Nakaya – Deeper Into The Woods

[whichwatch]

I bought the Nakaya Bamboo Woods shown below at the Baltimore Pen Show in 2019. It immediately became my very favorite Nakaya of the more than 100 I own or have owned.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B9708541B-AD3E-4644-AC1C-1CDB29133E0B%7D/origpict/w1.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/%7B67672882-5973-4A79-BABF-4E070CB3DB53%7D/origpict/w2.jpg

 

 

Last week I was offered the opportunity to purchase another very special Nakaya and of course I accepted. The pen arrived shortly thereafter and ever since I feel like I did the day I first saw my newborn son. Back in those long ago early 1970’s, fathers waited in a waiting room and the newborn babies were brought out from the delivery room in a portable incubator. I still remember taking my first look at my newborn son, only to find that my wife had unexpectedly given birth to identical twins. Lightning strikes twice! Here is my new “happy family”.

 

 

On the left, the Nakaya Portable Bamboo Woods and on the right the Nakaya Neo Standard Bamboo Woods.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BD0D667ED-2796-400F-9D60-31D12FB63281%7D/origpict/w3.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B8F979131-4CE6-4B16-A82B-43751F73042E%7D/origpict/w4.jpg

 

 

Throughout their lives so far, though my identical twin sons shared almost (but not quite) identical DNA and genes, each has been unique and wonderful in his own way. The same is true of the two pens.

 

The most obvious difference is the color of the finish. Nakayas are individually hand finished with many dozens of coats of urushi. In my pair pictured above, the Portable (left) has a dark brown background with markedly contrasting bamboo tree and leaves design. The Neo Standard (right) has a much warmer red-brown tone to the background color, and the design is more subtle in tone with less contrast.

 

A second easily observed difference is that the Portable has no clip. It is also available with a clip, which on the Portable model would be bright gold plated. The Neo Standard comes standard with a clip which is hand painted to match the background of the pen.

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BDFA2BDEC-8947-45CB-BB83-DB30EFE80627%7D/origpict/w5.jpg

 

 

 

One of the features on both pens I find endearing is that even the blind end of the pen has been adorned with the leaf design.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BF3310EAD-EA86-4E63-B181-F13174A0EA00%7D/origpict/w6.jpg

 

 

 

Another difference is one of the unique features of the Neo Standard design, which to me is a like-dislike affair. The section on the Neo Standard is longer than most other Nakayas, which I like very much. But it also requires more turns to remove or reinstall the cap, which I dislike.

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B05E372F0-387B-4C12-9B49-32BD8ED5E2EA%7D/origpict/w7.jpg

 

 

 

So which do I like better?

 

I prefer the more dramatic coloration of the Portable to the more subtle tones of the Neo Standard

 

I prefer the longer section of the Neo Standard

 

I prefer the fewer turns necessary to remove/reinstall the cap of the Portable

 

I prefer pens with clips such as the Neo Standard

 

I prefer the lower price of the Portable

 

 

While I’m on the subject of twins, here is another set of recent Limited Editions, though these are more like fraternal twins. Or maybe “brothers from different mothers” is a better description. But that’s story for another day.

 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for reading!

 

 

On the left is the Sailor Blue Wave with Naginata Togi nib and on the right the Eboya Manten.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B8FDAFBA9-D5A8-4515-A3B4-407DD269C3C5%7D/origpict/IMG_2554.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BDD0C4796-A31E-4D81-97AC-3B75507D312C%7D/origpict/IMG_2555.jpg

[mongrelnomad]

They're absolutely gorgeous - and 100 Nakayas! I think that counts as an obsession!

 

I've always coveted a Neo-Standard, but the single thread means I've never taken the plunge. I have Picollo, Nakai-ai, Portable (a few) and a Decapod. What's your favourite form factor overall?

[whichwatch]

My favorite form seems to change from time to time. Currently I am infatuated with a shape not often found in the US - the Long Piccolo. This shape is exclusive to one store, Aesthetic Bay in Singapore. It is about as long as a Naka-ai but not as tapered. You can see a Naka-ai on the left and a Long Piccolo on the right.

