I have been thinking seriously about diving into the world of Japanese pens. My philosophy with pen purchasing is not so much of collecting complete sets (although I try), but I like buying pens that tend to be representative models for a brand or set. That being said, I am looking into getting a Danitrio Mikado Tamenuri. The question I have for you, while apparently superficial, should also allow you to reflect on your philosophy on pens and life in general. Should I get the pen with the clip or no clip? Do you wish every pen was clipless? Are clipless pens useless? Do you feel a clip stifles creativity in how you use the pen???

Just wondering...

-Cody

I'm a woman, so that means that I don't put pens in my shirt pocket. I keep them in the outer pocket of my tote, typically.

I don't like pens that roll, though; I don't have a pen rest that I carry with me. So if it's a faceted pen that wouldn't roll, I'd consider getting it clipless, but if it happened to be round, I'd get a clip.

Personally for maki-e and urushi, I prefer them clipless when possible as I think that's very "zen" like. Nothing, I mean, nothing to disrupt the "flow". But I also think this is pen dependent... Western style pens I would prefer with clips.

Kevin

I have both styles of Mikado.

For the eye-pleasing factor I like the clipless, for the practicality of portage and not worrying about the pen rolling anywhere that might potentially make me want to throw heavy things I prefer the clip version.

Swings and roundabouts - these are just two things that can be found in a playground...

IANAN operates a more Zen-lite than Zen-like philosophy.

For its sheer beauty I would prefer clipless .. I have doubts that I would ever take this away from home with me so it would rest in a specially designed rest so I could draw inspiration from its poetic design & colour ... but that's just me day-dreaming again.

I was actually hoping for the day-dreaming, esoteric responses. I think the matter of the clip reaches into the heart of a fountain pen user.

Daydreaming response:

I want a custom Danitrio maki-e something awful. I'm also looking at a 12k (or more) price tag. (Better hope I win the lotto, Kevin.)

In the case of a pen like this, clipless all the way. Heck, I'd be showing it off at least one day out, but I'd also be protecting it with my life. Then, I'd probably have a special display case made just for this pen. With invisible force fields, multi-laser alarm, oh, yeah...

To be honest I don't think this pen would be that suitable for me, (especially as I find a Lamy Studio a bit thick) so I think it would be too big in my hand. (& I also doubt if I would ever have the courage to put ink in it.)

As an object of desire however I haven't seen anything better .. but that is only judged from photos & I suspect its even more beautiful in real life.

Sometimes its best just to dream.

Judging by that I may need to take preventative measures to ensure that I don't evaporate on mildly sunny days due to a lack of depth.

I have Mikados that I use at work to write with. That may well make me a bad person, but I will survive...

Grabs clipless Mikado and cues up Gloria Gaynor track.

I would drill a hole in the cap and put a fine chain through it and wear it around my neck.



I'd say that says I'm all about bending the world to me.

Yeah, where are the ringtops when you actually NEED them?

I love chatelaine doodads.

Kevin: When you use your clipless pens, do you have a special pen rest that they sit in on your desk, or do you just put it upright in a pen jar? Does Danitrio make any nice lacquered pen rests designed especially for the clipless Mikado?

Cody, this pen is so hugh, if you haven't seen one in person, I doubt you'd tote it around in a shirt pocket. Although I hear some do. I got mine with the clip for one reason, in case it rolled I'd have some insurance. OK, six months later, I wish I got the clipless Mikado. Live and learn. I keep it on my desk in the box it came with, I park it there when I pause writing just so it won't roll and hit the floor. I'm too lazy to cap it sometimes.

As Kevin said, it looses something with the clip, still a beautiful pen though. But the flow is disrupted.

Ultimately, your choice.

I have to say that my initial leaning is towards the clipless due to its uniqueness, but rolling off a desk could be a serious problem.

This pen epitomises listening to your inner voice


Go clipless would be my choice

Yeah, I agree.

I like to think of FPN as my second inner voice. Thanks for all of the comments so far!

When faced with the decision: I asked myself, how many pens do I have with a clip, what make this pen unique and does a clip add to this pen. Things that make this pen unique : Lacquer finish, Zen like design refinements, unadorned simplicity, the elevation of a simple everyday utilitarian object into a work of art created by mastercraftsmen so skilled as to be unequaled. My vote, no clip, no question.

Yup, I use these at work and at home. Danitrio does not like to make accesories, and so even these were made in limited number. Wood with clear coat urushi. these will fit all your biggies: Mikado, Genakai, Sailor Susutake, Namiki Emperor, Parker Giants, Waterman 20 etc.








Kevin

So, Kevin? Where do you live and when aren't you home...? No reason.

LOL. Base on your location, I am north of you.

Kev

Clipless - it's definitely a Zen thing...

I am waiting for a Mikado to arrive, to complement my Nakaya 'long cigar' pen. It also is clipless (see photo below).

It seems to me the essence of these pens is in their simplicity. Dare I say it's "The sound of one hand clapping"...

- Stuart

(formerly TheTimeTraveller)

Using Pilot Myu 701, jots down "north of...", Okay.

If there's a blue Shiva...








I'LL COME AFTER IT!



Edit: "Blue Shiva" being Vishnu, of course.


(Of course!)

Gee, Stuart, seems you coulda said it was inscrutable.



I kid! It's a beautiful pen, and my teeth, they gnash with envy!

But the good kind of envy, the happy-for-you kind of envy. Seriously. "The sound of both hands clapping, also a cheerful 'Yay!'"

