Kokuyo Jibun Techo: A 3-in-1 Planner

Kokuyo presents a unique approach to planners with the Jibun Techo. Rather than being limited to a single calendar year, the Jibun Techo is designed to last your whole life. In Japanese, “jibun” (ジブン) means “myself” and “techo” (手帳) means planner. True to its name, this planner system is customizable to your needs. Keep reading or watch the video below to find out more about this one-of-a-kind planner system.

Please note that the pictures in this guide may feature covers and accessories from previous releases.

Watch our video to learn about the Jibun Techo lineup. Books shown feature the 2021 version.

2024 Kokuyo Jibun Techo Diaries

2024 Kokuyo Jibun Techo Diaries have arrived! These practical Japanese planners are perfect for reaching goals and capturing memories.

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Is The Jibun Techo Right for Me?

The Jibun Techo is perfect for anyone with a busy life. Available in daily and weekly formats, all Jibun Techo planners have one key similarity: they use vertical hourly formats that help you organize your hectic schedule. If you find that typical daily and weekly planners simply don't let you plan as meticulously as you like, the Jibun Techo will certainly fit the bill

Table of Contents

Quiz: How to Choose Your Jibun Techo

If you're not sure which Kokuyo Jibun Techo is right for you, just read the prompts below and click on the one that suits you best.

"I want a daily planner, not a weekly planner—but it should still have plenty of thoughtful details!"

"I want an ultra-slim planner that comes in chic colors."

"Color isn’t my thing; I want a sleek, professional planner that blends in at the office."

"I want my planner to keep track of my whole life, even my future goals, and I don’t want to skimp on any features."

"I’m a practical soul who doesn’t mind color and wants plenty of pockets, but I don’t want to get too weighed down."

What Is the Jibun Techo?

First developed by advertising creator Hideaki Sakuma, the original Jibun Techo is a weekly planner system that consists of three separate booklets: the daily or weekly Diary, LIFE, and IDEA. The three booklets are used together to plan for the future, remember repeated events like anniversaries, and jot down extra information.

Today, the Jibun Techo is available in other formats in addition to the three-booklet First Kit Standard system. The Standard, Biz, and Lite are slim and easy to carry. The DAYS Diary is the daily version, which is split into two half-year books.

The Jibun Techo offers a variety of covers as well as accessories to help you set up your planner. Kokuyo also offers starter kits for beginners who are new to the system. All Jibun Techo items are only available in Japanese, but we have an English translation guide available.

Jibun Techo Covers

Kokuyo offers several covers of various sizes, colors, and finishes to choose from. They’ve also curated a starter kit that includes multiple booklets and accessories. Cover styles from past years can be seen in our archive.

	Size	A5 Slim Colors	B6 Slim Colors	Booklets Included
First Kit Standard	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Indigo, Pink, White	Blue, Pink, White	Diary, LIFE, IDEA
Standard Cover	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Indigo, White, Yellow	Pink, White	Diary
Biz Cover	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Light Beige, Matte Black, Matte Navy	Light Beige, Matte Black, Matte Navy	Biz Diary
Lite Diary	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Beige, Light Pink, Navy	Beige, Green, Navy	N/A
DAYs Diary	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Blue, Gray, Red, Yellow (Orange)	Blue, Gray, Red, Yellow (Orange)	January–June DAYs booklet, July–December DAYs booklet

Jibun Techo First Kit Standard

If you’re just starting out with the Jibun Techo, this kit has everything you need: all three booklets (Diary, LIFE, and IDEA) and a matte clear soft cover. It also includes a shitajiki (writing board) with an elastic band that slides into the back vertical pocket to keep the cover closed. The shitajiki can be used as a ruler.

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Jibun Techo Standard Cover

The Standard Cover comes with a Diary Booklet (see the Anatomy section for more details). It is a clear, matte soft cover with colored paper underneath. Don’t be fooled by its simple design—it has a variety of pockets, including a horizontal front pocket, vertical back pocket, and card slots. This slimmer cover can fit a LIFE or IDEA booklet if you buy one separately, but won't fit both.

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Jibun Techo Biz Cover

Designed to fit into the busy life of a working professional, the Biz Cover is accompanied by the Biz Diary booklet (see the Anatomy section for more details). The soft cover mimics the look of leather and comes in a range of classic colors. Like the Standard cover, the Biz cover can fit one additional LIFE or IDEA booklet.

