---
title: "Maruman Croquis Sketchbook: Thin Paper, 100 Sheets"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/maruman-croquis-sketchbook/"
description: "Maruman Croquis sketchbook explained: the pocket S161 with 100 sheets of 52.3 g/m² white croquis paper, cream and heavier versions, sizes, binding and origin."
category: "Paper"
type: "Sketch & art pad"
published: 2026-10-20
updated: 2026-10-20
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 11
products:
  - name: "Maruman Croquis Book, Pocket, White, 100 sheets (S161)"
    brand: "Maruman"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "52.3 g/m² white croquis paper; kraft board covers; SC-type twin-wire binding"
    price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per ream or pad, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Maruman Co., Ltd."
    model: "S161"
    gtin: "4979093017997"
    url: "https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/products/detail/s161.html"
---

# Maruman Croquis Sketchbook: Thin Paper, 100 Sheets

> The Maruman Croquis Book is a cheap Japanese sketchbook of thin paper for quick drawing. Maruman lists the pocket S161 at 113 × 165 × 9 mm and 110 g, with 100 sheets of 52.3 g/m² white croquis paper between kraft board covers, an SC twin-wire binding and a price of ¥517 (about US$3.30). It is made in Japan.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/maruman-croquis-sketchbook/
- Category: Paper
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-20
- Updated: 2026-10-20

![Drawing of the Maruman Croquis Book pocket S161, 165 × 113 × 9 mm with kraft board covers, closed and opened flat on a white sheet of quick figure sketches; inset: the cover wrapping round the spiral, S.C. binding](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/maruman-croquis-sketchbook-16x9.png)

*The pocket S161, closed and open, drawn to scale from 165 × 113 × 9 mm; the cover artwork is simplified.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/maruman-croquis-sketchbook-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Product facts

| Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maruman Croquis Book, Pocket, White, 100 sheets (S161) | Maruman (by Maruman Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | 52.3 g/m² white croquis paper; kraft board covers; SC-type twin-wire binding | – | $$: $5–20 per ream or pad |

- Made in (Maruman Croquis Book, Pocket, White, 100 sheets (S161)): Japan. Maruman's Japanese product page gives 生産国 (country of production): 日本 (Japan) for the S161, and the same for the S162, S163 and SQ2. Maruzen Junkudo and Hunter Paper Co. also list Japan. Source: https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/products/detail/s161.html

## Key takeaways

- Maruman's Japanese site lists the pocket S161 at 113 × 165 × 9 mm (4.4 × 6.5 in) and 110 g, with 100 sheets of 52.3 g/m² white croquis paper.
- The same pocket book comes as the S162 with 80 sheets of 60 g/m² cream croquis paper and the S163 with 55 sheets of 96.5 g/m² drawing paper, which US shops call cream cotton.
- Its SC binding wraps the kraft cover round the twin wire, which Maruzen Junkudo says keeps the wire from tangling in a bag.
- Maruman lists each pocket book at ¥517 (about US$3.30) including tax; The Pen Addict paid US$4.45 for an S163 in 2022.
- Maruman's own product pages give Japan (日本) as the country of production for the S161, S162, S163 and SQ2.

## What is the Maruman Croquis sketchbook?

**It is a low-cost Japanese sketchbook of thin drawing paper, made for quick studies rather than finished pieces.** "Croquis" is French for a quick sketch, and the books are sold as Croquis Books by Maruman, the Japanese paper company that also makes the [Mnemosyne notebook](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/maruman-mnemosyne-a5-notebook/).

The best-known model is the pocket S161. Maruman's Japanese site pitches it as a small, easy-to-carry croquis book for drawing outdoors or jotting down ideas, and Maruzen Junkudo adds that the kraft covers are tough but flexible enough to roll. The Pen Addict reviewed the heavier S163 in April 2022.

## Maruman Croquis S161 specs

| Spec | Pocket S161 |
|---|---|
| Size | 113 × 165 × 9 mm (4.4 × 6.5 × 0.35 in) |
| Drawing area | 107 × 153 mm (4.2 × 6.0 in) |
| Weight | 110 g |
| Sheets | 100 |
| Paper | White croquis paper, 52.3 g/m² |
| Covers | Kraft board, front and back |
| Binding | Twin wire, SC type (cover wraps the wire) |
| Pages | Not perforated |
| Japanese list price | ¥517 (about US$3.30) including tax |
| JAN | 4979093017997 |
| Made in | Japan |

All figures except the perforation note come from Maruman's Japanese product page; Maruzen Junkudo gives the same size. Hunter Paper Co. lists a 17 mm thickness, and JetPens lists the pocket books as 4.2 × 6 in, which matches Maruman's 107 × 153 mm drawing area rather than the cover size; we use Maruman's figures.