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B97FF9A4C-821B-47CA-9027-EDD2A2E1F35D%7D/origpict/IMG_2566.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B1A2B94D3-98B8-4E1D-8A77-C19DE6F50F06%7D/origpict/IMG_2567.jpg

Edited March 16, 2020 by whichwatch

[GardenWeasel]

I’m just speechless! Wow! Absolutely gorgeous!

[Estycollector]

I bought the Nakaya Bamboo Woods shown below at the Baltimore Pen Show in 2019. It immediately became my very favorite Nakaya of the more than 100 I own or have owned.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B9708541B-AD3E-4644-AC1C-1CDB29133E0B%7D/origpict/w1.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/%7B67672882-5973-4A79-BABF-4E070CB3DB53%7D/origpict/w2.jpg

 

 

Last week I was offered the opportunity to purchase another very special Nakaya and of course I accepted. The pen arrived shortly thereafter and ever since I feel like I did the day I first saw my newborn son. Back in those long ago early 1970’s, fathers waited in a waiting room and the newborn babies were brought out from the delivery room in a portable incubator. I still remember taking my first look at my newborn son, only to find that my wife had unexpectedly given birth to identical twins. Lightning strikes twice! Here is my new “happy family”.

 

 

On the left, the Nakaya Portable Bamboo Woods and on the right the Nakaya Neo Standard Bamboo Woods.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BD0D667ED-2796-400F-9D60-31D12FB63281%7D/origpict/w3.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B8F979131-4CE6-4B16-A82B-43751F73042E%7D/origpict/w4.jpg

 

 

Throughout their lives so far, though my identical twin sons shared almost (but not quite) identical DNA and genes, each has been unique and wonderful in his own way. The same is true of the two pens.

 

The most obvious difference is the color of the finish. Nakayas are individually hand finished with many dozens of coats of urushi. In my pair pictured above, the Portable (left) has a dark brown background with markedly contrasting bamboo tree and leaves design. The Neo Standard (right) has a much warmer red-brown tone to the background color, and the design is more subtle in tone with less contrast.

 

A second easily observed difference is that the Portable has no clip. It is also available with a clip, which on the Portable model would be bright gold plated. The Neo Standard comes standard with a clip which is hand painted to match the background of the pen.

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BDFA2BDEC-8947-45CB-BB83-DB30EFE80627%7D/origpict/w5.jpg

 

 

 

One of the features on both pens I find endearing is that even the blind end of the pen has been adorned with the leaf design.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BF3310EAD-EA86-4E63-B181-F13174A0EA00%7D/origpict/w6.jpg

 

 

 

Another difference is one of the unique features of the Neo Standard design, which to me is a like-dislike affair. The section on the Neo Standard is longer than most other Nakayas, which I like very much. But it also requires more turns to remove or reinstall the cap, which I dislike.

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B05E372F0-387B-4C12-9B49-32BD8ED5E2EA%7D/origpict/w7.jpg

 

 

 

So which do I like better?

 

I prefer the more dramatic coloration of the Portable to the more subtle tones of the Neo Standard

 

I prefer the longer section of the Neo Standard

 

I prefer the fewer turns necessary to remove/reinstall the cap of the Portable

 

I prefer pens with clips such as the Neo Standard

 

I prefer the lower price of the Portable

 

 

While I’m on the subject of twins, here is another set of recent Limited Editions, though these are more like fraternal twins. Or maybe “brothers from different mothers” is a better description. But that’s story for another day.

 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for reading!

 

 

On the left is the Sailor Blue Wave with Naginata Togi nib and on the right the Eboya Manten.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B8FDAFBA9-D5A8-4515-A3B4-407DD269C3C5%7D/origpict/IMG_2554.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BDD0C4796-A31E-4D81-97AC-3B75507D312C%7D/origpict/IMG_2555.jpg

 

Thank you for sharing your joy. We must have those moments, like your twins. That said, I cannot imagine discovering in the nursery today that a woman gave birth to two children unexpectant.

 

The bamboo pen is exquisite.

[whichwatch]

 

Thank you for sharing your joy. We must have those moments, like your twins. That said, I cannot imagine discovering in the nursery today that a woman gave birth to two children unexpectant.

 

The bamboo pen is exquisite.

 

 

Thanks!

