality as the notebooks.
MD Letter Pad and Envelopes
For correspondence: a lined letter pad in MD Paper with matching envelopes. The lines are spacious (9.5mm) and the paper's fountain pen compatibility makes it a natural for handwritten letters. One practical note: the envelopes are also MD Paper — fountain pen friendly — so write addresses in waterproof ink rather than a standard dye-based fountain pen ink, to guard against rain.
MD Diaries
Annual diaries using MD Paper, available in several formats including daily, thin (monthly), and the MD 1 Day 1 Page Diary with an hourly timeline on each daily page. These release annually and often sell out. If you want an MD Diary for a given year, order early — typically September onwards for the following January.
Midori, TRAVELER'S COMPANY, and DesignPhil
This part of the brand history confuses some people, so it's worth clarifying. Midori and TRAVELER'S COMPANY were both created by a company called DesignPhil. In 2015, TRAVELER'S COMPANY was spun off as its own separate entity. Midori continued as a distinct brand. Both companies still use MD Paper in their products — which is why Traveler's Notebook standard refills use the same paper you find in MD Notebooks.
The design philosophy of both brands is continuous: simple objects made carefully, designed to develop character with use rather than remain pristine. The leather of a Traveler's Notebook ages; the glassine book jacket of an MD Notebook develops creases and burnish. Both are intended outcomes, not flaws.
MD Notebook covers
Midori makes several cover systems for MD Notebooks. The Clear Cover (vinyl, transparent) protects the glassine jacket without hiding it. The Paper Cover (tear-resistant cardstock) adds a textured outer layer. The Leather Cover (goat leather) starts as a pale pink and darkens over time to a warm caramel — one of the most dramatic ageing processes in stationery. The Hardcover adds rigid board inserts that allow writing while standing or walking.
The standard MD Notebook is designed to be used without a cover — the glassine jacket collects creases and marks intentionally. Adding a cover is a personal choice, not a requirement.
What MD Paper suits best
Fountain pens: Good with standard dye inks in fine to medium nibs. Fast enough dry time for most everyday use. Not the best for sheen or shimmer effects — those need Tomoe River.
Graphite pencils: Excellent. The texture grips graphite cleanly; shading and blending work well. The MD Notebook is a natural pencil companion for sketchers and writers.
Gel pens and rollerballs: Works well with all. Dry time is reasonable.
Watercolour: The standard paper handles light washes without significant pilling. For heavier watercolour work, the MD Thick or Cotton papers are better suited.
Brush pens and markers: Minimal bleedthrough with most alcohol-based markers on the standard paper. Brush pens with water-based ink work well.
The design philosophy
Midori's approach to product design is worth naming directly, because it influences what these notebooks are and why they behave as they do. The goal is not to make the most technically impressive object but to make the most useful one — an object that quietly enables writing rather than drawing attention to itself, that improves with use rather than deteriorating, and that communicates something about the value of the writing done in it.
The result is notebooks that seem almost austere when new and become genuinely beautiful when used. The glassine jacket picks up light as it develops creases. The cover develops a tactile memory of how it's been held. The pages fill up. This is the Midori aesthetic: everyday quality that compounds over time.
Browse the full Midori MD range at The Journal Shop, including MD Notebooks in all sizes, MD Paper Pads, MD Letter Pads, and Traveler's Notebook refills using MD Paper.
Where to start: browse our fountain-pen-friendly notebooks and Japanese paper at The Journal Shop.
