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Namiki dedicated a Yukari Limited Edition fountain pen to a Japanese lucky charm: The Daruma Doll. The Japanese doll Daruma is inspired by the monk Bodhidarma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. According to the legend, he spent nine years meditating in front of a wall, which cost him his eyelids and limbs. Today Daruma is a good luck charm for those who wish to succeed, and each color represents a particular field. Yellow is for monetary fortune; blue will enhance your success, red keeps you and your family safe, green stands for good health, and black will bring chance in your life. We hope that this Yukari Daruma will allow its owner to overcome all difficulties and see their goals come true. This pen is delivered in a beautiful box with a leather pen pouch, convertor, and certificate. Only 300 pieces for the world. Expected end of March 2020. Reserve yours! https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/detail/namiki-yukari-daruma-namiki-limited-edition Lucio Maurizi wrote an interesting article about Daruma Dolls in LiveJapan: https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002401/

Hi! I'm planning on buying my first "premium" fountain pen. I'm currently set on getting a Pilot Custom Heritage 91 (or Custom 74, but I suppose it doesn't matter much since the nibs are interchangeable). I'm pretty sure about what model and what finish I want to get, but I just can't decide on the nib size. I don't have any experience with Pilot fountain pens, or any Japanese fountain pen for that matter. I'm used to writing with western fines and mediums, so I thought a Japanese FM would be a good choice. I want to go fine or maybe finer than a western fine, but I don't want a nib that is too fine, because I also like a line thick enough to show some nice ink properties. I also really like the sound of the soft nib options, so I thought I'd get a SFM. I've read that the soft nibs are wetter than the stiffer, regular nibs. Problem is that I'm not sure a very wet nib would be a good choice for me. I'm a college student, and I'll probably be using a lot of cheap paper. So I'm a bit afraid it will be too wet for that purpose. I could always get a SF, but I really think the FM size would suit my writing better. Beside, I'm going to be using it a lot for quick, daily note taking. I mostly use my laptop during lectures, but I still usually write a lot as well. I know the soft nibs are by no means flex nibs, but I don't know if they would be stiff enough for this purpose either. Do any of you have experience with Pilot's soft nibs? Do you have advice for me? Thanks a lot!

Dear forum members, I would like to introduce my new book to you. It shows in word and picture over 550 pens, all in connection to the animal kingdom. You will find pens from 80 companies. The book weighs over 1.5 kilo, has more than 200 pages. The attached pages show how the book is structured. Described is also a number of pens that are not shown. Also 100 pens that were sold by well-known auction houses. The book price is USD 150; (euro 124) including shipping. Many thanks for your interest. We do accept paypal (regina.martini@t-online.de). best regards Regina Martini