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Jibun Techo Lite Diary

The Lite Diary is a simplified planner. The soft-touch cover comes in a variety of shades with contrasting endpages. Two bookmarks are attached to the cover. See the Anatomy section for a look inside.

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Jibun Techo DAYs Diary

The DAYs Diary is a set of two half-year daily planners (see the Anatomy section for more details). It comes with one cover to transfer between planners in the middle of the year. Like the Standard cover, the DAYs cover is clear with convenient pockets and colored paper underneath. The DAYs cover also has the capacity to hold one additional LIFE or IDEA booklet, which can be handy for keeping track of information after moving to a new planner mid-year.

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Anatomy of the Jibun Techo Booklets

The core of the Jibun Techo is its three booklets: Diary, LIFE, and IDEA. Diary is the only book that needs to be repurchased yearly, but the other two are meant to last a lifetime—or at least until you run out of pages. Let’s take a look at the features of each booklet.

Booklet	Size	Paper
Diary	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Kokuyo THIN
Biz Diary	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Kokuyo MIO
Lite Diary	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Kokuyo THIN
DAYs Diary	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Kokuyo THIN
LIFE	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Kokuyo MIO
IDEA	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim	Kokuyo THIN

Size

Jibun Techos are available in two sizes: A5 Slim and Mini B6 Slim. Because they are slimmer than standard A and B paper sizes, they slip easily into bags and portfolios.

Paper

Kokuyo employs two kinds of paper in the Jibun Techo: THIN and MIO PAPER. The Diary, Lite, DAYs, and IDEA use THIN PAPER, while the Biz Diary and LIFE use MIO PAPER.

Kokuyo’s THIN PAPER was developed specifically for the Jibun Techo. At just 52 gsm, it ensures that the planner is packed with pages while being light enough to carry around. The paper is bleedthrough-resistant and pairs well with fountain pens, markers, and more. The lightly textured surface provides an excellent surface for graphite. It’s also durable, holding up well to erasing—even from hard "erasers" like those found on the Pilot FriXion.

MIO PAPER is high-quality, fountain pen friendly, and has a pleasant texture. It absorbs ink quickly, which prevents unwanted smearing or bleeding. The paper is archival-safe and pH neutral, so you can be sure your booklets will last. MIO PAPER has a more substantial feel than Kokuyo THIN but is still lightweight.

Grid

All Jibun Techo booklets are printed with a light gray grid that is pleasant and unobtrusive. The grid in the A5 slim size is slightly larger than 3 mm, while the grid in the mini B6 is slightly smaller than 3 mm. Map pages have a grid of about 2 mm to accommodate the more complex diagrams.

Diary

The Diary booklet also comes as a standalone product. It features lay-flat binding that makes it easy to write on. The subtly rounded corners prevent fraying or creasing.

Diary Page Spread

Most of the Diary consists of a two-page weekly layout where you will do the majority of your planning. Read on for what’s included in each spread. The photos in this section feature the 2021 Jibun Techo Diary.

Mini Monthly Calendar

Use the mini monthly calendar in the top left corner to quickly refer to specific dates.

To Do List

Use this checklist to keep track of tasks, grocery lists, or other to-dos.

Vertical Weekly Layout

Each spread features a week laid out in vertical columns. To help you clearly plan each day, columns are divided into 24 hourly rows. The light to dark circles along the left side of each column indicate sunrise to sunset.

Night to Early Morning Section

You’re probably wondering if you really need to plan out all 24 hours in a day. In the space allotted for midnight to 7 am, you can write down your dreams or keep a sleeping log.

Free Space

This blank space at the bottom of each column can be used for anything, whether it’s more lists or mini-journaling.

Date, Weather Check, and Moon Phase

Dates are labeled at the top of each column. Under the date, keep track of the weather for each day. To the right of the weather icon, the moon phase is marked under the date.

Today’s Mood and Recording Meals

Record your mood every day by marking the face icons and writing a description at the bottom of each column. You can also write what you ate and who you dined with. The sunrise icon indicates breakfast, the full sun marks lunch, and the bottom star is for dinner.

Color-Coded Month Markers and Weekends

Each month is designated by a different color to make it easy to flip to the month you want. In addition, Saturday and Sunday are indicated in blue and orange respectively to differentiate them from weekdays and make them easy to spot.

