The packaging is typical as found on the Japanese maki-e/urushi offerings, hand made paper outer cover:
The pen is housed in a Paulownia wood box:
The box contents:, the top cover is lined with white silk, the bottom is covered with green velvet:
Some closeups of the various papers that came with the pen:
It is not recommended to post the pen, we will see in the review that posting is really not necessary:
The roll of paper that came with the pen, It is very smooth and nice, but I don't know if this is writing paper or for the purpose of gift wrapping the box:
Unfortunately i have no knowledge of Japanese, I think the back of the roll of paper tells the story behind the evolutiuon of the Izumo line. I found some similar looking text on the Platinum Japanese website:
古くから出雲国は和紙の生産地であり、書く事に対して非常に造詣の深い土地柄です。
弊社創業者 中田俊一がこの地、出雲国のあった島根に誕生した事を弊社の起源とし島根県出雲市の協力を得て、新ブランド名を「出雲」に命名。
更なる長寿企業の仲間入りに向け、「出雲」という名の由来にあやかり天に湧き上がる雲の勢いを製品に込めてプラチナ萬年筆の新ブランドを立ち上げます。
Which Translated to the following using google:
Izumo is a place of production of paper from ancient times, is a land pattern for writing very deep knowledge.
With the cooperation of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, and the origin of our company that was born in Shimane was this land, the country our founder, Izumo S. Nakata, naming the "Izumo" the new brand name. Further towards the ranks of the company longevity, and launch the new brand of brush platinum Yorozu years put into the product momentum of the cloud raged in heaven I started from brief introduction to the origin of the name "Izumo".
EDIT: Mchenart has kindly provided the following translation of the writing on the paper scroll:
...from the Kanji (which I can read) printed on the back of the roll of paper, the text tells the story of the tradition of Izumo paper, how it is made up of vegetable fibres into a smooth writing surface suitable for fountain pen use. The paper has a special lustre that makes handwriting stand out. In a gist, that is. So the roll of paper is included in the packaging to highlight the cultural aspects of Izumo and give the pen more weight, so to speak. I am sure the paper can be used for whatever purpose the owner deems desirable.
Onto the pen now, with the green pen kimono in the background:
I love the shape of the pen, in one word: Elegant:
Loaded with a Platinum Black Cartridge:
Nib is the same nib that is found on the Platinum President pens:
The superb clip, very shapely and of a one of a kind design:
The Izumo is a huge pen of jumbo proportions, shown here alongside the MB149 and a YOL Grand Victorian:
A writing sample made immediately after popping in a cartridge:
The flow is neither dry nor wet.
Some concern has been expressed regarding the brass thread ring on the section coming in the way of the grip, I think the results will vary from user to user. I find them a non issue, I tried three grips that i have tried to show below:
The tripod comes naturally on this pen due to its girth, this is for long writing sessions, the tapered barrel sits nicely against the web between the thumb and forefinger:
This is the position that I would prefer for a short jot or note:
The forefinger up is really not comfortable here due to the thickness of the barrel:
I hope you find this review useful.
Cheers!
Hari
Edited by hari317, 24 March 2012 - 18:59.
