Sailor Chizusugi Cedar Wood Sapporo

[nicholasyeo]

Hi, my name is Nicholas and this is my fourth review on FPN. You may have read my reviews of the Sailor Professional Gear, Pilot Custom Heritage 92 and Namiki Origami Crane. If you'd like to know more about my pens you can find out more about me here at my profile. High resolution photographs are attached below the review.

 

INTRODUCTION: It comes in a wooden box. An unmarked box made of paulownia, a plant whose flower is the emblem of the Japanese cabinet and government. As the box opens, a whiff of cedar escapes. The pen rests inside on a bed of blue velvet, together with a yellow Sailor cleaning cloth, two black ink cartridges and a converter, as well as four slips of paper. One lists the price, another is the standard Sailor instruction booklet and the other two are unique pieces which explain the pen. They are entirely in Japanese and have to be translated.

 

Having been through so many typical Sailor pens like Pro Gears and Sapporos, this one stood out to me as having the best presentation. I liked the natural touch of the wooden box, which accentuates the rawness of the cedar wood. I was also very impressed that this pen was worthy of being given a cleaning cloth, as if it were to be preserved as an heirloom someday.

 

So what exactly does Chizusugi mean? Well, “sugi” refers to a coniferous tree called the “Cryptomeria” which exists only in Japan. The tree is commonly known as the Japanese cedar in English, however it is not related to true cedars or “Cedrus”. The Cryptomeria is also classified as a “Near Threatened” species of plant. “Chizu” simply refers to a small town in Tottori prefecture famous for its wood, according to rokurinpapa in his thread.

 

1. Appearance & Design (10/10) – The pen is flawless. It is very minimalistic, drawing your focus to the timeless beauty of the natural wood grain. The wood on the body joins with the wood on the cap, and you can see natural grain which was compressed and treated naturally.

 

On observation, the pen displays a light matte sheen. It is not very reflective because no lacquer was used to treat the surface. That also means that the pen feels quite raw, very much more so than the Pilot Custom Art Craft Kaede Maple Wood.

 

On the exterior, there are rhodium plated accents, namely the cap lip area and clip. The clip reminds me of the shape of the Platinum Izumo Tagayasan. It is slender at the top and sharp at the bottom much like the hard iron sword design of the Platinum. It is a nice change from the traditional Sailor clip, which is rounded. The pointy clip kind of draws you toward opening the pen. The clip is pretty shiny and polished, and I quite like the more interesting clip design.

 

The exterior of the pen carries absolutely no emblem. No Sailor logo, not a single hint at the brand. But the design is unmistakable. Anyone who knows Sailor fountain pens and possibly their wood pens well enough will know that this is the Chizusugi Cedar Wood Sapporo. The fact that the Sailor emblem is not on top of the pen is a testament that Sailor is so confident in its product, that is is distinct, unmistakable, unique. And it is. It truly is.

 

2. Construction & Quality (10/10) – The Sailor Chizusugi Cedar Wood Sapporo is made to stand the test of time. Construction of the pen is clearly of the highest quality and detail. The wood is free from imperfections and seamlessly merges together.

 

I have always been drawn to wood pens. Wood is a natural material and unlike plastic, it takes more effort to produce. Unlike typical pens made of “precious resin”, “cotton resin” and metal, wood has this feel to it that is neither cold nor sticky, nor slippery. It feels just right. Unlike other materials, no piece is the same. The grain can be seen as sweeping lines going across the body, a testament that this had once lived.

 

According to some sources, the wood went through a high temperature compression process during which a temperature of 120 degree celcius was applied while the wood was compressed. After the treatment, it is sprayed with 180 degree celcius water vapour to further form the final product you see with its tight grain. Amazingly, no chemicals were used in the whole process.

 

The clip is not the screw-type found on many Sailor pens. This clip is friction fit but very secure. It closes with a secure “click” and does not feel like it will come loose in transport. My only fear with this pen is that it will come into contact with ink and be stained permanently, given the fact that it is not coated like some other wood pens.

 

3. Weight & Dimensions (8/10) – The Chizusugi Cedar Wood Sapporo is a very light pen. The heaviest part of the pen is the clip, with its metal parts. The pen can be posted, but that makes it top heavy so I much prefer writing without the clip posted for better balance. People with larger hands will definitely prefer to post the clip, but fortunately it is just the right length for my hand.

