Midori Tobira Diary Series: 3-Year vs 5-Year (Complete Buyer's Guide)

I started using the Midori Tobira 5-Year Diary in February 2023, after it was gifted to me by a friend. They handed me the red cloth-bound book in its protective sleeve, and I remember thinking it looked too elegant for daily scribbling. Two years later, I reach for it every morning before my first coffee, and the ritual has become as essential as the beverage itself.

The Tobira series (tobira means "door" or "gate" in Japanese) comes in three formats, and understanding which one fits your journaling style makes the difference between a diary you use daily and one that collects dust. After testing all three versions and watching customers interact with them at Fujinote, I can tell you the choice comes down to three factors: how much time you want to spend writing, how much space you need per entry, and how long you want to maintain the same book.

The 5-Year Diary measures 185 x 117 x 25mm, with each daily section offering roughly 20 lines at 6mm spacing. In practice, this translates to about 3-4 sentences per day if you write at a comfortable size with a standard pen. The paper is MD Paper, which Midori developed in the 1960s and has continuously refined. With fountain pens (I primarily use a Pilot Custom 823 with medium nib and Iroshizuku ink), there's zero bleed-through and minimal ghosting. The slight tooth to the paper provides feedback without catching the nib.

What makes the 5-Year format work is its constraint. You can't write sprawling entries because there's simply no room. This limitation becomes liberating once you accept it. I write one key event, one observation, or one feeling. Three years from now, those compressed thoughts will trigger complete memories.

The spacing between years creates clear visual separation. When I read my 2023 and 2024 entries simultaneously while writing my 2025 entry, the differences in handwriting alone tell a story about my state of mind on those dates.

The standard 3-Year Diary (185 x 117 x 25mm, same footprint as the 5-Year) provides 7mm line spacing instead of 6mm. This seemingly minor change delivers meaningfully more writing space. Each section accommodates roughly 6-8 sentences of comfortable writing. For someone who wants to capture more detail without committing to decade-long projects, this hits the sweet spot.

The extra millimeter matters more than the specs suggest. When I tested both formats side by side for a month, I found myself naturally writing more complete thoughts in the 3-Year version. The 5-Year Diary pushes you toward telegraphic brevity. The 3-Year Diary allows for brief storytelling.

Longer entries would require aggressive editing for the 5-Year format but fit comfortably in the 3-Year. If your journaling tends toward narrative rather than note-taking, the 3-Year Diary accommodates your style without overwhelming you with blank space.

The Mini version (154 x 117 x 24mm) changed my mind about what journaling could be. Each date provides exactly two lines per year at 7mm spacing. Two lines. That's it.

This sounds absurdly restrictive until you try it. The Mini is the fastest journaling experience I've encountered. Open to today's date, write two lines, close the book. Thirty seconds, maximum. Some days I write "Cold. Reviewed Q4 inventory reports." Other days: "Discovered Yamato Brush pens can create effects similar to sumi ink. Store demo videos?" The brevity forces you to identify what matters most about each day.

The Mini format succeeds because it eliminates the intimidation factor. People who have never maintained journals succeed with this format. I gave one to an assistant who had tried and abandoned four different journaling systems. She's been using the Mini daily for eight months because it requires so little time and mental energy.

The smaller footprint makes it more portable. It fits in jacket pockets and small bags. If you travel frequently or write in varied locations, this practical advantage matters. I keep my standard 5-Year Diary on my desk at home. The Mini travels.

After working with hundreds of customers and using these diaries myself, the decision pattern is clear:

Choose the 5-Year Diary if you want to maintain a single book for the longest possible period and you're comfortable with brief, focused entries. If you journal primarily to track patterns over time rather than to process events in detail, the five-year span provides unmatched long-term perspective. This format works especially well for tracking specific aspects of life: food, exercise, creative work, or professional development.

Choose the 3-Year Diary if you want more writing space but still value the year-over-year comparison. This is the most versatile option. You get enough room to tell brief stories while maintaining the accountability of limited space. If you're transitioning from freeform journaling to structured practice, start here.

Choose the 3-Year Mini Diary if speed matters more than detail, or if you've struggled to maintain journaling habits. The two-line constraint makes consistency achievable. This format particularly suits people with unpredictable schedules, those who journal primarily for accountability rather than reflection, and anyone who finds blank pages intimidating.