Nakaya Contact Person

[ksh]

I have sent a couple of emails to the address that Nakaya has on its website. No response after close to a week. I want to determine if their pricing is the same as Classic FP. I am thinking about a Neo in unpolished shu, and from the Naaya website it seems like their pricing on the basic finishes may be about $150 less than the tamenuri finishes. But the site is very difficult to decipher. Does someone have a contact person at Nakaya? I would like to send an email to a specific person. I also would be interested in hearing people's experience in ordering direct from Nakaya. I have a Decapod in kuro-tamenuri that is my favorite pen.

 

Keith

[sessyargc]

Hi Keith,

 

I've recently ordered from Nakaya, directly.

The e-mail that responded to me was the e-mail address stated on the website. I don't think the actual individuals (Yoshida-san, Watanabe-san, Maruyama-san, Matsubara-san) at Nakaya will respond to emails. They are specialists, craftsmen, born before the time of e-mail and I doubt that they speak English.

 

The person that responded to spoke good English. She responded to my order within a week. When I ordered Nakaya sent me a quote stating the actual price of the pen. Before I ordered I checked both the English and Japanese pages in the Nakaya website. They checked up on me until I paid for the pen. You pay in full before they start creating the pen.

 

I think this is the information bothering you:

A price of this modle is $460 for a reguler color Urushi finishing (Black, Kikyo, Tamenuri.) and $540 for Shobu(purple) color.

from this web page. The Japanese page doesn't mention this price difference. The price in the order page should be the correct price. This is based on my experience when I ordered. This price should match the price in the confirmation email that you will receive.

 

Just wait, they should reply if they understood what you asked. Also, just use simple English when you write them

 

Edited December 17, 2011 by sessyargc

[stan]

Has anyone tried telephoning. If ordering a $500 pen, a few extra bucks should not be too difficult a hurdle.

[sessyargc]

Has anyone tried telephoning. If ordering a $500 pen, a few extra bucks should not be too difficult a hurdle.

 

demo Stan-sensei

I think customer inquiries are handled by email only

 

My Japanese is very bad, sorry. If my Japanese is wrong please correct me.

[JustinJ]

If you are in the U.S., I would order from Classic Fountain Pens. The pen nib can be setup how you like. If you are not satisfied with the nib you choose, you can send it back to CFP. John will put another nib on it. I have had a pen not setup right to my writing and sent it back. It was taken care of quickly. If you order from Japan and have a problem, you are going to pay more for shipping to send it back to Japan. It will also be much more time involved and a language barrier.

 

 

I think it is cheaper to go through CFP than through Nakaya.

 

 

If Nakaya was at a U.S. pen show, then I would go to the pen show to buy directly from them. It would be much easier to have your pen setup in person.

Edited December 17, 2011 by JustinJ

[Antoinem]

If you are in the U.S., I would order from Classic Fountain Pens. The pen nib can be setup how you like. If you are not satisfied with the nib you choose, you can send it back to CFP. John will put another nib on it. I have had a pen not setup right to my writing and sent it back. It was taken care of quickly. If you order from Japan and have a problem, you are going to pay more for shipping to send it back to Japan. It will also be much more time involved and a language barrier.

 

 

I think it is cheaper to go through CFP than through Nakaya.

 

 

If Nakaya was at a U.S. pen show, then I would go to the pen show to buy directly from them. It would be much easier to have your pen setup in person.

 

I agree! Bought one from John at CFP and he did a wonderful job on the nib.

[TDL]

If you are in the U.S., I would order from Classic Fountain Pens. The pen nib can be setup how you like. If you are not satisfied with the nib you choose, you can send it back to CFP. John will put another nib on it. I have had a pen not setup right to my writing and sent it back. It was taken care of quickly. If you order from Japan and have a problem, you are going to pay more for shipping to send it back to Japan. It will also be much more time involved and a language barrier.

 

 

I think it is cheaper to go through CFP than through Nakaya.

 

 

If Nakaya was at a U.S. pen show, then I would go to the pen show to buy directly from them. It would be much easier to have your pen setup in person.

 

 

I agree! Bought one from John at CFP and he did a wonderful job on the nib.

 

I cannot agree more. Very good advice before buying coupled with an excellent job creating a fine cursive italic from the Nakaya medium nib. CFP is highly recommended, even if you are not based in the US.

Edited December 17, 2011 by TDL

[ksh]

I bought my Decapod from John & agree. But the page in Nakaya's website that Rommel referred to above is exactly what caught my attention. John charges the same for all finishes. This page suggests that a basic finish is about $100 less if purchased direct. It may be worth shelling out the $100 for the peace of mind, but I'd at least like to know what Nakaya charges for the pen.

[AltecGreen]

I bought my Decapod from John & agree. But the page in Nakaya's website that Rommel referred to above is exactly what caught my attention. John charges the same for all finishes. This page suggests that a basic finish is about $100 less if purchased direct. It may be worth shelling out the $100 for the peace of mind, but I'd at least like to know what Nakaya charges for the pen.

 

 

John's prices are set by Nakaya and they are the same. The Nakaya forgot to update the text in their pen description but did update the prices in the table. The table prices are the same as John's.

[stan]

Has anyone tried telephoning. If ordering a $500 pen, a few extra bucks should not be too difficult a hurdle.

