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I have treated myself to my first-ever uroshi pen, a Nakaya from nibs.com with the kuro-tamenuri finish (black over red). I haven't received the pen yet, so I won't make any final decisions until I see it in person, but I'm pondering inks that would suit the pen. My ideas so far: Black (I have some Iroshizuku Take-Sumi) Dark Brown (I have Iroshizuku Yama-Guri, and I'm also looking at the Maruzen Sepia available from Nanami paper) Dark Red (Sailor Oku-Yama, Diamine Oxblood, ?) I don't need it to be matchy-matchy but I want it to harmonize with the pen. I don't want to match the red of the undercoat since I don't write with bright red very often. Any thoughts?

Hello Followers! We are very glad to announce that Iguana Sell is the new Official Sponsor of this year's Madrid Penshow. It is the most important of Europe and we will be very happy to help you if you come visit us! As some of you may know, it will take place the 14th, 15th and 16th of November at the Eurobuilding Hotel in Madrid. At our stand, you will be able to try our range of nibs of Aurora, Pelikan and Nakaya. Do not miss this unique show and contact us to info@iguanasell.com to get your free ticket!

As promised, here's my review of the Nakaya titanium Piccolo Writer with a broad stub nib. My handwritten review is at the bottom, but I wanted to add some thoughts with each photo, so the text of the handwritten review is not going to completely match the review as posted - sorry about that! Here it is, in all its glory Note the pointed ends. On an urushi or maki-e Piccolo, this is a soft, conical shape. On the titanium Piccolo, it's weapons-grade The machining/lathing marks you see here are continued on the grip; they provide a very pleasant texture! This grip is not slippery at all, which had been one of my concerns with this pen as I have somewhat oily skin. The delightful stub! As I noted in my earlier post, there is some exposed gold where the ruthenium plating was ground off in the process of stubbing this nib. In use, I never notice this. A group shot. From left to right: Sheaffer Legacy I in sterling silver with gold trim, Pilot Art Silvern in sterling silver (from 1976 with earlier clip), Nakaya titanium Piccolo Writer, Parker 61 Flighter in steel. I wanted to show the difference in metals, mainly: the titanium has more of a greyish hue, and because of the lathing marks the finish is somewhat matte; I wish I had a Lamy 2000 in brushed steel to compare. Sizewise, you can see that it is short but stout; I believe the section diameter is roughly the same as an Aurora 88 large or a Montblanc 146. Same group, uncapped. The written review! All measurements and weights from the Classic Fountain Pens website (nibs.com) Some additional thoughts: would I recommend this pen? First, I would have to ask you some questions: 1) Do you like heavy pens?2) Do you like metal pens?3) Do you like Nakaya nibs? If you answered yes, then yes, this is the pen for you Expanding on my written review, this will never be my all-day writer, but for jotting notes in meetings or signing on documents, it's perfect. John Mottishaw knows how to stub a nib - it glides over the paper with the barest hint of feedback - just enough to give me a good amount of control. I hope everyone enjoyed the review! If you have any questions, fire away

Does anybody know where the Japanese Urushi Lacquer (seen on pens that have maki-e patterns, or most notably a Nakaya) can be purchased? Or how about methods of making it? I was thinking about taking a Noodler's Nib Creeper and making it into a Nakaya type pen. The clip is easily removed, to get that clean clipless look, and the entire pen can be dissasembled so it should be easy to cover it in the lacquer without hindering mechanical action. Is this even a viable idea? I just really like the look of an Urushi pen, and wanted something that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg (until I proverbially grow some extra limbs). What about color? Will the underlying color show through? I was thinking about buying a red or a black Nib Creeper so the undercolor is nicely matched. Basically I want to go from this: http://www.gouletpens.com/v/vspfiles/photos/N17004-2T.jpg to this: http://rudiphoto.net/img/s3/v39/p967942023.jpg I know my results will vary vastly, but I think it's worth a try to see how it goes. Any input is very much appreciated.

I just finalized my first Nakaya order and I'm so happy that I'm borderline giddy. I wanted and got a Naka-ai Cigar Aka-tamenuri pen as it was in stock at Nibs.com. When it comes to the nib I wanted an EF with some line variation. As a person I'm very very impatient and as much I understand the time it takes to manufacture these pens I don't think I personally could wait six months or more for one. (x) I inherited some money recently and thought this was the perfect time to get a premium pen. I told my news to my incredibly down to earth and sensible partner who just didn't get it (but you have pens already) not that I expected it. (x) I'm a bookconservator and binder with a background in textile crafts so I understand and admire japanese hand crafts. Not that I claim to be anywhere close to a living treasure personally.

