My First Ohasido

[mchenart]

I have always wanted to try an Ohasido pen, but it is such a difficult pen to get since it rarely comes up for auction, except in Japan, that is. And even on Japan's Yahoo, one seldom sees an Ohasido pen for sale as well. Nikolaos' review of his two Ohasidos only increased my appetite for the pen. Since I don't mind getting either a used or new one, I started to ponder the possibility of buying a new Ohasido directly from Japan.

 

A few months ago, I bid successfully for a Maki-e pen box from a seller in Sendai. The vendor, Taka san, was kind enough to offer to find an Ohasido pen for me, which just happens to be made in his home city. However, when he went to their store, he only saw some basic black pens on display, and was told by the shop lady that most of their pens were on show in a pen event in a department store somewhere. He was asked to come back towards the end of July when they would have a better stock. Well, to make the story short, after 10 emails, numerous attachments of photographs and Taka's repeated trips to the Sendai department store Fujisaki where the pens were on show, I finally got my Ohasido Tsugaru-nuri with an 14kt medium nib a few days ago.

 

Girth-wise, the pen is as wide as a MB149 or Nakaya Neo Standard, but the section width is somewhere in between the two, making it very comfortable to hold. The urushi is well applied and polished to a high gloss. To match the colour of the urushi, I have inked up the converter with De Atramentis Lemberger Wine ink. It writes like magic the first line I put it to paper. The nib is made by Sailor and has just a tiny bit of tooth, but when combined with its slightly flexible characteristics, it is simply wonderful. Ohasido have always stressed the writing experience as the most important attribute in a writing instrument, I must say they have succeeded amicably, and if it has a striking appearance to boot, so much the better.

 

I have only been using the pen for a few days, but I have a feeling I am going to like it more and more as time passes. If I can muster the courage to write my first pen review here, I might just write a piece on this pen.

 

Here are the pictures.

 

 

 

Edited August 16, 2011 by mchenart

[MidnightBlue]

What looks like JSU on the clip....what does that mean, and no offense, what is the price range for these?. Thanks

[Brian]

Very interesting shape and very nice design. I encourage you to go for it with your first pen review. Many of us here would not otherwise have insights into this fascinating brand. Thanks for your post.

[mchenart]

JSU stands for 'Japan Sendai Uehara'. Mr. Uehara was the man who opened the first Ohasido shop in 1912. His family still runs the shop in Sendai. In fact, on the nib are the engravings ' Ohasido Since 1912, J.S.U., 14k' Here is an article by Russ Stutler and Mikiko Yamamoto on the company and the second generation Uehara pen master:

 

http://www.pentrace.net/east/ohashido/index.html

 

This is a very expensive pen that almost depleted my pen budget for the rest of the year. I will tell you thru back channel how much it costs. But I don't mind selling a few pens just to finance this beauty. I have finally realised that it is much better have just a few pens that you really like, rather than owning a lot of mediocre ones that tend to get in the way.

Edited August 16, 2011 by mchenart

[Nikolaos]

Michael congratulations! This is a gorgeous pen and will sit perfectly in your wonderful collection.

Ohasido pens are getting really difficult to find and nearly impossible if you are after the high end ones. This is a true beauty!!! Well done.

 

Nikolaos

[calligraphy]

That is a truly stunning pen!

[MidnightBlue]

Wholly agree......have only pens that you love.....but it's a learning curve for all collectors. Thanks

[Readymade]

Very nice! I was wondering whether Ohashido had been adversely affected by the tsunami earlier this year, and am happy to see that they're still around

[Tennessee Dave]

A beauty for sure! Congrats.

[mchenart]

Thank you guys for all your comments and encouragements. It seems there are many in this forum who have heard of and like Ohasido pens despite its obscurity.

 

Very nice! I was wondering whether Ohashido had been adversely affected by the tsunami earlier this year, and am happy to see that they're still around

 

Thank you Readymade for mentioning that. In fact, when Taka went to their shop in June, he was surprised that he did not see many pens on display, and the shop lady did not know a lot about their pen show schedules either. Perhaps the rest of their staff were away helping in some department store event; it is a very small business after all. He later told me that he was shocked a business could be run in that fashion. The shop lady did tell Taka that the earthquake/tsunami in March had affected their business in that they could not get some of the raw materials for making pens. Whether they have solved the problem or not, I don't know. But at least, they are still making the rounds of department store pen events and are still selling some.

 

Ohasido pens are regarded very highly in Japan, and have amassed a strong following of supporters all over the country. In that respect, I believe they will survive the natural disaster.

Edited August 17, 2011 by mchenart

[feathernib]

Hi I am a newbe at all this and my name is Danyo

Just the other day I bot a Ohasido F.P. I haven't

tested it yet, but I will. I am not surtin wither

or not what the pen is worth. Can some one liberate

me from my ignorance please. I need some edgmucation.

Thanks

PS:I forgot to diskrib the FP the shape is simelar to a Sailor

and mor like a Namiki 14k nib and Dark Green in Coler

Edited February 23, 2012 by feathernib

[Jezza]

Glorious writing instrument. Thank you for sharing.

[mchenart]

Welcome to the Ohasido Club, Danyo.

 

I think many of us would like to see pics of your dark green Ohasido, and to hear your first reaction to the handling of the pen.

I hope it does not disappoint.

 

Cheers.

[mbradley]

Stunning pen, congratulations and thanks for sharing.

 

 

Michael

Edited February 24, 2012 by mbradley