 

demo Stan-sensei

I think customer inquiries are handled by email only

 

My Japanese is very bad, sorry. If my Japanese is wrong please correct me.

 

I do not accept this as gospel. Having met Mr. Nakata in Los Angeles, he showed me photographs of a number of custom pens made by special order. All were for Japanese clients. I'm sure these types of orders are handled by other than email. I think they are fearful of being deluged with questions regarding the status of orders (IMHO, lots of Americans seem to have this concern) and this is their kind way of saying not to bother them.

Edited December 18, 2011 by stan

[softouch]

On 06 December 2011 I submitted an inquiery to Nakaya for a custom pen. I used the "order page" from their website as well as sending an email to <nakaya@platinum-pen.co.jp>.

 

This is part of what I emailed: "Starting with the "Long Writer" model as the base pen; onto which

Aka-tamenuri (reddish red-tamenuri)urushi has been applied; then a

Ryukyu (Okinawa) Tsuikin "A Flying Dragon" is applied, similar to what is

shown on your web site as 2nd edition with dragon wrapped around pen body:

http://www.nakaya.org/special/eryukyu1.html, or http://www.nakaya.org/special/eryukyu2.html (I do not want a desk pen though); and On the nib section a "flaming pearl" that the Flying Dragon is chasing. The pen must have a pocket clip that does not obstruct the Flying Dragon; and a 14 kt gold 2-tone Flexible Fine nib. Can Nakaya make this pen?"

 

On 08 December I received a reply from Ms Chikako Yokoyama (Nakaya Fountain Pen) requesting some clarification/confirmation regarding the pen's description.

 

Her English was perfect as was her understanding of my chosen pen design & with a couple of more order clarification type emails, on 11 December Ms Yokoyama informed me that the order details would be sent to a Craftsman and that I would receive a price quote in a few days.

 

Just a few minutes (18 Dec) ago I received a very detailed (perfect English) confirmation (invoice).

 

The ordering process through Nakaya has been easy with no language issues. I also have not had any problems navigating through their site. I like CFP/nibs.com's site also and have inquired about a Nakaya that I recently saw there. Haven't heard back as yet, but they don't work weekends (wish I could say the same). I want a Nakaya!

 

My only problem now is having to wait the estimated 3-months that it will take to make the pen "For My Hand Only" once I send the payment.

 

I must leave this post now & will not apologize for its length. I must send Nakaya information on how I will pay for my pen!

[reprieve]

This is part of what I emailed: "Starting with the "Long Writer" model as the base pen; onto which

Aka-tamenuri (reddish red-tamenuri)urushi has been applied; then a

Ryukyu (Okinawa) Tsuikin "A Flying Dragon" is applied, similar to what is

shown on your web site as 2nd edition with dragon wrapped around pen body:

http://www.nakaya.org/special/eryukyu1.html, or http://www.nakaya.org/special/eryukyu2.html (I do not want a desk pen though); and On the nib section a "flaming pearl" that the Flying Dragon is chasing. The pen must have a pocket clip that does not obstruct the Flying Dragon; and a 14 kt gold 2-tone Flexible Fine nib. Can Nakaya make this pen?"

 

That pen sounds amazing! I love the flying dragon design, and I think it would look even better on the aka-tame base. Please post photos of your pen when it arrives. Good luck with the long wait--it is both excruciating and exhilarating! But completely worth it!

[TDL]

On 06 December 2011 I submitted an inquiery to Nakaya for a custom pen. I used the "order page" from their website as well as sending an email to <nakaya@platinum-pen.co.jp>.

 

This is part of what I emailed: "Starting with the "Long Writer" model as the base pen; onto which

Aka-tamenuri (reddish red-tamenuri)urushi has been applied; then a

Ryukyu (Okinawa) Tsuikin "A Flying Dragon" is applied, similar to what is

shown on your web site as 2nd edition with dragon wrapped around pen body:

http://www.nakaya.org/special/eryukyu1.html, or http://www.nakaya.org/special/eryukyu2.html (I do not want a desk pen though); and On the nib section a "flaming pearl" that the Flying Dragon is chasing. The pen must have a pocket clip that does not obstruct the Flying Dragon; and a 14 kt gold 2-tone Flexible Fine nib. Can Nakaya make this pen?"

 

On 08 December I received a reply from Ms Chikako Yokoyama (Nakaya Fountain Pen) requesting some clarification/confirmation regarding the pen's description.

 

Her English was perfect as was her understanding of my chosen pen design & with a couple of more order clarification type emails, on 11 December Ms Yokoyama informed me that the order details would be sent to a Craftsman and that I would receive a price quote in a few days.

 

Just a few minutes (18 Dec) ago I received a very detailed (perfect English) confirmation (invoice).

 

The ordering process through Nakaya has been easy with no language issues. I also have not had any problems navigating through their site. I like CFP/nibs.com's site also and have inquired about a Nakaya that I recently saw there. Haven't heard back as yet, but they don't work weekends (wish I could say the same). I want a Nakaya!

 

My only problem now is having to wait the estimated 3-months that it will take to make the pen "For My Hand Only" once I send the payment.

 

I must leave this post now & will not apologize for its length. I must send Nakaya information on how I will pay for my pen!

 

I ordered my Blue Dragon back in the middle of August and am still waiting. To prepare yourself, think four months not three.

Edited December 20, 2011 by TDL