 

Back in the early 70’s there just wasn’t as much technology and pre-natal testing as is common today, although even then most people knew if they should expect twins. Ours were a compete surprise, even to my wife’s doctors. I suspect that almost never happens today.

 

It’s nice to enjoy the happy experience of two Bamboo Woods when the world is facing so much trouble due to Covid-19.

[Uncial]

The ability of the Japanese to make small items so exquisitely beautiful never ceases to amaze me.

[empliau]

Wow. Just wow. Normally, although I understand the utility of clips, I don't like them on Nakayas. But that clip is .... simply gorgeous. Congratulations on your lovely twins!

[Intensity]

I love both of those Nakayas! Each one is perfection. I find the threads being between the section and the body of the pen to look better and be more logical than threads on the section, interrupting the shape of the section. Otherwise they are both a feast for the eyes! Beautiful!

[Estycollector]

 

 

Thanks!

 

Back in the early 70’s there just wasn’t as much technology and pre-natal testing as is common today, although even then most people knew if they should expect twins. Ours were a compete surprise, even to my wife’s doctors. I suspect that almost never happens today.

 

It’s nice to enjoy the happy experience of two Bamboo Woods when the world is facing so much trouble due to Covid-19.

 

My daughter gave us twin grandchildren. There is nothing to be compared. I need a red heart emoji......

[whichwatch]

 

My daughter gave us twin grandchildren. There is nothing to be compared. I need a red heart emoji......

 

 

Congratulations! You're right - nothing to be compared!

[whichwatch]

Wow. Just wow. Normally, although I understand the utility of clips, I don't like them on Nakayas. But that clip is .... simply gorgeous. Congratulations on your lovely twins!

 

Thanks Mollie!

[whichwatch]

I love both of those Nakayas! Each one is perfection. I find the threads being between the section and the body of the pen to look better and be more logical than threads on the section, interrupting the shape of the section. Otherwise they are both a feast for the eyes! Beautiful!

 

Thanks very much!

[Driften]

Those are excellent pens! I'm waiting my first Nakaya from nibs.com right now. It's only a piccolo cigar in aka-tamenuri. Nothing as nice as your bamboo woods models. Just thought I would start with a standard version of what I wanted first before moving up to more elaborate ones...

[whichwatch]

Those are excellent pens! I'm waiting my first Nakaya from nibs.com right now. It's only a piccolo cigar in aka-tamenuri. Nothing as nice as your bamboo woods models. Just thought I would start with a standard version of what I wanted first before moving up to more elaborate ones...

 

 

Piccolo in Aka Tamenuri is a beautiful pen. You’re going to love it! My first was a Naka ai in Aka Tamenuri, and you can see what happened after that!

 

I’ll look forward to seeing pictures of your pen when it arrives!

[Driften]

 

 

Piccolo in Aka Tamenuri is a beautiful pen. You’re going to love it! My first was a Naka ai in Aka Tamenuri, and you can see what happened after that!

 

I’ll look forward to seeing pictures of your pen when it arrives!

 

 

It was a close decision between that and the writer version in Heki-tamenuri. I like some of the Heki-tamenuri depending on how dark the green is, but I like the Aka no matter what. Also decided I wanted the clip less version first. Nibs didn't have both finished in both cigar and writer. I expect I would rather have Midori-tamenuri then Heki-tamenuri, but not in stock... I know I will be happy with the Aka

[zaddick]

You are, indeed, deep into the woods. Bamboo is appropriate as it grows at the speed of your Nakaya collection! No tree could hope to keep up with you.

 

I must say that is the nicest Nakaya clip implementation I have ever seen. Enjoy the new treasures. At least they are cheaper than your twins!

[MHBru]

I got my first nakaya from nibs.com last year. A dorsal fin 2 heki-tamenuri and it the most exquisite writer. But 100 nakayas?!? Wow. Use them all well. So envious.

[85AKbN]

Love that brown in the Bamboo Woods.

[whichwatch]

You are, indeed, deep into the woods. Bamboo is appropriate as it grows at the speed of your Nakaya collection! No tree could hope to keep up with you.

 

I must say that is the nicest Nakaya clip implementation I have ever seen. Enjoy the new treasures. At least they are cheaper than your twins!

 

 

Thans Aaron. It is sure a lot easier to afford pens after the kids are grown and gone! :-)