So, after individually reviewing two of my three Hakases (buffalo horn and rosewood), my Romillo Nervión and my custom Nakaya, I feel it is time to draw together some disparate threads. For many, the prospect of a fully custom pen is both alluring and daunting. With so many options the process seems fraught with danger, and the reassurance of an off-the-peg alternative, liberally reviewed and photographed here on the forum, turns the 'maybe' into an eternal 'maybe next time'. So here I will attempt to remove the mystery from the process, to shine a light on these three well-known if enigmatic makers, and to give a holistic and subjective overview of the process and the final pens. Maybe then I will help push a few of you over the edge into the abyss. Romillo Nervión, custom Nakaya, Hakase Rosewood, Hakase Buffalo Horn Communication: A friendly and knowledgeable contact is crucial, both in easing anxiety and assuring that there are no misunderstandings along the (sometimes long) way. Yet, oddly, it is the experience with the most scope for error that has proven to be the most rewarding, and then by a large margin. Hakase is a tiny company located in Tottori, a middling city in the north of Honshu, Japan's main island. If I say that its locale is known only for its pears and a sand dune, perhaps you will understand how remote Hakase is. Mr. Ryo Yamamoto is the proprietor and, now that his father and patron has retired, also the maker of Hakase's pens. From what I understand, he speaks little-to-no English, and yet... My three experiences with Hakase have been absolutely without flaw. Mr. Yamamoto's infinite patience, his pride in his products, and his devotion to his customers, has shone through in every interaction, no matter how minor. Questions were answered almost instantaneously (via Google Translate but, miraculously, still comprehensible), often including comparative photos of great skill, as well as personal guidance and impressions of the options under consideration. The little questionnaire (filled out once and then kept on file for future reference) asked for certain writing specifics and preferences, as well as a writing sample, and was always mailed back anew upon receipt of an order with an exact to-scale picture of the expected pen. Ryo even allowed my second pen to jump the queue to ensure it arrived in time for my birthday... Aftercare has also been sublime: a new nib was ground for me to match my pen (as each pen is constructed entirely by hand, it was necessary to send it back in its entirety to ensure a clean marriage between section and barrel); turnaround from Israel to Japan and back again was barely three weeks. I have had less contact with Álvaro Romillo at Romillo, but so far the signs have been good. eMails were usually promptly serviced (with a few lapses), and answers have been friendly, open and comprehensive, though they lack the overwhelming thoroughness of Mr. Yamamoto at Hakase. So where does this leave Nakaya? Not very high, unfortunately. I have had several experiences with Nakaya, both personally and through Classic Fountain Pens in California. Whereas Hakase exemplifies that friendlier nature of the Japanese national personality, Nakaya inhabits the realms of the introverted side. Even as a repeat customer, several exploratory communications with the company in Tokyo were politely rebuffed; a request for more details about the urushi craftsmen in Wajima (a town I was to visit as my latest pen was being produced) was ignored. It is no coincidence, therefore, that upon undertaking a custom design, I chose CFP to act as middle-man. Romillo size 9, Nakaya ruthenium plated F, Hakase F, Hakase F Scope for Customisation: I suppose this is the most important issue, for what is the definition of a 'custom' pen? Of the three, only Romillo is entirely made by hand, the other two relying on certain parts sourced from other manufacturers. Needless to say, this limits their creative scope somewhat. On considering a Romillo, I asked Álvaro what existed within the realms of possibility. His answer: the daunting "anything". I am not sure this was meant literally (I doubt I could order a telescoping piston without footing the bill for the necessary R&D upfront), but in dimensions and furniture, it seems that anything goes. He was even open to custom end-buttons, clips and nib engravings too, although strangely not to any material bar ebonite. A celluloid model has just been added to Romillo's website, so perhaps that is about to change... Nib, feed and filling aside, Hakase have been more than willing to alter their signature pens. Mix-and-match details from their plethora of designs, as well as a (new) choice of 14k golds or sterling silver, all to create your pen, then have Mr. Yamamoto tailor the dimensions and details to suit your taste. Materials are limited to those traditionally utilised by Hakase, but the canvas proves vast: celluloid, ebonite, various exotic woods, buffalo horn and even turtle-shell for those more adventurous, and possessed of deep pockets. With Nakaya, alterations are limited to the surface: the garnish rather than the meat. One must first choose a basic design from those already offered by Nakaya (or, as in my case, allow them to suggest one), and then work from there. Even then, there are seemingly arbitrary limitations: a request to include western text on the pen was quietly refused, as was a second nib and section. Pedantic and pointless, especially when undertaking such a project at such an expense. 'Specialness': You can find my thoughts elsewhere, but it goes without saying that one orders a custom pen for something more than brand image. More, even, than objective attributes. A handmade pen should sing in an ineffable manner alien to an object spat out by machine. It should not necessarily be without flaw, but those flaws must be evidence of the divine fallibility of man rather than lax quality control or the inadequacy of design. It is here that the Nakaya absolutely fails. It is a beautiful pen, a fantastic pen even and, imbued with so much personal resonance, I love it dearly. But it is a (relatively) mass-produced product with very beautiful embellishments. I do not pick it up and feel it was made for me, that it embodies some indelible connection between the craftsman and I. I do with the other two. Even the nib: yes, it is a good nib. Great even. But it is the work of John Mottishaw and is comparable to any of the other Nakayas or Platinums that I own, all on off-the-shelf pens and no poorer for it. The Romillo is the complete antithesis. It would not exist were it not for me, and everything about it screams 'anachronism' in the manner of an heirloom film camera or a car with a manual transmission. It is the very definition of what a custom pen should be - not a single part outsourced or produced by robot, and that nib is quite simply a marvel of character and grace. How a cottage manufacturer on Europe's periphery can do what the big boys cannot is beyond me, and for many that nib and that nib alone will pronounce the Nervión the absolute and uncontested winner here. I would not argue with that conclusion... But it is not mine. In my humble eyes, Hakase is the master of the custom pen. Everything, from the communication to the ordering to the blissful agony of the wait is exactly what I want the experience to be. The choice of materials and styles is comprehensive, and the skill exhibited in the manufacture (the threads are cut by hand!) is peerless. Yes, for some Hakases will forever be hobbled by the Pilot nib, feed and filler, yet the proof is in the writing and Ryo Yamamoto has still succeeded in translating my desires into nib form (three times on three separate pens) better than any nibmeister, let alone manufacturer. Yes, other Pilots in my collection may share the 'same' size 15 nib, but none dream to compare upon the page. I am happy to own all three and would consider none a mistake. But were I to only have one, there would be absolutely no doubt: Mr Yamamoto and Hakase would be the one to receive my only order.