 

I would definitely jump at a Sailor Professional Gear sized version of this pen, and I think a King of Pens sized specimen would definitely attract some eyes. But this Sapporo is really quite diminutive and discreetly sized and that is definitely something I like about it.

 

Here are some of the very technical specifications for people who’d like to know:

Weight : 18 grams

Length with cap closed : 124 millimetres

Length with cap posted : 142 millimetres

Diameter : 17 millimetres

 

4. Nib & Performance (9/10) – As has been said countless times, Sailor nibs are really really good. They are not necessarily the smoothest in the world but they are definitely very reliable nibs with great flow, feedback and responsive to the writer. This is no exception.

 

My Chizusugi comes with a MF nib, which I had to specially get switched out because only F nibs were available. I’m not sure if the pen comes with anything other than a F nib. Anyway, the MF nib writes like a dream. It is a friction fit 14K small sized rhodium plated gold Sailor nib like the ones found on any other Sapporo. I really really love the MF nibs because they are neither too fine nor too wide. The wetness makes the nib really really smooth and it glides over the paper effortlessly.

 

The nib has no spring or flexibility to it, and works well with good fountain pen friendly papers, otherwise I would usually opt to use a finer, more dry nib to reduce feathering and bleed.

 

5. Filling System & Maintenance (7/10) - The Chizusugi Cedar Wood Sapporo comes with a typical Sailor Cartridge Converter filling system. I do like Sailor converters despite their relatively small capacity. They are easy to clean and grease because you can take them apart. On the whole, the filling system is not very impressive or remarkable, but it gets the job done and is dependable, so I would not fuss.

 

The use of the C/C system on The Chizusugi also makes the pen cleaner. I feel that it allows me easier maintenance because I do not fill the converter through the nib. I fill it through the a syringe into the converter, keeping the nib free of any nib creep whatsoever. On a whole the pen is relatively clean and no fuss despite my initial fears. The nib section is resin so dipping it in ink is not going to be a problem. After some use the pen has not become stained by any ink. I just have to be really careful about it and all has been fine.

 

6. Cost & Value (9/10) – I ordered this pen from Japan brand new for a good price and I think it is one of the more worthy purchases I made. The natural feel of the wood is not easy to craft and as one may know, many wooden pens really come at astronomical prices. For example, I’ve been a great fan of Graf von Faber Castell for the longest time but never got one of their wooden pens because the cost is definitely many multiples of this Chizusugi.

 

The only comparable pen for me thus far is the Pilot Custom Kaede Maple but I picked the Sailor over that. I have a long list of wooden pens I would like to own like the Platinum Yakusugi, Pilot Custom Ichii and Graf von Faber Castell Intuition Pernambuco. Compared with these products, I must say that Sailor has indeed created a product worthy of its price and of great value and I would recommend this pen to anyone who likes to explore a product that has a natural feel to it and is tired of their typical plasticky pens.

 

The pen is readily available online and at retailers.

 

7.Conclusion (Final score, 8.83333333333/10) - The Sailor Chizusugi Cedar Wood Sapporo has exceeded my expectations. Photographs do not do it justice. Seeing it in real life has made me sure that this pen was paid the greatest attention and lovingly created by Sailor with perfection in mind. The natural allure of wood as a organic material and the fact that this was once a living organism is one draw of this pen.

 

But above all, the wonderful nib and minimalistic beauty of the wood evokes a feeling of freedom from the industrialised world. After use, you also realise that your hands smell like cedar, and that aromatic quality is quite remarkable. I feel that this pen is indeed a specimen that will grow on me and I will like it more over the years. Designs come and go, but wood is a timeless material that dates back millennia. Having it in your hands as you write is a totally different feeling from the metal and resin of the other pens we so love.

 

On that note this pen sits as part of my collection but one day I do wish to get another one and intend to put it to daily use. I strongly recommend the Sailor Chizusugi Cedar Wood Sapporo to anyone who likes Japanese quality and craftsmanship, good writing, and above all, the unmistakable tactile feel of wood.