Other Pages

Besides the weekly spreads, Kokuyo has included these helpful pages in the Standard Diary:

How to Use the “Jibun Techo”

The Jibun Techo starts with a guide in Japanese to its contents, including an example page of how to use the weekly spread.

Three-Year Calendar

You can see three years’ worth of calendars on this spread with one large 2022 calendar and two smaller calendars for 2021 and 2023.

Yearly Schedule

Use this yearly schedule spread as an index for the whole year. You can also write occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries here for a quick reference.

Age Chart

Find out someone’s age quickly using this table. It lists birth year in one column and age in 2022 in another. The number to the left is the corresponding Japanese Imperial Era calendar year while the character between the birth year and age is the Chinese Zodiac sign.

My Dream

Write down all your goals for the year here. This page is divided into easy-to-see sections for you to better organize your goals.

Money Plan

Find out how much you spend each month by recording all of your expenses in this section. Maybe the results will surprise you!

Weekly Plan

Plan out your ideal schedule here. You can also write recurring tasks and meetings, or if you’re a student, your weekly class schedule.

Map of Japan and Other Maps

In the map of Japan, you can note the places you visited throughout the year. A world map with time zones and a Japanese railway map are also included.

100 Wishes

This spread of blank checkboxes actually has room for 112 wishes, if you feel ambitious. You can also use that extra space to reflect on how your wishes were achieved.

Favorite Phrases

Do you have mantras or quotes that inspire you? Keep all your favorites in this section.

Recommendation List

Whether they’re for books, TV shows, or restaurants, note all of the recommendations you get from friends and family. There’s even a column to write who the suggestion came from. Check it off once you try it.

Book and Movie List

List books and movies you want to read and watch in this fun section. You can also write reviews or mark impressions.

Gifts List

Keep track of the gifts you give and receive. This is especially helpful when you’re writing thank you cards.

Promise List

It’s easy to forget verbal promises. Get in the habit of writing them down so you can refer back to this page and remember what you need to do.

Free List

This spread is completely blank for you to subdivide as you wish.

Gantt Chart

The Gantt Chart is handy for keeping track of personal projects. By subdividing the left side, you can see your progress at a glance. Use it for activities such as tracking stock prices or managing your water intake.

Monthly Calendar

The Diary has a section for monthly calendars in which each month is a two-page spread. This is good for planning ahead or marking special events. It also displays the end of the previous month.

Looking Back

Summarize and reflect on everything you did and wrote down in your Jibun Techo Diary for the year. The next page is for things that happened in the lives of your friends and family.

Personal Data

Record your stats here, including contact info, personal information, bank and company contacts, and more. There’s also space for medical information. Note: we don’t recommend filling out sensitive information in case your planner is lost.

Links and More

The last page of the Diary includes a thank you note from Kokuyo for trying the Jibun Techo as well as links to the Jibun Techo Facebook and Twitter accounts. At the bottom of the page is a space for you to write your contact info in case the planner is lost.

Biz Diary

The Biz Diary booklet is available with or without the Biz cover. It is similar in layout to the regular Diary. Differences include:

Business-like styling with a subdued color palette.
Traditional font type.
Kokuyo MIO PAPER.
Monthly tabs are one color.
Railway and world maps are not included.
Page titles are in both Japanese and English.

Lite Diary

The Lite Diary is only available in the Jibun Techo Lite and cannot be purchased separately. Its simplified layout has these differences:

Two-year calendar.
Collective “List Of” section.
Combined monthly calendars and Gantt chart.
Diary page spread does not include Meal Log.
Monthly tabs are one color.
Maps and some other pages are not included.
Page titles are in both Japanese and English.

DAYs Diary

DAYs page-a-day planners come as a set of two half-year planners and give you ample space to go into detail as you plan. They are the only Jibun Techos available in a daily format.

Date and Checkboxes

In the top left of each daily page is the date and a small box for weather tracking that also has the phase of the moon.

Along the left side is a row of checkboxes that becomes a mood tracker at the bottom of the page.

Hourly Organizer

A column marking the hours of the day divides each page vertically. This column is colored to indicate sunrise and sunset times, although these will be accurate only if you are in Japan.

Future Planner

Across the top of each page runs a “future planner” with dates spanning from about a week before to two weeks after today’s date. The day number is noted in a circle above the date. Keep upcoming events in mind by making a quick note here.