I've been fortunate to receive a brace of new Nakayas in recent weeks - the Portable Writer and the Shiro Tamenuri Long Piccolo, so felt the need to take a family photo. I asked my son which he preferred and he told me the Shiro Tamenuri Long Piccolo, which is the newest of them all. "Good choice," said I. "Mind you, I would have said that whichever one you'd picked." Off toddled my son, aged 10, looking slightly bemused... I think my favourite for longer writing sessions is the Portable Writer - it's slightly lighter and smaller than the others, though still a full-sized pen. The factory stub, from a broad, on the Shiro Tamenuri has no discernible line variation that I can detect. It is a really smooth writer though - the smoothest of them all - and seems like a western fine/medium to my hand and eyes.

Hi all, I'd like to introduce to you the newest addition to my collection... http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d191/cainey77/2V5A8195-Edit_zpsa0b88101.jpg http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d191/cainey77/2V5A8199-Edit_zpsb866057c.jpg http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d191/cainey77/2V5A8214_zps27a1c845.jpg

Hi, everyone, I've read everything I can find here, but I'm looking for more opinions. I love my fine and XF pens, and I have found my pilot VPs and my Sailor Sapporo to be exceptionally smooth (which is what I'm looking for). I have also recently acquired 2 Nakayas. One I purchased new from CFP, and one used from the classifieds here. The Nakayas aren't as smooth as I'd like. They are slightly toothy, as people say. I am wondering if I should send them to be retuned, or if that is just the Nakaya way. What is everyone else's experience with F and XF Japanese nibs?