## Which papers and sizes are there?

**The pocket book comes in three papers, and the heavier the paper, the fewer sheets fit.**

| Version | Paper (Maruman) | Sheets | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket S161 | White croquis, 52.3 g/m² | 100 | 113 × 165 × 9 mm | 110 g |
| Pocket S162 | Cream croquis, 60 g/m² | 80 | 113 × 165 × 9 mm | 100 g |
| Pocket S163 | Thin drawing paper, 96.5 g/m² | 55 | 113 × 165 × 9 mm | 120 g |
| Square SQ2 | Cream croquis, 60 g/m² | 80 | 182 × 165 × 9 mm | 175 g |

All figures are from Maruman's Japanese product pages, which list the three pocket books at ¥517 (about US$3.30) and the SQ2 at ¥660 (about US$4.20), including tax. US shops sell the S163 as 96.4 gsm "cream cotton" paper, while Maruman's own page calls it 画用紙薄口, thin drawing paper, at 96.5 g/m².

Maruman's page for a white square SQ1 no longer loads.

![Bar chart of paper weights to scale: Tomoe River S 52 g/m², Croquis white 52.3 (100 sheets), Croquis cream 60 (80 sheets), Midori MD Paper about 80, Strathmore 400 Sketch 89 and Croquis cotton 96.4 g/m² (55 sheets)](https://stationerytimes.com/images/maruman-croquis-sketchbook-papers.svg)

*The white croquis paper is as light as Tomoe River; the S163's paper (96.5 g/m² per Maruman) is heavier than a sketch pad.*

## What is Croquis paper good for?

**The thin white and cream papers are for pencil and line drawing: gesture studies, quick figures and thumbnails.** Maruzen Junkudo describes the white croquis paper as rough-surfaced but strong, and Yoseka says the cream paper's subtle woven texture suits softer pencils.

The S163's heavier paper is the exception. Yoseka calls it the thickest and most durable paper in the pocket range and recommends it for pencil, pen, crayon and pastel; The Pen Addict found that even a Sharpie barely dotted through.

At 52.3 g/m², the white sheet is about the weight of 52 gsm [Tomoe River paper](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tomoe-river-paper/) and much lighter than the 89 gsm [Strathmore 400 Series Sketch pad](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/strathmore-400-sketch-pad/), so dark media will show through to the next page.


## How is the Croquis Book bound?

**It uses Maruman's SC-type twin-wire binding, where the kraft cover wraps round the wire so it sits inside the spine.** Maruzen Junkudo's listing says this keeps the wire from tangling in a bag, and The Pen Addict describes the thick card cover as designed to keep the coils from snagging or being crushed. The square SQ2 uses a spiral SC type (coil loop) instead.

The pages are not perforated. The Pen Addict notes that tearing one out leaves bits of paper on the spiral, so this is a book to fill rather than a pad to tear from.

## How does it compare to other sketchbooks?

**It is the thin, cheap, many-page option; hard-bound sketchbooks trade sheets for heavier paper.**

| | Croquis S161 | [Strathmore 400 Sketch](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/strathmore-400-sketch-pad/) 5.5 × 8.5 in | [Moleskine Art Sketchbook](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/moleskine-art-sketchbook/) Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | 52.3 g/m², white | 89 g/m² (60 lb) | 165 g/m², ivory |
| Sheets | 100 | 100 | 52 (104 pages) |
| Binding | Spine-covered twin wire | Wire | Sewn hard cover |
| Made in | Japan | United States | China |
| Price band | $$ | $$ | $$$ |

Figures for the other two come from our guides to them. For bound pages of heavier paper at a similar size, see the [Stillman & Birn Alpha](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/stillman-birn-alpha-sketchbook/).

## How much does it cost?

**Maruman lists the pocket S161 at ¥517 (about US$3.30) including tax, and Maruzen Junkudo, a Japanese bookstore chain, sells it for ¥473 (about US$3.00).** Imported copies cost more: The Pen Addict paid US$4.45 for an S163 in 2022, and we place pocket Croquis books in our $$ band ($5–20) for US shops.

## Where is the Croquis sketchbook made?

**In Japan: Maruman's own product pages give Japan (日本) as the country of production for the pocket S161, S162 and S163 and the square SQ2.** Maruzen Junkudo and Hunter Paper Co. list Japan too.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is croquis paper?

