MAIDO In A Box (Vol. 4): "Novel Writing"

I bought this product from Kinokuniya in October 2020.  As an avid writer, I was excited by the theme: novel writing.  With National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) around the corner, I was curious to see what MAIDO could bring to the table.  The box sold for $35, but is currently out of stock.  This was the first stationery box I've purchased; will it also be my last?  Read on to find out.

Products Included

• Midori MD Notebook (Lined, "Bunko Size")
• Approximate value: $15
• Note: I could not easily find this item for sale in the States
• Uni Emott 5 Color Set (No. 8, "Retro Color")
• Approximate value: $14
• Zebra Blen 3C 0.5mm Multi-Pen
• Approximate value: $6
• Mildliner Bluegreen
• Approximate value: $2
• Delfonics A5 "5 Parts Clear Folder"
• Approximate value: $3
• Note: I could not easily find this item for sale in the States
• Total (Approximate) Value: $40 USD

Pros

• The order shipped promptly and arrived quickly (though I'm sure it doesn't hurt that I'm relatively close to Kinokuniya's USA HQ).
• The order was well-packed and arrived without damage to the products.
• The presentation of the box and items are slick, from the "MAIDO IN A BOX" branding to the 1-page (double-sided) summary of the products included.
• The included items would cost more to purchase individually, and some items cannot be easily purchased in the USA (if my cursory search is to be believed).  

Cons

• If I'm honest, none of the products in the box excited me.  I was ready to say, "wow!" but ended up with a resounding, "meh."  I could forgive this (especially given the relatively low barrier to entry of the box), if not for the next point.
• The box didn't do much with the theme (novel writing).  While it's nice that product descriptions were included, the write-up doesn't suggest any way the included products could be used together, let alone what they have to do with novel writing (beyond their expected use as stationery).  Here are a few things that could've "spiced up" the experience for me: 
• Included writing prompts
• Included quotes from famous novelists
• Included reading recommendations for books on writing
• Included books on writing (Kinokuniya is a bookstore, after all)

Conclusion

I was disappointed by the "MAIDO In A Box" (Volume 4).  It's not that any of the individual products were bad, it's that the box as a whole failed to create a cohesive narrative around its own (self-designated) theme.  While I recognize that I am the best curator of my own tastes, this product had a chance to surprise and delight but failed.  Ultimately, the box felt like "leftovers from the warehouse," rather than something special.  I doubt I'll be purchasing another volume.

Midori MD Note (Ruled, A5 Size)

I purchased this notebook in August 2020 to see if Midori paper could hold a candle to my long-standing favorite "high performance" writing paper, Tomoe River.  After two months with it, has it lived up to the challenge?  Find out below. 

Basic Info

• 88 Sheets / 176 Pages
• $12 / notebook (as of time of writing)
• Other formats: blank, grid, dot grid
• Includes 1 cloth ribbon (forest green)
• The "center line" of each page is bolded, dividing each page in half

Pros

• (Relatively) Cheap
• Good selection of formats
• The bolded center line is a unique feature
• The paper exhibits virtually no bleed-through and little feathering
• Ghosting is present, but was never intrusive or distracting for me

Cons

• To be frank, I just didn't enjoy the paper that much. 
• While it performs well in some ways, it seems to be coated (or is a much higher GSM than I'm used to).  As a result, the paper tends to exacerbate issues with badly-performing pens, low-flow pens, and pens with especially thick ink.   

Conclusion

I only have one major complaint with this notebook.  Unfortunately, that complaint is with the main function of the notebook: its paper.  The notebook works "well enough" for what it is, and it pairs well with other pen types (especially felt-tip pens).  With that said, the fact that I have access to a stockpile of Tomoe River notebooks means this product just can't compete.  Ultimately, despite the Midori's best efforts, Tomoe River still reigns supreme as my "fountain pen friendly" paper of choice.