Hi, I'm sure many of you have already dealt with John and company over as Classic Fountain Pens. I recently sent John two Nakaya pens to be retuned for me. the first one I purchased from them a couple of months ago. The second I purchased from the classifieds here. I'm a left-handed side writer, and I like my pens with fine nibs and smoooooooth. This, as John told me on the phone, presented an interesting challenge. I wouldn't have even sent the pens, but I have a Sailor from them with an XF nib that writes so, so smoothly, so I knew it was possible to get these pens a little more buttery. Not only was the work done beautifully (as I fully expected), but John spent roughly 20 minutes on the phone with me trying to understand my writing style and preferences (having already looked at my writing samples). OK, so you are thinking that is no big deal. But now I tell you that he did it the day before the SF pen show, and you realize he probably had much better things to do than tune a couple of pens. Such a lovely time I had talking to him - and my nibs know it!

I've been given a Nakaya Naka-Ai Shobu by a very generous and lovely friend and I've been told it's cleared customs. Hopefully it'll be with me on Friday but I couldn't contain my excitement so I figured I'd let you all know so you can be impatient with me It'll have a Rhodium-plated clip and Mr Mottishaw's custom Spencerian-ground nib. It's gonna be cool. A photo from Mr Mottishaw's website: http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r555/Josiah_Goldsmith/Nakaya-Naka-ai-Writer-Rhodium-Shobu-Capped.jpg I'm so excited Joe

I've just had a rather surprising performance bonus and big promotion at work, and I want to spend some of it on my first Nakaya (and stick the rest in an investment account like a sensible person). It'll be something very lovely, and very personal, that I can keep for the rest of my life. Most of my pens are vintage, and many of them are engraved; I treasure them, and the thought of commissioning something very special and personalised of my own from a craftsman like the people at Nakaya gives me the chills. I think I'm set on nib choice: I'll be asking John Mottishaw for a soft elastic fine or XF with added flex, if he'll do it (I understand he has strong opinions on the cutouts in the elastic nib). I know what kanji I want on it (kinkou, meaning equilibrium). I know I either want a Milky Way or an Ascending Dragon in the long cigar shape - the Ascending Dragon is winning at the moment by about 70%. I have given this so much thought over the last week that I am having very disturbed dreams about it. But I'm mithering something horrible about which colour of Ascending Dragon I prefer. Part of the problem is that I'm not very clear on how the aka-tamenuri and heki-tamenuri look (and how they compare with one another) once the dragon has "ascended" and is glowing through the translucent lacquer after a few year's use. Thanks to TDL's lovely pictures here, I think I have a reasonable feel for what the blue dragon looks like in the end. But if anyone has pictures of the aka- and heki-tamenuri after the urushi has mellowed, I'd love to see them - and if (unlikely) anyone has pictures of both together I'd be over the moon with gratitude. In the Chinese calendar, I am a fire dragon, so I guess that should push me in the direction of aka-tamenuri; but I am also very drawn to the earthy tones of the heki-tamenuri. Who would have thought that making a decision about something so lovely could be so stressful?

JapanMania in Kyiv, Ukraine - 15.09.2013. Platinum and Nakaya stend. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/9803912586_a58d0f19d1_c.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/9803904974_a693da8051_c.jpg http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/9803880195_5ed63770e9_c.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/9803907844_2d2aca41dc_c.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/9803918006_64dba65c3e_c.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/9803968143_b07e435c3f_c.jpg http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/9803912064_a2e7bd0717_c.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5456/9803887795_5b18e7c19f_c.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9803914584_f05c258717_c.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/9803973383_feda39cb77_c.jpg http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/9803974523_87bb6787b7_c.jpg http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/9803917264_fb8b8d7d65_c.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/9803975833_3013d7be75_c.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/9803927546_58b67fd97a_c.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7285/9803911056_2293467d5d_c.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/9803958103_4349d47a9c_c.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7386/9803909146_13914def12_c.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/9803872365_08b006788a_c.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/9803897624_026a7deb51_c.jpg http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2818/9803896374_722ccf2d9c_c.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/9803903386_7fdd872ce9_c.jpg

WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW! OMG! And did I say WOW? I'm lost for words at the minute. Both with the pen and the import costs! ha. I also had the Snowflower converter as well. Just filled it with my favourite ink, Tsuki-yo. I went for a medium nib as I was worried the fine may be too fine. I could have been wrong. LOL. However the nib just feels great and 'sings' across my Design-Y notebook so well. OMG I am in pen heaven. Heki-tamenuri? I thought the Brown would be thicker than it is over the Green, and there is one little 'blob' of Brown on the pen which is a slight disappointment to me, BUT I have to realise it is hand made. Oh yeah, and the nib is not perfectly lined up with the 'fin' either! now i am being anal I know. Enjoy! Im off to write more with it.