Hello fellow pen enthusiasts, So far I have seen just one review on the internet for this pen and I strongly felt it merited another look. The comments about it being a baseball bat are, though funny and mostly in good humor, about as appropriate as saying Babe Ruth's bat was but a twig to be burned with the chaff. This pen is spectacular, and not just because of it's size. Yes, it sports the #50 nib, which if I understand correctly is the largest production nib around. Yes, its Mount Fuji engraving on the nib is breathtaking to behold, and it also writes smooth as butter. But, seldom have I had a pen where what's outside the cap rivals what is under the cap. This pen is vermilion red urushi. This is not just a "big red pen." This is not a "red injection molded plastic pen." This is a work of art--specifically, the technique is called Roiro Urushi. I suggest searching out youtube and other video or Japanese print sources to admire this technique as a Westerner's written explanation would not do this work justice. In short, this pen begins as a black ebonite barrel and, after countless hours of applying, burnishing, smoothing, and finely polishing the red-pigmented urushi, this whole process is repeating ad neuseam with clear urushi lacquer coats--that is, if my rudimentary understanding is not misinformed. This pen is dazzling to the eye and to the touch. I have red pens. This is not just a red pen. Below are as many photos as FPN size limitations will allow me to post. Pictures truly are worth 1,000 words. The only pic missing due to size limits is the first picture I took that showed the boring outer box (cardboard). Nothing really missed there... I don't want to take away from the photos with endless text. But I will offer these words as first impressions and by way of explanation on a few matters: 1) I liked the simple wood box with the elegant and soft purple tie-strings. Very elegant and very Japanese... 2) I knew the pen was big. When I opened the box I smiled because it was even bigger than I expected--in a good way. The simple elegance of this pen is unmatched. I have chosen the ringless version, but one can get this pen with gold bands around the barrel. 3) Comparison pens left to right are: Namiki Emperor, MB149, Yard O Led Grand Viceroy, and the Pelikan M1000--all very large pens. 4) The red feed is awesome. That is all on that subject. 10 out of 10. 5) There is a brilliantly crafted velvet-ish lining to the cap so if one posts the cap (WHY WOULD ANYONE POST THIS PEN?) it will not scratch the urushi barrel. 6) In the photos I challenge you to find the place where the end cap unscrews from the barrel. This craftsmanship is un-improvable. 7) Once you locate the invisible end-cap, one needs only to hold the pen vertical and unscrew it apx. 1.5 turns to let the ink gush out into the feed. 8) Yes, this is an eyedropper. It should be called eyedroppers as I literally gave up filling it after 4 full droppers. Please see the up close photo of the inside of the section to see how this comes together to form an impressive, leakproof seal. 9) One complaint. In the final pen-photo I posted a picture showing the threads. You can see a small hint of black there where the vermilion urushi was either not applied perfectly or where, perhaps by the unavoidable friction-nature of how threads function, the urushi is rubbed off right out of the box. I'm slightly unhappy about that and submit this as a charge to Namiki to look into that problem if it happens more than on my pen. However, I am so happy with this pen that my enjoyment is not reduced even a little by this minuscule problem. 10) Shout out to Chatterly Luxuries for a good price. This is a beautiful pen and I recommend it highly. Did anyone actually read the writing sample? Conclusion/Scores: Appearance & Design: 8. Small deduction for the black-thread issue. Stunning with a truly "blind" cap--no visible slits on the barrel. Threads do not hurt to use. I personally think it's a 10, but recognize there is not detailed makie-e work, etc. It's the best single color pen I have ever seen. It is not the most beautiful pen I have ever seen. Construction/Quality: 9.5 for the thread issue. There is no perfect pen and they can't all be high scores. But so far there is no squeaking or weak-fitting parts and urushi coverage is stunning. Clip works well. Rare and ingenious felt-lining inside cap for posting (which no one would ever use--but it is there). Weight & Dimensions: 10 or 6.5 6.8" capped length. 0.7" diameter, and a weight of 46.6 grams un-inked. 6ml of ink capacity. The reason for this high rating is that this is an incredibly big pen for those who like that sort of thing. It is not too heavy or too light in the hand and is just-right for people with medium or large sized hands. Clearly, this pen scores a 2 or worse if the subjective criteria is, "how this pen fits small hands." If you hate big pens, this one is terrible. If you want a true rating on the weight and dimensions of this big pen from a big pen lover, it's a 10. For long writing (over 5 pages) I must drop this pen to a 6.5. It's more than a signature pen, trust me, but a 5 page letter may get ridiculous and crampy. Nib/feed: 10. I realize all the high ratings. This pen is that good. Zero scratch. Nib flow is unhampered with any amount of speed writing or even scribbling. No "tapping" to get things moving after opening up the eyedropper end cap each use. The nib is also a little springy, too, because it is gold and huge. If you want flex pen performance, buy a flex pen. This is a wet writer but not out of control. My 10 rating is based on smoothness, flow performance, and superb performance right out of the box. I have many pens and none of them have performed like this right out of the box. Filling system/Maintenance: 8 Friends, I intend to review more pens with lower ratings, I promise. But this one is sweet. The eyedropper filling system is awesome. I wanted to give this a 10 but decided for the sake of some credibility to say something critical. The fact that this holds 6ml of ink is baller. The fact that it takes over 5 pipets full of ink is slow. So, my feeble attempt at a criticism is that this pen should come with a bigger and more efficient pipet. I cannot fault the huge ink capacity. Love it. I will circle back and adjust the score if maintenance becomes an issue. Cost and Value: 7 There are plenty of worse pens out there priced much higher. And yes, it is a work of art. But at its retail price this pen is a bit pricey. If you can get a good deal and appreciate large urushi pens, the value is a 10. If you pay full retail, you will love this pen; however, you will have a lot of money into it. Value is in the eye of the beholder I guess. Conclusion: 8.46 total score. Regrets: 0

