Japanese Vs European Fountain Pens

[Buzz_130]

The pens I use fall into three major categories, and I use them in the following order:

1) Vintage American (Parker and Sheaffer)

2) Modern Japanese (Nakaya, Pilot, Platinum, and Sailor)

3) Modern European (MB, Pelikan, Onoto)

 

Each one of those categories has unique characteristics, so I find it useful to keep them separate. I really enjoy the modern Japanese pens, but my heart is still with the vintage American pens. You won't find me without a Parker "51".

 

Buzz

[sadiemagic]

Welcome to FPN!

 

I agree that it's really hard to categorize individual makes by location but I do think that Japanese pens have better quality control than average, at least for modern pens. I have four Japanese pens so far (1 Nakaya, 1 Platinum, 2 Pilots) and not a single issue. OTOH, have had issues with some Omas, Parker, and Aurora. That doesn't mean I don't buy those makes - I still do if I see something I like. And agree on the nib width observations others have made.

[Ste_S]

 

A Pilot Custom Heritage 92 is about £150 in the UK, but only £75 via Ebay. Even if you're unlucky enough to be hit by punitive taxes and swingeing admin fees, it surely couldn't be over £100? Or take the Pilot Prera: £45-£55 in the UK, £20 shipped via Ebay, and much less likely to be inspected than a parcel from the US.

I take it back. Even though we're paying more including VAT and admin charges, that Custom Heritage 92 is pretty good value compares to something like a Pelikan

[tomkeb]

European pens are mostly overpriced in Europe, are bloated in design and their nibs run unusably wide. That's why I use imported japanese pens.

[hbdk]

All the European/American pens that I have bought from new have given me trouble (Waterman, Italix, Monteverde, Parker, etc.); only exceptions have been Lamy and Parker Frontier (the Frontier is made in India, I guess?). I have 3 Pilots and 1 Platinum - not enough to be statistically significant, I know, but - they all worked out of the box and still do. Also I generally find the European pens too broad, but at least with Lamy you got a variety of nibs to choose from.

Edited September 7, 2014 by hbdk

[shethkapil]

Frankly I never had any quality issues with any non Japanese / western pens, but Japanese pens are my every day knockoff pens and they write great. Also they are very cost effective.

The Japanese medium being western fine is something what all of us agree on, but why is it so!? Has it something to do with Japanese alphabets, which might require a fine point or is it just a way to differentiate??

[Aurko]

Yes, the Japanese characters generally incorporate more details per character than Western based language systems do. I am of course no expert, but it's something I've heard repeatedly on this forum, and seen in real life as well. If for practical usage, one wants to write at a reasonable size in Japanese, then a fine nib would help them do so while keeping the details of each character distinct. If the nib is wider, the fine details may become just a blob.

[KBeezie]

Yes, the Japanese characters generally incorporate more details per character than Western based language systems do. I am of course no expert, but it's something I've heard repeatedly on this forum, and seen in real life as well. If for practical usage, one wants to write at a reasonable size in Japanese, then a fine nib would help them do so while keeping the details of each character distinct. If the nib is wider, the fine details may become just a blob.

Pretty much, especially when you consider how much space you'd need for something like the kanji for penmanship :

 

書

 

Or one of the ones for 'small'

 

薄

 

Or even just the basic alphabet of the sounds in either hiragana or katana

 

 

I don't write any japanese, but I tend to write very small myself, so I'm drawn more to Japanese fine for my writing style.

Edited September 8, 2014 by KBeezie

[shethkapil]

That's wonderfully demonstrated.

[Algester]

to me Japan pens very very cost effective... but some of them warrant some attention... well ok Sailor made pens with a porcelain body YES PORCELAIN!! that requires some care and attention, Pilot has prices all over the grid, Platinum if you like the certain knock-off looking european brand... which isnt even a knock off a european brand if history dictates it was a knock off of an american brand, and also has prices all over the grid but Pilot appeals me more no one really can say how they can fit a 14kt gold nib into a 50USD budget IM ALSO LOOKING AT YOUR PLATINUM

and the other big 2 I THINK Hakase, and Nakaya... but I dunno what suits your fancy you also have Danitrio and other small pen shops for more premier pens due to their handmade qualities LIKE REALLY HAND MADE the only machines you would see are pottery wheels and lathes

but if you want inks... Japan no other place can you see bespoke inks (having searched Sailor I can say you have 1 man who is busier than Nathan himself producing 100s of different inks alone did I miss they are bespoke?) produced all over the land... that it literally becomes a pengilgrimage if that is your quest

