The Sailor Susutake

[cohlineman]

...much less have written three pages in my journal with one already!

 

At Mikaido in the Westfield Mall, San Francisco, my girlfriend walked in on me holding, dipping and writing with a pen I had no business touching. She, like many of you, have put up with me wanting a high end Japanese pen but never having the guts to pull the trigger. She looked at the shopkeeper and said, "I'll take it for him, he never will!"

 

For me, this pen is the epitome of what Japanese simplicity and beauty can be. I know that everyone of you can appreciate that one pen that makes you happy. It may not be the fanciest, the most expensive or the most prestigious, but when you look at it, it makes you feel good inside and it touches your soul.

 

This is my pen of pens. Those of you with thousands of dollars in pens need to understand, my collection consists of a Sailor PG with MS nib for my daily writing and an Aurora Ypsillon with more Gorilla Glue holding it together than ink in the cartridge!

 

I forgot to mention, my new possession has a Naginata Togi Medium nib and I have filled it with Sailor's Jentle Brown, which suits the nib and the pen's colors to a tee! I hope the iPhone pics came out ok.

[cohlineman]

Because pen kimonos are just damn cute...

[Imzadi]

what a beautiful pen. And a wonderful girlfriend!

[cohlineman]

And because when this pen is caped, it just looks stunning to me...

[cohlineman]

what a beautiful pen. And a wonderful girlfriend!

 

How correct you are about both items! So as to not ruin how great she is, I will not marry her...I think that is where I went wrong a couple of times in the past!

 

I love her dearly, not just for the pen either!

 

[Imzadi]

Just cherish what you have.

[Yuki Onitsura]

Wonderful pen and a wonderful girlfriend as well. Don't let these go!

 

Yuki

[raffor]

Stunning, stunning and stunning (thinking about your pen)

What about its length?

 

Bye!!!

[Nikolaos]

congrats on a very beautiful pen. I have a Susutake for about 5 months now and totally love it. Its natural elegance and beauty is beyond words

 

nikolaos

[cohlineman]

Stunning, stunning and stunning (thinking about your pen)

What about its length?

 

Bye!!!

 

 

 

Thanks...it is a whopping 6 and 3/4 inches long (17.1 cm)!

[Siv]

Really beautiful pen. You mentioned a Naginata nib - what size did you get and how does it write?

[kushbaby]

Where would one purchase such a lovely pen?

 

(Not that I want one... No, I couldn't possibly... well, maybe...) :embarrassed_smile:

[FrankB]

I agree the pen does not have to be the world's most expensive to be loved and cherished. I also think the Japanese Zen-like simplicity is more attractive than superficial bling. Congrats on a great gift!

[cohlineman]

Really beautiful pen. You mentioned a Naginata nib - what size did you get and how does it write?

 

it has a Medium nib and I am very happy with it. From the first dip at the store it has never had a dry start. My MS has starting issues if you don't get the sweet spot on the paper, this new pen's nib is all sweet spot. Evryone claims buttery smooth on a Sailor (almost everyone) and this one doesn't falter in that department.

 

Another question was where to get one... That is when I noticed I misnamed the store! My original post claimed "Mikaido" but that is grossly in error!

 

The store is Mai Do in the Westfield Mall on Market St, so sorry for the misinformation. If you are in Frisco, it's a great store to visit.

 

JV

[Pen2009]

Is it coated with some paint or other materials? Take will age well as you use it.

[Inka]

Beautiful pen, beautiful pen wrap, I would love to see some shots of it in-focus [maybe take shot form more distance, if your camera cannot focus, then crop?].

Is it real bamboo? Another material shaped to look like bamboo? What about the metal tag on the barrel, can we get a better shot of that too [please]?

I love bamboo, I have all sorts of things made from bamboo including my Lapdesk which is solid bamboo, got my "*Lucky Bamboo" still thriving indoors after several years.

 

*Reminds me, my "Lucky Bamboo" needs some water.

Its' only request of me is to give it water occasionally, the one indoor plant that has lasted longer than any others.

Edited September 7, 2009 by Inka

[Nikolaos]

Beautiful pen, beautiful pen wrap, I would love to see some shots of it in-focus [maybe take shot form more distance, if your camera cannot focus, then crop?].

Is it real bamboo? Another material shaped to look like bamboo? What about the metal tag on the barrel, can we get a better shot of that too [please]?

I love bamboo, I have all sorts of things made from bamboo including my Lapdesk which is solid bamboo, got my "*Lucky Bamboo" still thriving indoors after several years.

 

*Reminds me, my "Lucky Bamboo" needs some water.

Its' only request of me is to give it water occasionally, the one indoor plant that has lasted longer than any others.

 

 

Hi Scott,

 

the pen is actually real bamboo. Susutake is smoked bamboo, and the material comes from thatched roofs of traditional Japanese houses and are in excess of 150 years old. The metal tag that is fixed on the pen with two small screws is actually 18K solid gold and has the name of the maker engraved on it. In this case Mr. Nagahara's name i believe. At least that is the name on my Susutake. Also 18K and made in Japan in Kanji is engraved on the golden plaque. They are truly beautiful and unique pens as no two look alike.

 

Nikolaos

[bhil]

HI Scott,

 

I know this may sound a bit rude, but I live in Australia and I was wondering you would consider telling me

how much this pen costs.

 

I would like to be able to buy one as well. I have seen them before a while ago.

 

Could you help me out with this?

 

Thanks

(bhil)

Brian..

[Jimmy]

I also have a smoked bamboo Susutake with a Naginata Togi NM for two years and half now. About the same, without any knots on cap and barrel, with silk, gold and raden on the cap lip, the barrel and the ends. This is my ceremony pen :-), a beautiful, wonderful, delightful pen, very easy to write with, surprisingly not too heavy. At first, I was a bit afraid by the diameter difference between section and barrel, but it is actually very nice in hands. Expensive, but I have absolutely no regrets. Really a great writing experience.

 

Mine is this one, it's the pen pictured here : http://stylos-plume.fr/sailor_stylo_plume/...ake_itomaki.php

 

BTW, the Hotei on the right side of this page is wonderful to my eyes. But sooooo expensive !

 

Jimmy

Edited September 8, 2009 by Jimmy

[lung7707]

Welcome to my world!

I have 5 Susutakes and just cannot get enough of them...

Naturally the nips are in a class of their own.

Enjoy it in good health.