Namiki Emperor Limited Edition 2019 SHOKI. Expected in October but already in stock! In the Edo period, a man appeared to be a brilliant physician, but the Emperor revoked him due to his ugly appearance: long beard with a mustache, big white eyes in a scowling face, dressed in odd clothes. The physician, shocked and embarrassed, killed himself and was sent to the underworld. Since he had skills and potential, he received the task to hunt and scare away evil spirits. Since then, Shoki has been revered as the god who protects from evil spirits and sickness. https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/detail/namiki-emperor-shoki-limited-edition-2019-namiki There is no doubt that this pen is made using high-end techniques in Shishiai Togidashi Taka Maki-e. The pen comes in a dark green lacquered box with an inkpot. It is limited to 99 copies worldwide and signed by artist Yutaka Sato. If you are interested in this magnificent work of art please contact us we only have one! Enjoy your week! Catherine

I have a con-70 that came with my Namiki Bamboo. It's nice that it has a larger capacity (0.7ml) than most converters. However I'm not a fan of the pump mechanism that blows some ink back into the bottle, and also can sometimes spray / create bubbles. It works fine, but can anyone suggest an alternative converter, that has a conventional screw mechanism that will fit the Bamboo? I beleive the CON-70 fits the Pilot Custom. I don't need the 0.7 ml capacity, given the little writing I do at work. Thanks!

The Namiki Emperor Mandarin Duck is an ode to love. It is adorned with a couple of Mandarin Ducks lovingly and peacefully swimming on a pond bordered with reeds and flowers, in a decor of colorful maple leaves. Mandarin Ducks are the only duck species that mate for life. Once they find a partner, they remain a couple until their death. If one dies, the other one often disappears soon after. In Asia, they are a symbol of love, fidelity, and marital happiness. In Japan, they are a lucky charm and often gifted as a wedding present. Namiki released The Emperor Mandarin Duck in 2007. It is kept a secret how many pieces are made since then. Namiki decided to end the theme with the mandarin ducks. This Namiki Emperor Mandarin Duck is the very last in Europe. This is the last chance to buy this beautiful Mandarin Duck! Check out the website for more pictures. In real life, it is even more stunning. https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/detail/madarin-duck-oshidori-namiki-emperor-collection

In May 2019, the Crown Prince Naruhito has acceded to the throne, and it is in his honor that Pilot Group has created this commemorative fountain pen, in high relief, made by the famous artisans of Kokkokai school. In stock! https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/detail/namiki-yukari-phoenix-limited-edition The pen is presented in a box of paulownia wood, in the same octagonal shape as the imperial throne. Beautiful pen in a remarkable shaped box. This one stands for good luck! Sincerely, Catherine

For Namiki/Pilot no.5 size(such as many Nippon Art) fountain pen (you can see a gold metal ring in this pen end) it has the similar body type as pilot 74 or 912, you can directly screw it and it can disassembly easily. But for Namiki/Pilot No.20 size pen its structure is so complex that I cannot find a way to screw. However, I still want to know the way to disassembly Namiki/Pilot No.10 size(such as yukari type) pen cap and clip, is any way can find out or any tool can be recommended？Thanks a lot!

Celebrate with Namiki as they honor Pilot's 100th Anniversary with a wonderful set of Yukari-sized fountain pens— The Namiki Japanese Seven Gods of Good Fortune include a matching limited-edition serial number, all packed in a paulownia wood box which includes the 100th-Anniversary ink bottle, a leather wrap, a signature card by the Maki-e Master, a specially engraved box holding the ink cartridges, and documents! This beautiful set was featured in a very interesting Forbes article written by Nancy Olson, where she has highlighted a brief introduction to Pilot-Namiki's history along with some details in their decorative techniques, and images of the collection. [Link to Article] We at Airline International recognize the importance of a company's 100th Anniversary, and have gotten a hold of a complete collection of all seven Gods in the Yukari-Sized version with the clips.They all come with their respective paulownia box, documents, and inks, and have been carefully opened for photography purposes only: All of them are a matching set number and can be sold together, or you can pick your favorite. Do not miss this exciting and rare opportunity! This collection will be very sought out and cherished. Once they are sold out, they will not be made again. For all inquiries, email us at orders@airlineintl.com