Hi All, I am heading to Japan for my first trip in early September and I am planning to buy a Nakaya from Itoya, I realise they can be purchased online but living here in New Zealand the customs and duty makes this very expensive as well as the exchange rate, hence why I want to pick one up on holiday. Does anyone have any experience of buying one at Itoya?? Is it true I can get the nib swapped within 24 hours if I need too, I have only 3 days in Tokyo so time is critical...thanks for any ideas or help Craig

Nakaya Decapod Twist - Ao Tamenuri Warning - lots of pictures! http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_1.jpg This isn’t going to be a formal review; just some brief impressions and I hope instead that the pictures give a good idea of what the pen is like. There are a lot of lovely pens in the world but the moment I first saw the Nakaya Decapod Twist I knew I would have to buy one. I already owned the standard Decapod by then, but the Twist was clearly something special and unique. I’d never seen a pen quite like it. After all, how many pens take the hand-made virtues that Nakaya are famous for and combine them into something that is effectively a piece of abstract minimalist sculpture you can write with? Suffice to say it’s a pretty short list! http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_2.jpg Although I knew I wanted a Decapod Twist, I wasn’t sure what finish to chose so it was a while before got around to buying one. What made my mind up was seeing the pictures of Quinden’s Twist in the ao tamenuri finish. Once I saw that, it was just a case of how quickly I could raise the money! The cool greenish blue base coat makes a lovely change from the more common red finishes. However, the other option I would have liked to have considered was the unpolished shu, but Nakaya doesn’t make the Twist in that finish. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_7.jpg The standard Decapod is a uniquely slender pen within Nakaya’s line up. In the hand the pen is noticeably thinner and lighter than their other ebonite pens, though this doesn't always come across in photographs. It feels delicate. By comparison the Twist is somewhat sturdier and shares the same basic dimensions as the Portable, Long Piccolo and Naka-ai. The section in particular is pretty much the same size for all these models. However, the degree to which it bulges out at the nib end does vary slightly from pen to pen, creating subtle differences when you hold them. I find the section on these pens only just long enough to be comfortable without touching the threads, so I like the section to have a small bulge as it provides more room to grip the pen. Fortunately, the one on mine is fine. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_3.jpg Capped my Nakaya Twist weighs 26g and uncapped 19g. For me this is just about ideal as I find pens around this weight suit me perfectly. Because it has a converter it balances very nicely too. Mine doesn’t have a clip. I find these pens are a little long to clip comfortably in a shirt pocket and the facets mean it doesn’t roll quite as readily as a round pen, which makes the clip less important as a roll stop. I also think it looks better without one. Uncapped it is 131mm long and the cap is not designed to post. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_5.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_8.jpg Obviously, the key feature of this pen is the ten facets that spiral gently round the cap and barrel. I love the appearance very much and the curved glossy surfaces catch the light differently to any other pen I own. Although each edge has been cut quite crisply I find that, in the hand, I don’t notice them at all and it handles very much the same as the pens I mentioned above. The facets particularly suit the tamenuri style finish, where the edges create many opportunities for the base colour to show through. Mine is a little muted at the moment, but over time I would expect the top colour to become slightly more transparent, creating a more dramatic contrast. The nib on my Twist is a soft fine. This was a mistake as I had ordered a standard firm fine. However, when I dipped it I found the softness of the nib was hardly noticeable; indeed it is just slightly springy with the light pressure I was using. Certainly there is no line variation unlike, say, a soft Danitrio nib. Line width is about equivalent to a Western extra fine, which I find ideal in the office for writing notes. For such a fine nib it’s a smooth writer with good ink flow, perhaps a touch less juicy than most of my pens. Consequently it writes well on most types of paper, which is a bonus in an office environment. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_6.jpg One of the other attractions of buying the Decapod Twist was that I would be able to compare it with my standard Decapod and my two Danitrio Octagons. While it would be futile to try to make detailed comparisons I hope you find the pictures useful. Suffice to say that all are lovely pens, made to a very high standard. Apart from the slimness/light weight of the original Nakaya Decapod, the most obvious difference between them is that Nakaya favour crisply cut edges while those of the Danitrios are slightly rounded. It’s also interesting to see how similar in weight they are, except for the lighter Decapod: Nakaya Decapod Capped 22g Uncapped 13g Nakaya Decapod Twist Capped 26g Uncapped 19g Danitrio Hakkaku Capped 28g Uncapped 18g Danitrio Octagon Capped 28g Uncapped 18g I find them all well balanced and comfortable; both the Decapod Twist and Danitrio Hakkaku are in daily use at my office. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_9.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_10.jpg So, that’s about it. The Decapod Twist is a lovely pen and, as I’m sure I’ve seen written elsewhere, could very well be considered Nakaya’s most distinctive offering. The urushi lacquer is beautifully done and I particularly enjoy the slight imperfections (if you can call them that) that reveal the maker's hand at work, which is so much a part of the appeal of these pens. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/minkapics/Nakaya_11.jpg