No Shiva... but would Buddha do?


Kevin

Uh-oh... It's just as well it's the zen thing to let that pass by (maybe not if I had won the lottery...!)...

Buddha preserve me from temptation

- Stuart

IANAN packs an extra Ninja outfit for his forthcoming San Fran jaunt...

I'll have my Kendo outfit ready!

I think those pens work well both with and without clips, although I'd love to see a brushed silver clip... maybe even a matte black clip (would go well with a black urushi style).

Kevin, those Buddha pens are fabulous! Wow, the intricacies... can you post an enlargement at some point? Maybe of the rider on the barrel part. I can see it's detailed, but ... to get a closer glimpse would be captivating. Is there a specific regional influence of the Buddhist theme here, or is it general? (I'm guessing there are regional interpretations of style regarding scenes from the story of Buddha).

~Gary

Kevin, if Danitrio decides to make any more of those pen rests, please let us know. I'll buy a couple!

By the way, I would call them necessities, not accessories....

No clip... No question....

Nice photos too BTW.

The workmanship is stunning on the decorated pens, but is way too much for me.

Ah... you think to taunt me, Kevin-san? I am descended from a long line of Buddhist priests, so I can easily withstand the temptation!



On the other hand... I also come from whiskey-runners and scofflaws... so you'd better lock those up. I feel my balance is wavering....

No, you don't have to lock them up. If you lock them up, then that's just another obstacle... ha ha ha!

Edit: What would Gautama say?

One of my mother's best friends was a Kendo expert, his name was Chiba (of course, I knew him as Mr. Chiba). I think he had a school in Japan, and he taught for a while in Fresno, CA.

Hmm... a Ninja v. Kendo smackdown. I'd probably pay to see that.

Ha ha ha!

You are not going to want to post this pen due to the size. If you have the Zen awareness to never let the cap roll off the desk, go clipless. I have the Densho with a clip, and it is beautiful. My next will be clipless. This is a win-win decision for you. Ramble ramble ramble, Peace,

Who else do you think the extra Ninja outfit is for?

Ahhh, yes Chiba Sensei is well known and I have his book (I think co-authored by one of his student). I think that's the same Chiba sensei. Just don't keep throwing the shuriken behind a tree like a coward. LOL.... Oh, wait a minute, are you a male nija or female ninja.... I mean your avatar shows that you are a female ninja... but, hey, now a day, you just never know.

Kevin

Hi Gary,
Here are some photos for you, but these are done by professionals. I'll try to take some of my own later.










Kevin

How many do you need. I have some here I saved up for rainy days knowing they are not going to make more, so I can part with few of these.

I agree, they are necessities especially for big pens and clipless pens.

Best,

Kevin

Don't you mean "WWGD"?

D'oh!

(I thought it was in case the one you were wearing got dirty....)

We are so walking away with Kevin's pens... Ha ha ha!

AH! This is Mr. Chiba! I didn't realize... whoa. Jeez, he took my mom, my brother, and me to Disneyland when we were... I was a teenager, maybe 14. (From San Francisco, for the day.) Gave me the ten-speed bike I rode across the Golden Gate Bridge innumerable times (I named the bike Bichael, cos I'm all word-clevery like that). Never took Kendo lessons from him, though. Seems I missed an opportunity. WHO KNEW?!

Ninja is ninja, Kevin. I'm a little surprised I have to explain that to you.


(Ninja laugh.)

My ojii-chan (actually my mother's step-father, since her father died when she was 5), who died several years ago, who was the village's Buddhist priest, told my mother that I was his favorite grandchild, and while I was extremely honored, I wondered, "Wait, he has favorites?!"

What Would Grandpa Do?

... WWGD .....

Ojii-chan would...












pray.


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Oh, common and you call yourself a ninja?... BTW, is that Iga or Koga
Since Master Kevin has to explain... errrh, let's just say that there are techniques that female ninja would use and not male ones.

(Kendoshi laugh).

I don't understand this, Mr. Bamboozling With Words!

I didn't call myself a ninja; I just didn't (ahem) clarify.

Anyway, I'm more effective with dagger than wiles. My wiles not so wily.

By the way, the other gorgeous pen you showed, the one your wife isn't jealous of? It is STUNNING. So beautiful.



Goes away to covet in private.

To get back on topic (sorry to squelch the ninja conversation), do any of you all have the Danitrio Mikado with a stub nib? Is the nib a good writer, and how wide is the line? Also, since I first started this topic, I discovered the Genkai. Do any of you all have the Genkai Tamenuri? What is the approximate price difference between the Genkai and Mikado?

Thanks,

-Cody

Hi Cody,
I should apologize for hijacking your thread, and yes, let's back on topics, since the nijan threat has diminished

Seriously, most folks who bought Mikado from me usually have the soft fine or soft medium, so you should stick with nibs you are comfortable. I like stub, but found it not suitable for my day job. The line is about 1mm without pressure.

As for Genkai Tamenuri and Mikado Tamenuri prices.... Genkai retails for $1100 while the Mikado retails for $950. Genkai means "The limit" in Japanese. It also comes with a larger, nicer lacquer box. To some this is important, for most, it is not. Here is are some pics of the Genkai Tamenuri:






Kevin

Darn you Kevin!!!

That box and pen are a stunning combination. I would have said the box didn't matter, until I saw those photos.

:-( The prices just keep getting farther and farther out of reach...