Pilot Namiki Falcon Collection Fountain Pen Extra Fine Nib Black/Rhodium currently on offer on Amazon.com.au for A$177.16, sold and shipped by Amazon US, so customers with Prime membership get free international shipping to Australia. I don't think I've seen the EF-nibbed Namiki Falcon at such a low price before. This has hit almost the previous low point for the Fine-nibbed rhodium trim model, and usually the EF-nibbed model is significantly more expensive. I was watching it for the past several months, and it has always been above A$220. I just snagged the last one that was in stock, but you can still order the item now at that price; the item listing states it will be in stock on 24 April 2019. Don't forget there's also the opportunity to get cashback with some programmes if you click-through to Amazon.com.au from their websites (conditions apply).

Hello, I am looking for a specific pen, a Namiki Nobori Ryu. It was an anniversary pen for Namiki awhile back, and it's a challenge to find. I am willing to be patient, but I don't even know where to start looking... Other than Ebay, can anyone suggest some resources to find a rare Namiki pen? Thank you, Maya

Hello, I have a question: I just purchased a Namiki emperor and I am having a devil of a time finding a case for it. Any suggestions? Thank you, Maya

Hello, I've been a collector of Namiki pens for awhile, and I I just purchased my first Emperor. This is my first eyedropper pen, and although I understand the mechanism to fill, I am concerned that using silicon grease may hurt the Maki-e. Anyone with experience on using this pen? Thank you, Halee

The 100th anniversary of the Namiki group is cause for a special celebration. Seven artisans from the present Kokkokai group contributed to the creation of seven Yukari-type fountain pens. They are all equipped with a clip and an 18-karat gold nib. Each model is made in Taka Maki-e and shows one of The Seven Gods of Fortune. Only 25 of 150 of each pen are available in Europe. Please contact us for available numbers. https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/namiki-japanse-pennen Sincerely, Catherine

Hello, I have been lurking for a few years, and have a small collection of German and Italian pens that I use daily-- Im a writer. I have become increasingly convinced that I need a Namiki pen and have looked at both the Emperor and the Yukari Royale line. May I get advice on: 1. Useablity-- which one is a better daily use pen 2. Good places to find a used pen (besides Ebay) at a fair price 3. Best vendors if I chose to purchase a new pen 4. What else I need to know Thank you, Maya