I’m going to attempt a summary of the available information on the Big-3 Japanese penmakers. My personal favorite fountain pens primarily come from these pens, as do many fountain-pen aficionados’ – Nakaya (derived from Platinum), Sailor, Pilot, and Namiki (a luxury branch of Pilot) pens carry the majority of the best fountain pens made for daily use nowadays. Like I wrote in my last entry these are the brands most people consider when looking for a problem-free experience. I hope this page is helpful to people considering their next fountain pen. Please send me a message if I should correct some of the information below. http://yihogyun.com/wordpress/cheat-sheet-for-the-japanese-big-3-fountain-pen-makers/

Just noticed this new Nakaya FP while browsing FPGeeks; more information can be had here at nibs.com. It looks quite different than Nakaya's other offerings, but I'm really not sure I like the 'bamboo-wrapped urushi pen' idea... OTOH, the indigo blue color they're using for this pen is really nice IMHO!

Look what you have all done to me. I just received my first Nakaya - a Decapod Twist in Ao-Tamenuri. I wonder if I should go for a finer nib, a drier ink, or just a tuning to be less wet. Thoughts on the writing sample attached?

Hello all! I received my Nakaya Neo-standard in Kuro-Tamenuri around 3 weeks back and I noticed that it wasn't as shiny as I had seen in the pictures. The shine isn't as prominent when compared to my other pens such as the Sailor 1911m, Pilot 92 (All black plastic). The Nakaya has a slightly dulled look - is this normal? Does it get shinier as time goes by? One thing I will say though is that I haven't seen any micro-scratches at all on the body - really quite impressive. The Nakaya & the Pilot. Hopefully you can see the pen on the right is shinier. Anyways, does anyone have any experience or advice about how would I go about polishing the urushi properly if that was at all possible? (I'm aiming for a mirror finish). Regular swiping with a cleaning cloth doesn't seem to help lessen the dull. Thank you!

If you happen to be in Paris, visit Mora Stylos. Or go especially to paris just for that. There is an expo of many Nakayas that you can see, feel, smell and try. I received a Dorsal Fin II in ishime kanshitsu akatamenuri with a medium flexible elastic nib in ruthenium from my wife . It is very rare to have the privilege to take so many different Nakaya models in hands in Europe. And to be able to buy them without having to wait for many months. Until Saturday there is also one of Nakayas master to make adjustments. Then it is all over. It's a pity that he wasn't there when I passed by two weeks ago. I hope he will repeat this initiative next year.

Dear all, Last December I purchased what I was thinking would be the "grail" of my modest collection - a Nakaya Maki-e folding screen of flowers. This was available with an M-Flexible nib and it did write well indeed yet nothing extraordinary. After just a few days of use it also became somehow inconsistent in terms of ink flow. This could be due to my limited knowledge... yet it was not writing better or more fluently that a Graf von Faber Castell Anello Wood. Yesterday I purchased a Montblanc Master for Meisterstück l'Aubrac with M Nib and I am totally impressed. The writing performance is just outstanding and, also in terms of feedback and fluidity on the paper no comparison with my Nakaya Maki-e with M Flexible Nib. I have just finished a review with several photos and comparison that I plan to publish on my blog soon. Before doing that I was wondering if I could post the link to the review on this forum OR if I have to write a review on the forum e.g. if links to a review blog are not allowed. As another side question I was wondering if you own a Montblanc with a similar nib and a Nakaya and what is your experience with both ? I appreciate that Nibs can be changed, customised etc. but from a out of the box experience (which I think one has the right to expect at this price level) there is, in my opinion, a big gap. Thanks for sharing your view and letting me know about the review posting etiquette Best Regards Christian.