Mini Calendar

In the bottom right of each spread is a miniature month calendar with the dates of the spread circled, the week highlighted, and the week number noted to the side.

Free Day Color Coding

Weekends and Japanese holidays are color-coded in the mini calendar, the future planner, and in the page colors themselves.

Monthly Index Pages

These index pages are divided into a space for goals and a space to summarize the month.

Yearly Schedule and Calendar

Like the Standard Jibun Techo, both DAYs books open with a three-year calendar spread and a yearly schedule spread that gives every day a few lines of space.

Other Pages

Non-planning pages in the DAYs include a “My Dream” page, a “My Event,” page, and a “100 Wishes List” spread. These are followed by six pages of “List Of” checkboxes that you can divide to track whatever you choose.

In the back of the book are three grid paper memo pages and an informational page about the Jibun Techo.

Monthly Calendars

Both books come with monthly calendars. Book 1 spans January to June, while Book 2 spans July to December.

Monthly calendars have mood trackers in each day, as well as phases of the moon when significant. A checklist in the sidebar and a Gantt chart at the bottom of the spread fill the rest of the space.

Compact Monthly Calendars

The DAYs also includes smaller-scale calendars, two months on a spread, for a peek at the farther-flung future. With these, Book 1 covers July to December 2022, while Book 2 lets you plan for January and February 2023. These smaller calendars don’t include mood trackers or Gantt charts, but they still have plenty of checklist space.

LIFE

The LIFE booklet is designed to house information that you can transfer from year to year, like anniversaries, bucket lists, and philosophies. Note that images of pages inside the LIFE booklet are from previous years, but the contents remain the same.

How to Use the “Jibun Techo” [LIFE]

The LIFE booklet also starts with a guide in Japanese on how to use it.

Life's Dream

Write down your life goals in the left column and your game plan in the right column. Categories include family, money, health, hobbies, travel, friends, and more.

100 Wishes List

By jotting down things you want to try or bucket lists, this page becomes a reminder and motivation for you as you go through life. Check items off as you do them.

Personal Motto

Do you have a philosophy or motto that you live by? Write those and other uplifting thoughts here so you can read them when you need encouragement.

Life Plan

The Life Plan presents another way to set goals for you and your family. The top two rows are for you and your spouse. Add the name of your children in the bottom four rows. Fill out the years at the top of the column and then populate the cells with your age and what you hope to accomplish (for example, buying a house, getting promoted, or a child going to college). There is also a section to plan out your expenses including living, housing, schooling, medical, insurance premiums, and income tax.

Anniversaries

Enter important dates, birthdays, and other anniversaries in these monthly pages. The more occasions you have, the more chances you have to celebrate.

Travel Maps

Write down where you’ve traveled or lived throughout Japan and the world. You can also indicate places you’d like to visit.

My News

Chronicle your family’s important or newsworthy life events in this section. It also works as a growth journal for babies.

Family Tree

Fill out the family tree including relatives and pets—it’s fun to see where you came from. You can even draw a family crest if you have one or make one up for fun.

Emergency Contact List

There are 20 spaces available for you to write down the information of your emergency contacts.

Password Hints

Passwords are a necessary evil; the more complicated they are, the better. Since it’s not wise to keep all your passwords in one place, write down hints that only you can answer—that way your information won’t be compromised.

Financial Management

You can record bank, credit card, insurance, and any other financial information here. Note: we do not recommend filling out sensitive information in case your planner is lost.

Medical Record

Document your and your family’s health on this page. Write down when you’ve had doctor’s visits, colds, or injuries and the treatment received. Note: we do not recommend filling out sensitive information in case your planner is lost.

Favorite Photos

Stick one or two of your favorite photos here. If you dabble in photography, this is a great spot for your best, award-winning photo.

IDEA

The IDEA booklet is for everything not covered by Diary or LIFE. This gridded notebook is ideal for recording thoughts, ideas, observations, and the occasional epiphany. You can use it as a journal, sketchbook, and more.

Jibun Techo Goods (Accessories)

Dubbed “Goods” by Kokuyo, these accessories pair well with your Jibun Techo to help you use the planner to its full potential. Most of the accessories are available in both sizes, so make sure you’re getting the right size for your Jibun Techo.