Croquis is the French word for a quick sketch, and croquis paper is a thin, inexpensive drawing paper made for fast studies. Maruman's white croquis paper is 52.3 g/m², about the weight of Tomoe River writing paper.

### How many sheets are in a Maruman Croquis Book?

Maruman lists 100 sheets in the pocket white S161, 80 in the pocket cream S162 and 55 in the heavier pocket S163. The square SQ2 holds 80 cream sheets.

### What size is the pocket Croquis sketchbook?

Maruman lists the S161 at 113 × 165 × 9 mm, about 4.4 × 6.5 in, with a 107 × 153 mm drawing area. That inner size is why US shops such as JetPens call it 4.2 × 6 in.

### Can you use watercolor in a Croquis sketchbook?

Not in the thin white or cream books, which are made for pencil and line drawing. The S163's 96.5 g/m² paper is heavier; Yoseka recommends it for pencil, pen, crayon and pastel. We haven't tested it with watercolor.

### Do Croquis pages tear out cleanly?

No. The Pen Addict notes the pages are not perforated, so tearing one out of the spiral leaves paper bits on the wire.

### Is the Croquis sketchbook good for pens?

The Pen Addict found no bleeding or feathering on the S163's heavier cream paper, and a Sharpie barely dotted through. The 52.3 g/m² white paper is much thinner, so expect more show-through from markers.

### Where are Maruman Croquis sketchbooks made?

In Japan. Maruman's own product pages give Japan as the country of production for the pocket S161, S162 and S163 and the square SQ2.

## Sources

- [ポケットクロッキー 白クロッキー紙 S161 (Maruman Japan product page: ¥517, 113 × 165 × 9 mm, 107 × 153 mm drawing area, 110 g, kraft board covers, twin wire SC type, 100 sheets of 52.3 g/m², JAN 4979093017997, made in Japan)](https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/products/detail/s161.html)
- [ポケットクロッキー S162 (Maruman Japan product page: 80 sheets of 60 g/m² cream croquis paper, 100 g, ¥517, made in Japan)](https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/products/detail/s162.html)
- [ポケットスケッチブック S163 (Maruman Japan product page: 55 sheets of 96.5 g/m² thin drawing paper, 120 g, ¥517, made in Japan)](https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/products/detail/s163.html)
- [スクエアクロッキー SQ2 (Maruman Japan product page: 182 × 165 × 9 mm, 80 sheets of 60 g/m² cream croquis paper, spiral SC type, ¥660, made in Japan)](https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/products/detail/sq2.html)
- [丸善ジュンク堂: クロッキーブック ポケット判 白クロッキー紙 100枚 (Maruzen Junkudo: ¥473 with tax, S.C. binding keeps wire from tangling, flexible kraft cover, 165 × 113 × 9 mm, made in Japan)](https://www.maruzenjunkudo.co.jp/products/4979093017997)
- [Hunter Paper Co.: Maruman Croquis S161 pocket sketchbook (113 × 165 × 17 mm, 100 sheets of 52.3 gsm white MPS-C, twin wire SC type, made in Japan)](https://hunterpaperco.com/products/maruman-croquis-s161-pocket-sketchbook)
- [Hunter Paper Co.: Maruman Croquis S163 pocket sketchbook (55 sheets of 96.4 gsm cream cotton, made in Japan)](https://hunterpaperco.com/products/maruman-croquis-s163-pocket-sketchbook)
- [Yoseka Stationery: Croquis Sketchbook, Pocket Series, 96.4 gsm cotton paper (S163; pencil, pen, crayon, pastel)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/croquis-sketchbook-pocket-series-96-4-gsm-cotton-paper)
- [Yoseka Stationery: Croquis Sketchbook, Pocket Series, 60.0 gsm cream paper (S162, 11.4 × 16.5 cm, 80 sheets)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/croquis-sketchbook-pocket-series-60-0-gsm-cream-paper)
- [The Pen Addict: Maruman Croquis Pocket Series Notebook Review (April 14, 2022)](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2022/4/14/maruman-croquis-pocket-series-notebook-review)
- [JetPens: Maruman Pocket Croquis Sketchbook, 4.2 x 6 in, 52.3 gsm, white, 100 sheets (blocked our reader when re-checked)](https://www.jetpens.com/Maruman-Pocket-Croquis-Sketchbook-4.2-x-6-52.3-gsm-White-100-Sheets/pd/5261)