 

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/nicholasyzh/SailorChizusugi1.jpg

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http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/nicholasyzh/SailorChizusugi16.jpg

Edited February 11, 2013 by nicholasyeo

[Maurizio]

Beautiful, just beautiful. Thanks for the review & the high res photos which really do justice to the pen.

[guilhermejf]

Very nice review!

I find wood pens really nice, but haven't got one yet due to the usual high prices.

 

Some kind of not so expensive frankenpen I'd like to create is to get the wooden barrel of a Faber-Castell Basic rollerball and put a fountain pen section in it.

[nicholasyeo]

Hi there! Thank you for your positive comments. I'll be doing more reviews of my other pens soon! Anyway I would definitely agree that wood pens are rather pricey... but there's something appealing that they offer, the fact no two are alike... so I guess I'll be getting more wood pens in the near future.

[notVirtuThe3rd]

Wow, what an informative review. And looks really beautiful!

 

Sailor's Chizusugi cedar wood pen is now really popular amoung

a fountain pen geeks in Japan because it's less expensive than

Tagayasan wood fountain pen.　　　(Unfortunately, this is NOT

available now...)

 

Thank you so much for sharing.

 

Your post is always attractive even for us Japanese!

 

Best regards,

VirtuThe3rd

 

P.S. I'll upload the video about Sailor's mucis nib in English

for the first time.lol If you have time, please take a look at it.

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited February 12, 2013 by VirtuThe3rd

[Cognaticrotty]

For a pen like that to be a cartridge fill, is disappointing...

[nicholasyeo]

Wow, what an informative review. And looks really beautiful!

 

Sailor's Chizusugi cedar wood pen is now really popular amoung

a fountain pen geeks in Japan because it's less expensive than

Tagayasan wood fountain pen.　　　(Unfortunately, this is NOT

available now...)

 

Thank you so much for sharing.

 

Your post is always attractive even for us Japanese!

 

Best regards,

VirtuThe3rd

 

P.S. I'll upload the video about Sailor's mucis nib in English

for the first time.lol If you have time, please take a look at it.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi again!

 

I may indeed look for one of those soon because it will complete my collection of all the wooden pens! But again, I think there is a new model... saw the "Tochi" model on Engeika's eBay store. I do not think that version is available at this point in Singapore where I am. I definitely look forward to more of your videos!!

 

Nicholas

[nicholasyeo]

For a pen like that to be a cartridge fill, is disappointing...

 

I think it can't be helped! I would love a eyedropper or a piston fill but I guess that's rare for pens in the Sapporo range. Its pure wood on the inside, so I guess it'll cost them way more to produce. But then again, even the King of Pens and Urushi versions are C/C which aren't any larger than what this pen fits, so what can I say! :hmm1: :hmm1:

[Cognaticrotty]

For a pen like that to be a cartridge fill, is disappointing...

 

I think it can't be helped! I would love a eyedropper or a piston fill but I guess that's rare for pens in the Sapporo range. Its pure wood on the inside, so I guess it'll cost them way more to produce. But then again, even the King of Pens and Urushi versions are C/C which aren't any larger than what this pen fits, so what can I say! :hmm1: :hmm1:

it's a nice pen, but with the amount i write in a day, id be refilling it every few hours. ill take an ED or Vac or Lever fill anyday.

[rokurinpapa]

Thank you for your nice review and photos. Really beautiful pen.

I want to know the change by aging.

By the way I am now suffering from Japanese cedar pollinosis.

 

rokurinpapa

 

 

[nicholasyeo]

For a pen like that to be a cartridge fill, is disappointing...

 

I think it can't be helped! I would love a eyedropper or a piston fill but I guess that's rare for pens in the Sapporo range. Its pure wood on the inside, so I guess it'll cost them way more to produce. But then again, even the King of Pens and Urushi versions are C/C which aren't any larger than what this pen fits, so what can I say! :hmm1: :hmm1:

it's a nice pen, but with the amount i write in a day, id be refilling it every few hours. ill take an ED or Vac or Lever fill anyday.