After admiring Leigh Reyes' beautiful shiro-tamenuri and, separately, string-rolled pens, I decided I wanted a pen that married the two -- a string-rolled shiro-tamenuri pen. However, the only catalog option offered by Nakaya was a piccolo-sized pen. I tend to prefer longer pens. After quite a bit of back and forth with CFP and reading about the balance of various Nakaya pen shapes, I opted for the Portable. I didn't want a clip to 'mar' the lovely warm colour of the shiro-tamenuri so I ended up with the cigar shape. The nib is a 0.3mm cursive italic. After about 4.5 months... http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s667/daintydimsum/IMG_1115_zpsb2ce31ed.jpg http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s667/daintydimsum/IMG_1118_zps82ad37e4.jpg http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s667/daintydimsum/IMG_1122_zpsf01d5f56.jpg and a crappy nib shot... http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s667/daintydimsum/IMG_1123_zpsa5aeae82.jpg http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s667/daintydimsum/IMG_1125_zpsc398969f.jpg http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s667/daintydimsum/IMG_1128_zpsc430fe16.jpg The other pen is a Danitrio Byakudan-Nuri in the Red Lion (Takumi-sized).

Well, not the normal Nakaya story. About a week ago, I decided I needed to add another Nakaya to the collection. Having ordered one over 10 years ago, I pulled it out of storage, inked it up and started thinking about another. Looking around the Classic Fountain Pens website, I found that they had a Naka-ai in Kuro-tamenuri in stock. I sent my order form in and waited. Well, soon after, I got the e-mail that hours before someone else had swooped in and taken my Naka-ai. Ugh..., so close. I went ahead and ordered the Naka-ai but decided I would go with the Aka-tamenuri. Fast forward about a week, I decide that given the time that it would probably take to get my Naka-ai, maybe I should go ahead and get a Piccolo that Classic Fountain Pens had in stock - a Araishu. As I was completing some e-mail correspondence with Classic Pens about my Piccolo order, my phone rings with a call from LA. Apparently, an order had been cancelled and a Naka-ai in Aka-tamenuri was in stock and ready to go. I specified a B ground to a stub, I sent the money and then got the e-mail that John Mottishaw has sent me a package! After the disappointment of being so close on the Kuro-tamenuri, a week prior, the excitement of having a Aka-tamenuri in the mail headed my way is enormous. I think the Piccolo is likely still in the future, but after the Naka-ai gets a bit of use. While I realize that I didn't have the wait that many have had for a beautiful Nakaya (not even as long as I waited for my first one 10 years ago), I am going to enjoy receiving this pen just as much.

The Nakaya Naka-ai in Shu-nurippanshi (unpolished red) caught my eye on the nibs.com web site some months ago. I was really hooked when I saw Earthdawn's gorgeous photos. Others were activated by that topic too, because my good TFL friend who shall remain un-named snagged the last one in stock moments before I ordered mine. Fortunately, more were already on order, and mine arrived last week. I had salved my wound from not receiving instant gratification by ordering a Piccolo in Shu, so I am able to provide a side-by-side comparison of Naka-ai/Piccolo size and of Shu/Shu-nurippanshi. Both Pens have yellow gold BB nibs ground to 0.7 mm crisp cursive italic by John Mottishaw. Here is another photo of the Naka-ai's nib: In these photos, one can certainly see a difference in the color of the two pens. The unpolished shu looks darker. Actually, the difference is less marked than I expected, and the shu-nurippanshi has a shinier, less matte finish than I expected. I can detect no tactile difference between the two pen's finishes. I initially filled the new pen with Pelikan Brilliant Black. It had less crispness than I desired, and it was very toothy. I wrote with it for a couple days with a bit of improvement. This morning, I rinsed out the nib and converter very well and re-inked with Waterman Black. Interestingly, the line differentiation was much better, and the toothiness seems to be subsiding. I think I will continue to try different inks in this pen until I find a favorite. I'm thinking it may be Diamine Oxblood. David