Battle of the Big Reds http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5480/11931434345_5ea0b7cbff_b.jpg From top to bottom: Sailor King of Pen in Crimson Urushi, Namiki Emperor in Vermilion Urushi, Namiki Yukari Royale in Vermilion Urushi. They are resting on a Nakaya three-pen pillow in Kuro-Tamenuri Urushi. Introduction In his excellent comparative review of four black urushi pens, rhk had shared with us his opinion of the Namiki Yukari Royale versus the Sailor King of Pen. In yet another great review, rubyeyespenlover had waxed lyrical about the beauty of the Namiki Emperor. Yours truly has reviewed the Sailor King of Pen here. Other great reviews of the King of Pen and the Yukari Royale can be found on FPN as well. But since these three pens have never been considered together in a single review, I thought it would be fun to write this comparative review (as well as give myself an excuse to snap more pictures of these gorgeous pens). Some history behind these three pens, paraphrased from Fountain Pens of Japan by Andreas Lambrou and Masamichi Sunami (2012) - the reference text for fans of Japanese fountain pens:- The Namiki Emperor (also known as Pilot #50 FFK fountain pen or Pilot #50 Jumbo) was first introduced in the 1930s but later discontinued. When Pilot decided to reintroduce its Namiki #50 Jumbo model in 1985, it commissioned the famed Japanese pen craftsman Eisuke Sakai (also known as "Ban-Ei", meaning "Eisuke the sawman") to make a prototype with the balance, shape and size of its vintage jumbo pen, and the result was outstanding. A variation of this jumbo pen design exists ("vest-type #50 fountain pen") and was first introduced in 2005 in the form of the celebrated Dunhill-Namiki Sakura-Rose pen (and you can see pictures of it here and here and read a short discussion on FPN about the pen here). I was fortunate enough to handle another vest-type Dunhill-Namiki pen, the Turtle pen, and it is truly a magnificent work of art. Current Emperor models using the vest-type pen design include the Goldfish and the Crane, as well as Chinkin models and other limited edition pens. The Yukari Royale design derives from a Balance model first used for the principal pen series (out of four) made to commemorate Pilot's 80th anniversary in 1998. It was smaller than the Namiki Emperor but larger than the Yukari, and you can see a review of the original Pilot 80th anniversary pen by RLD here. Perusing old Pilot catalogues from the 1930s gives the impression that the Yukari Royale design ultimately derives from vintage balanced-form maki-e pens that Pilot used to produce. The Sailor King of Pen [sic] (often abbreviated as KOP) has the shortest history of these three pens, having only been introduced in 2003. It was Sailor's first truly oversized pen targeted at the export market. In the first year, the KOP was made of lacquered black hard rubber with gold trimming and wide cap lip band a la Montblanc 149. In subsequent years, the pen was produced in PMMA resin, as well as a variety of materials and finishes including mosaic acrylic, plain and mottled wood grain ebonite, as well as urushi-lacquered ebonite and maki-e models. A rare piston-filler version of the KOP ("Realo") was produced to commemorate Sailor's 95th anniversary, and you can read Rokurinpapa's review of the KOP Realo here. Notable is the lack of trim on all KOP models (when capped) except for the PMMA versions. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/11931711953_5d75962d4a_b.jpg The pens uncapped. Pen construction, urushi finish and ownership experience Namiki Emperor The Namiki Emperor is huge by any standard. It dwarves all other pens placed next to it, except maybe the Danitrio Yokuzuna, Genkai or Mikado models. Capped, this pen is about 46 g and 30 g uncapped (all measurements taken with the pen uninked). Dimensions of this pen: 173 mm capped, with a barrel diameter of 17 mm and cap diameter of 20 mm. Section diameter is about 14 mm. Despite its enormous size, it is comparatively light and well-balanced because of its all-ebonite body. Personally I find it quite comfortable to use, although at times I feel that I am painting rather than writing words on paper with this pen. Because very few pen cases can accommodate this size of fountain pen, I bought a custom pen case from Maison Takuya for this pen. In case you were wondering about a pen chest with slots wide enough to fit this pen, I have found that the 24-pen chest from Vox Luxury works. Quality of construction on this pen is very high - it looks machine-made. The urushi lacquer is flawless and very durable. I have had no problems with the lacquer finish throughout these five years of ownership. Its enormous size does not lend itself to portability, and hence this pen remains as a desk pen to be used at home. As may not be apparent from my photos, this pen is an eyedropper, specifically a Japanese eyedropper. Ron Dutcher wrote an authoritative article about Japanese eyedropper pens a while ago. Briefly, a Japanese eyedropper includes a plunger rod linked to a blind cap at the end of the barrel, and the whole point of the plunger is to plug the section so that no ink can leak out of the barrel once the blind cap is screwed all the way in. To use the pen, one simply unscrews the blind cap a couple of turns (roughly 1/4") to allow ink from the barrel to flow through the section to the nib. The Pilot Custom 823 pen also uses this plunger system to seal the pen against leaks, except that it's a plunger-filler rather than an eyedropper. The eyedropper system works well in use, but requires periodic maintenance. Vintage Japanese eyedroppers usually have stiff plunger rods as well as leaky seals at the barrel end that require repair. In fact, the blind cap on my own Emperor actually came off the plunger rod while I was washing it out one day, necessitating two lengthy trips to Pilot USA to get the pen repaired. Ink capacity of the pen is ginormous - I routinely fill it with 4 to 5 ml of my favourite ink blend (~1:1 ratio of Iroshizuku Kon-Peki to Yama-Budo). Needless to say, I have never run out of ink during a writing session. As far as I know, the Emperor nib (size #50) has been produced in three variations. From kmpn's blog, the oldest is the 14K version with text, followed by an 18K version with text (also pictured below). The