Edited September 8, 2014 by Algester

[KBeezie]

to me Japan pens very very cost effective... but some of them warrant some attention... well ok Sailor made pens with a porcelain body YES PORCELAIN!! that requires some care and attention, Pilot has prices all over the grid, Platinum if you like the certain knock-off looking european brand... which isnt even a knock off a european brand if history dictates it was a knock off of an american brand, and also has prices all over the grid but Pilot appeals me more no one really can say how they can fit a 14kt gold nib into a 50USD budget IM ALSO LOOKING AT YOUR PLATINUM

and the other big 2 I THINK Hakase, and Nakaya... but I dunno what suits your fancy you also have Danitrio and other small pen shops for more premier pens due to their handmade qualities LIKE REALLY HAND MADE the only machines you would see are pottery wheels and lathes

but if you want inks... Japan no other place can you see bespoke inks (having searched Sailor I can say you have 1 man who is busier than Nathan himself producing 100s of different inks alone did I miss they are bespoke?) produced all over the land... that it literally becomes a pengilgrimage if that is your quest

 

... full porcelain... I'm intrigued. Probably feels wonderful in the hands.

[Algester]

 

... full porcelain... I'm intrigued. Probably feels wonderful in the hands.

http://www.nibs.com/SailorArita.html

good luck

[KBeezie]

http://www.nibs.com/SailorArita.html

good luck

I scrolled down only to have my hopes crushed...

 

Also I found this somewhat amusing:

Because they are quite heavy (58 grams), the Arita fountain pen does not make a good pocket pen.

Or how bout the fact that they're $3,200 glass-like delicate pens that you probably wouldn't want to risk in the safety of a pocket (especially a shirt pocket when leaning).

Edited September 8, 2014 by KBeezie

[Algester]

 

I scrolled down only to have my hopes crushed...

 

Also I found this somewhat amusing:

 

Or how bout the fact that they're $3,200 glass-like delicate pens that you probably wouldn't want to risk in the safety of a pocket (especially a shirt pocket when leaning).

what did you miss about me saying Pens that need care and attention...

of the big 3 of Japan Sailor has the more expensive offerings :X by default

someone from my country actually has one... I kept on joking about the barrel shattering on him which is actually possible due to the fact it's porcelain

Edited September 8, 2014 by Algester

[KBeezie]

what did you miss about me saying Pens that need care and attention...

of the big 3 of Japan Sailor has the more expensive offerings :X by default

someone from my country actually has one... I kept on joking about the barrel shattering on him which is actually possible due to the fact it's porcelain

... well when you said I just thought you meant something like a 600-800$ pen or something. (but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, even resin with some maki-e is going to hit 1k easy). I guess I wasn't prepared for the sticker on the one I liked the most in appearance. (also bear in mind, other than my 1911M I haven't paid more than $100 for any of my pens).

[mr T.]

A lot of western pens are only brands, they are mass produced in China sometimes, and I feel most of the cheaper ones are unreliable because you never know if it is going to be a lemon.

A lot of pens with a so called 'Japanese' label are mass produced in China too. These mass produced cheap pens, like the Platinum Preppy, are in terms of quality, as bad as anything with a 'Chinese' label.

[alarickc]

A lot of pens with a so called 'Japanese' label are mass produced in China too. These mass produced cheap pens, like the Platinum Preppy, are in terms of quality, as bad as anything with a 'Chinese' label.

That's not true of all of them though. Pilot's Metropolitan and their Varsity disposable are both made in Japan. Edited September 17, 2014 by alarickc

[alarickc]

... well when you said I just thought you meant something like a 600-800$ pen or something. (but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, even resin with some maki-e is going to hit 1k easy). I guess I wasn't prepared for the sticker on the one I liked the most in appearance. (also bear in mind, other than my 1911M I haven't paid more than $100 for any of my pens).

You can chop a thousand bucks off the price if you buy through Engika though. That's still a $1300-$2000 pen depending on design, but not quite as horrifying.

[william2001]

Well, I heard that Japanese pens are finer than other pens.

-William S. Park

[Icywolfe]

A lot of pens with a so called 'Japanese' label are mass produced in China too. These mass produced cheap pens, like the Platinum Preppy, are in terms of quality, as bad as anything with a 'Chinese' label.

Nope. They are in within Japan. This includes the tiny parts. All Japan.

 

They are not like their (some) Western counter part which out source some stuff to China.

Edited September 18, 2014 by Icywolfe