 

I'm not sure about whether or not there will be a piston or eyedropper wood pen in the near future, but I suspect that few wood pens are made that way. Perhaps I could suggest that LOVELY Pilot Custom Iichi. It's almost exactly like a 845 but not as plasticky and in fact works with the simply awesome CON70 converter. That should work for you!

[nicholasyeo]

Thank you for your nice review and photos. Really beautiful pen.

I want to know the change by aging.

By the way I am now suffering from Japanese cedar pollinosis.

 

rokurinpapa

 

Thank you very much! I was inspired by your post to do the review. Did not see many pictures or reviews online. Anyway, I am curious... I hear this hay fever is very common in Japan? Is it really because of the plants or are you guys just more prone to catching it?

[rokurinpapa]

Thank you for your nice review and photos. Really beautiful pen.

I want to know the change by aging.

By the way I am now suffering from Japanese cedar pollinosis.

 

rokurinpapa

 

Thank you very much! I was inspired by your post to do the review. Did not see many pictures or reviews online. Anyway, I am curious... I hear this hay fever is very common in Japan? Is it really because of the plants or are you guys just more prone to catching it?

 

It is said that about 25,000,000 people are now suffering from the pollinosis in Japan, a kind of national disease. The main reason: massive treeplanting of Japanese cedar after WWⅡin order to rise from the ashes... ironic result.

 

rokurinpapa

Edited February 16, 2013 by rokurinpapa

[raging.dragon]

I'm not sure about whether or not there will be a piston or eyedropper wood pen in the near future, but I suspect that few wood pens are made that way. Perhaps I could suggest that LOVELY Pilot Custom Iichi. It's almost exactly like a 845 but not as plasticky and in fact works with the simply awesome CON70 converter. That should work for you!

 

OMAS made some piston filled wood pens. They must have some sort of liner so the ink never contacts the wood.

[nicholasyeo]

I'm not sure about whether or not there will be a piston or eyedropper wood pen in the near future, but I suspect that few wood pens are made that way. Perhaps I could suggest that LOVELY Pilot Custom Iichi. It's almost exactly like a 845 but not as plasticky and in fact works with the simply awesome CON70 converter. That should work for you!

 

OMAS made some piston filled wood pens. They must have some sort of liner so the ink never contacts the wood.

 

Being quite an Omas fan, I think I might have a look at those someday... I like GvFC Pernambuco and all but they are C/C filled.

[nicholasyeo]

Thank you for your nice review and photos. Really beautiful pen.

I want to know the change by aging.

By the way I am now suffering from Japanese cedar pollinosis.

 

rokurinpapa

 

Thank you very much! I was inspired by your post to do the review. Did not see many pictures or reviews online. Anyway, I am curious... I hear this hay fever is very common in Japan? Is it really because of the plants or are you guys just more prone to catching it?

 

It is said that about 25,000,000 people are now suffering from the pollinosis in Japan, a kind of national disease. The main reason: massive treeplanting of Japanese cedar after WWⅡin order to rise from the ashes... ironic result.

 

rokurinpapa

 

How fascinating... I guess they should export more cedar to the world then! Make some good use of it I guess! Get well!

[Pen2009]

Sailor introduced the precious wood of the world series last fall and those pens are well made as expected from Sailor. Despite the relatively low price point, the pens are created with care and craftmanship.

 

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/lineup/thumb/10-2546.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/lineup/thumb/10-2544.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/lineup/thumb/10-2548.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/lineup/thumb/10-2545.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/lineup/thumb/10-2547.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/lineup/thumb/10-2543.jpg

 

My "Tochi" fountain pen with an F nib:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_4149_zpse2a17a78.jpg

 

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_4153_zps0ab1ec0d.jpg

Edited February 17, 2013 by Pen2009

[nicholasyeo]

Hi Pen2009! I really love these wood pens. Mine being one of the first wood pens it is rhodium accented. I like the rhodium but I find gold goes pretty well with wooden pens as well. Anyway, I haven't seen many of the wood pens in the market locally, so I may have to get them online somehow... One thing is for sure - the "Tochi" is definitely at the top of my list. I have this liking for light coloured woods.

[da vinci]

Nicholas, thank you for an excellent review, i enjoyed reading your post.

[Enoch_Root]

Brilliant review. Stunning pics. I've got some research to do!! Thanks!