Accessories	Size
Index Tabs - Regular and Biz	One size (fits better in A5 Slim)
Film Sticky Notes	One size (Mini B6 Slim)
ToDo Sticky Notes	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim
Templates - Icon and Plan	One size
Shitajiki (Pencil Board)	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim
Clear Cover	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim
Zipper Case and Pockets	A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim

Index Tabs

These index tabs are meant to mark specific pages in the booklets. Some have numbers for each month. Other tabs have section names to pair with their corresponding pages. To use the index tabs, fold them over and stick them onto the pages. They come in two designs to match the Diary and Biz Diary.

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Film Sticky Notes

Perfectly cut to fit in the columns of the Diary’s weekly or monthly pages, use the Film Sticky Notes to highlight important notes and events. They come in several bright colors and are housed in a cute protective cover.

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ToDo Sticky Notes

If you often run out of space for your to-do lists, we recommend these sticky notes. They’re printed with same grid as in the Diary pages and blend in seamlessly. Use them to add extra to-do lists, grocery lists, or other reminders. They’re even perforated so you can tear them to the desired length.

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Templates

The Icon and Plan templates are plastic stencils. The Icon template lets you stencil numbers, weather icons, and more. The icons are the size of four squares on the Diary grid, which is an exact fit for each day in the yearly tracker. The Plan template features geometric designs, like dashed lines, arrows, and squares sized to fit the Diary. There is also a handy ruler on one side. The templates double as bookmarks: when tucked into a booklet, the tab on the top reminds you of pages to revisit.

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Shitajiki (Pencil Board)

A shitajiki is a pencil board designed to be placed under a page as you write. This pencil board fits perfectly in Jibun Techo booklets to help you write smoothly. It prevents writing from imprinting on the next page, which is important when dealing with ultra thin paper like Tomoe River paper. It even has a “Today” tab that sticks out so you can use it as a bookmark.

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Clear Cover

This is the same matte soft cover with pockets that comes with the Standard Cover and First Kit Standard sets. It doesn’t include any colored paper, so you can insert paper in the color of your choice or leave it clear. This is convenient if you want an extra cover for another booklet or just as a backup.

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Zipper Case and Pockets

This accessory lets you keep small essentials with your planner. Store pens and other items in the zipper case. The pockets in the front can be used to keep business cards or other small items.

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How to Insert Multiple Jibun Techo Booklets into a Cover

How to Insert Multiple Booklets into a Cover

To add all three booklets in your Jibun Techo, insert the front cover of the first booklet into the left slot. Then, take the front cover of the second booklet and slide it behind the front cover of the first booklet. The back cover of the second booklet goes into the right slot. Lastly, stick the back cover of the third booklet into the right slot. If you get a starter kit, the booklets come pre-installed.

Other Resources

Jibun Techo Resources

Planner Resources

Conclusion

With its thoughtful and effective design, the Jibun Techo is adaptable to any lifestyle. Its three booklets let you compartmentalize and organize your life efficiently. We hope you’ve found our in-depth look useful. If you use and love a Jibun Techo, let us know in the comments below.

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JetPens Kokuyo Jibun Techo Accessories Sampler - for THIN Paper

Try a Kokuyo Jibun Techo Accessories Sampler for a fuss-free start to planning.

Still not sure what to try? Check out a Kokuyo Jibun Techo Accessories Sampler for some of our favorite planning tools. With options for both THIN and MIO paper, you'll be prepared no matter the Jibun Techo you choose.

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Kokuyo Jibun Techo Covers
Name		A5 Slim	B6 Slim
	First Kit with Standard Cover	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	Standard Cover	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	Biz Diary	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	Lite Diary	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	DAYs Diary	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
Kokuyo Jibun Techo Booklets
Name		A5 Slim	B6 Slim
	Diary Refill	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	Biz Diary Refill	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	LIFE	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	IDEA	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
Kokuyo Jibun Techo Accessories
Name		A5 Slim	B6 Slim
	Index Tabs	Add "Regular" to Cart Add "Biz" to Cart
	Film Sticky Notes	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	ToDo Sticky Notes	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	Templates	Add "Icon" to Cart Add "Plan" to Cart
	Shitajiki (Pencil Board)	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	Clear Cover	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart
	Zipper Case and Pockets	Add "A5 Slim" to Cart	Add "B6 Slim" to Cart

Kokuyo Jibun Techo: A 3-in-1 Planner

Kokuyo Jibun Techo: A 3-in-1 Planner

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