current variation is the "Mount Fuji" nib, similar to but larger than the one in the Yukari Royale pictured below. On maki-e Emperor pens, the "Mount Fuji" motif is rhodium-plated to give the nib a two-tone finish. Currently, three nib sizes are offered, FM, M and B. My Emperor pen first came to me with a "Mount Fuji" nib in medium size. This nib never wrote well (skipping and hard-starting), however, so early last year I sent it to Pilot USA for a nib exchange to broad size. The pen came back with an 18K text version nib, which to me is the most desirable version of the Emperor nib. This broad nib writes well and is a little springy. Namiki Yukari Royale I own two versions of this pen, one in Black urushi and the other in Vermilion urushi. Also see my review where I compared the Yukari Royale to the Pilot Custom 845 for detailed photos and impressions of the Yukari Royale. When completely filled, this pen weighs 46 g capped/29 g uncapped. Dimensions of the pen are 150 mm capped/ 134 mm uncapped/ 179 mm posted, with a cap diameter of about 15 mm and a barrel diameter of approximately 14 mm. This pen is made of brass and has very good balance in the hand. Most people would probably find it a comfortable pen to use. As would be expected from Namiki, the urushi lacquer is shiny and perfect. The pen uses the CON-70 converter which has a capacity of about 1.9 ml - sufficient for most people. Regular Pilot ink tends to stain the urushi section but can be cleaned off with some rubbing. Iroshizuku ink, on the other hand, does not cause any staining. The Yukari Royale uses the Namiki #20 size nib. My Black urushi version of this pen is perfect with its medium nib. This nib is extremely wet, springy and responsive, and is my favourite pen out of my thirty-odd pen collection. In fact, I liked this pen so much that I decided to get another Yukari Royale in Vermilion urushi with a broad nib last year. In comparison to the medium nib, I find that the broad nib is rigid and not as responsive. My Vermilion Yukari Royale came with several problems as well. First, it wrote very dryly with Pilot Iroshizuku but did much better with regular Pilot ink. In addition, the pen tended to stop writing in the middle of sentences, sometimes even stopping just after being uncapped. These interruptions in ink flow were rare, but extremely frustrating when they occurred. A hard-starting issue has lessened after I had the nib professionally adjusted. Finally, one of the starts for the internal (female) thread inside the cap does not engage perfectly with the external (male) thread on the barrel, causing occasional thread seizure when I try to cap the pen. Over time this might cause premature wear of the urushi on the threads. For the price and pedigree of this pen, I feel that these problems are unacceptable. Currently, I am in contact with Pilot to try to get my pen replaced with a fine-nibbed version. Sailor King of Pen This pen has an ebonite base covered with twelve layers of the most exquisite crimson urushi lacquer. Hard-rubber KOPs are hand-lathed and then polished, or sent to Ms. Kato Seishou, a famous maki-e artist in Japan, for hand-application of urushi lacquer. Nine different colours of urushi lacquer are offered on the KOP: black, ivory, crimson red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and lilac. Maki-e models are occasionally offered as well. A non-exhaustive listing of KOP models can be seen here. The urushi finish and unusual shape of this pen were the two main reasons why I purchased this pen in the first place. In fact, the shape of this pen has inspired homages, most notably the Herald and Herald Grande models from the Edison Pen Company. The KOP is large but very comfortable in the hand. It is 153 mm capped/ 134 mm uncapped and has a cap diameter of 17 mm and a section diameter of 12 mm. My pen weighs 35 g capped and 22 g uncapped. Unlike the ebonite barrel and cap, the pen section is made of urushi-lacquered PMMA resin with a enormous brass converter/cartridge holder, which helps direct the pen weight toward the nib. Hence I find that this pen is more comfortable to use than, say, the Montblanc 149 and Pelikan M800 pens which are weighted more towards the end of the pen barrel. As can be seen from the pictures below, the nib on this pen is big and beautiful. My pen originally came with a medium nib, which wrote lusciously with Aurora Black after being adjusted. Last year I managed to get the medium nib exchanged to a Crosspoint nib, one of the specialty Nagahara nibs that Sailor is known for. Most people here probably know how these Nagahara nibs work: the line they put down gets broader the more acute the angle is against paper. The versatility of the Crosspoint nib in making different line widths has made this one of the best writing pens in my collection. I have occasionally toyed with the idea of getting another KOP in Black urushi, but my experience above with the Yukari Royale suggests that perfection might be hard to beat. For my detailed review and more photos of the KOP, go here. Some thoughts and concluding remarks All three pens reviewed here are definitely "grail" pens for most people. I have owned these pens long enough (four to five years) so that any post-purchase rationalization has long been overcome, hence this comparative review tends to be more logical rather than emotional. In terms of practicality, I find that the Yukari Royale and KOP pens are always inked and in my pen holder. The Emperor, however, has not been inked for a while and will likely remain that way for the near future. The final verdict? Expensive pens are not always better, but do offer one a greater chance of obtaining the ultimate writing experience. My Yukari Royale in Black urushi will remain my favourite pen until the next "grail" comes along. Hakase, anyone??? Anyway, I hope you had fun reading this review! http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2861/11932284706_41976b55b3_b.jpg The nibs exposed. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/11931712733_b9990d28d1_b.jpg Side-profiles of the nibs. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3727/11931887804_28f55fdbbb_b.jpg Comparison of the feeds and nib tippings. I believe the Emperor's feed is made of urushi-lacquered ebonite while the Yukari Royale's and KOP's feeds are made of plastic.

Hi all, I am really excited to share pictures of the pilot pen I received in mail this morning! I had reached to multiple vendors across Europe and finally found one piece at Stilograph Corsani. Hope you enjoy it. Let me know your thoughts! Cheers, Sidd

I have a blue resin Falcon. I know the model was discontinued before 2007 because I found an email to a friend stating as much. Unfortunately, my saved emails only go back that far so I can't determine when I bought it. Pretty sure I bought it from Levenger (Yikes!). I've done a couple of searches but can't seem to sort through all the recent info and what "historical" data I find seems to be more intent on discussing the Elabo v. the Falcon than anything else. Does anyone know when this pen was made/sold? Thank you. KCat

I can't get enough of this Namiki Vanishing Point!! Do you guys like the more intricate designs in Namikis such as this, or prefer the solid colors?? This one is probably my favorite by far. Feel free to vote in the poll above!

Namiki Falcon Collection Fountain Pen in Black with Fine nib, sold and shipped by Amazon US[/th][th] on Amazon.com.au (free shipping with Prime membership) on Amazon.com Gold trim A$153.72 US$98.47 Rhodium trim A$171.72 US$110.00 According to camelcamelcamel, that's a historic low by quite a bit for Amazon.com's price for the gold trim model, and except for a single blip, also a historic low for the rhodium trim model.

Hi gang, It's time once again for PBA Galleries' Fine Pens auction. The upcoming sale is huge, with almost 600 lots of outstanding modern and vintage pens. The sale includes almost all of the Montblanc Writers Series and Patron of Art 4810 Series fountain pens, as well as hundreds of excellent Parker pens from the Dr. Anthony S. Tavill Collection, a selection of Namiki and other Japanese pens, OMAS, Montegrappa, Pelikan, Loiminchay, Stipula, Visconti and other makers. The online catalogue can be viewed here: https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/info/id/472/ If you'd like to register to bid in the sale, or you'd like to consign to the next sale, please contact: Ivan Briggs Director, Fine Pens, Watches and Comics PBA Galleries, San Francisco ivan@pbagalleries.com

Does the world really need another plain Namiki Black review? This just goes with my recent review of Lamy Turquoise. Another underappreciated ink that is a darn good buy. You get a good solid traditional black ink with traditional fade and water resistance. The smell is something else. Smells like formaldehyde. Not quite as much as Namiki Blue though. Just hold your nose and write.

This is one of my favorite recent nib comparison shots - I guess because it has my favorite pen in it, and shows off its massive scale! Anybody prefer the size of a Platinum or similar pen, or is bigger always better, like the Pilot Namiki Emperor here??

Hi gang, Some of you may remember me as Bonhams Auctioneers former penman-in-chief. Well, Bonhams is out of the pen business and I've moved on to San Francisco's PBA Galleries. We're launching our debut Fine Pens sale on Thursday, July 19th at 11:00 am PST. Here's a link to the online sale listings: https://www.pbagalle...catalog/id/454/ Here's a link to the digital version of the print catalogue with flip-thru pages: http://pbagalleries.com/content/ecat/648/index.html The sale features 361 lots of great modern and vintage pens. I've tried to include a broad range of pens to suit various budgets, and I hope that many of you will find treasures to enhance your collections! Our next sale will be on December 6th, and we're accepting consignments now. You can contact me at: ivan@pbagalleries.com. I do hope it's ok to post this here (I used to post notices for Bonhams' sales here without incident). Cheers, Ivan Ivan Briggs Director of Fine Pens and Comics