Opinion: A Pen That Sums Up Japanese Pens?

[GranTorino25]

Hi all!

 

I really want to get a Japanese pen, but I honestly have no idea where to start!

 

What I'd love is to know what you guys and girls think is a pen that is a good example of a Japanese pen? I would be looking to spend somewhere in the region of $80-120 max.

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 

Kind regards

[plumo]

USD? Maybe one of the Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shiki-Oriori Four Seasons pens.

Edited July 13, 2017 by plumo

[Bluey]

The Pilot Custom 74 is quite typical of a great many Japanese pens.

 

Cigar barrel? Check

Black? Check

Nib with feedback? Check

Soft nib for kanji? Check [bonus points]

 

 

You can pick them up for around 70 USD from a Japanese seller

Edited July 13, 2017 by Bluey

[plumo]

The Pilot Custom 74 is quite typical of a great many Japanese pens.

 

Cigar barrel? Check

Black? Check

Nib with feedback? Check

Soft nib for kanji? Check [bonus points]

 

 

You can pick them up for around 70 USD from a Japanese seller

 

Yeah, but what makes that distinctly Japanese if its design is (correct me if I'm wrong since I very well might be) borrowed from Montblanc

Edited July 13, 2017 by plumo

[mke]

If you like black cigars, get a Pilot Custom or a Sailor Profit/ProfessionalGear or a Platinum 3776 Century.

Start with looking at the homepages and buy a pen of the 3 famous pen makers Pilot/Sailor/Platinum.

 

They also have other colours or designs.

[OlivierB]

For this price, if you order from japan, you can have either a Pro gear slim, a custom 74 or 91, or a 3776. I think its mostly a matter of personal choice as to which you'll prefer. At first I wanted a soft nib so I went for a C74 as I had been told that their SF were softer than 3776 SFs. After that I wanted something on the broader side since I have only EF and F nibs on my collection so I just ordered a 3776 B from j-subculture as they were only 53USD.

 

N.B. Know that ordering from Japan = no after-sales service. MY 74 developed hard start problems, I've been trying to solve it by myself for a while without a lot of success (kinda works now but its super dry) so I might just have to send it to a pro...

[mke]

the whole concept of fountain pens is not Japanese - and designs such old as black cigars are now common goods

[plumo]

Maybe a Pilot Falcon.

[plumo]

Ah, how could I overlook this: a Sailor pen with an extra fine nib.

[AmandaW]

Maybe a Pilot Falcon.

 

+1 because it's so different. Unfortunately they're more like AU$250+

 

Within stated budget (from Japan): Platinum #3776 - choice of colours, soft nib option and the slip/seal cap. Any pen that puts so much effort into not drying out is a plus in this country!

[friedrichwild]

if you want a fine nib, go with pilot custom 74 in fine. platinum and sailor tend to have a little more feedback.

[OlivierB]

There are six Pilot Falcon in broad right now shipped and sold by Amazon.ca for $132 CAD ($103USD). Pretty good deal even if it might sound awkward for many to buy a broad Falcon (since its japanese its more like a medium I guess)...

[Bluey]

 

Yeah, but what makes that distinctly Japanese if its design is (correct me if I'm wrong since I very well might be) borrowed from Montblanc

It's the other way around. And before that the Sheaffer Balance.

Edited July 13, 2017 by Bluey

[AltecGreen]

Pre-war Japanese eyedropper in a Kamakuri-bori pattern.

 

 

Edited July 13, 2017 by AltecGreen

[FOUR X FOUR]

The custom heritage 92 from jet pens is 130 dollars. It's a very good pen

Allan😀😀

[FriendAmos]

Pilot Custom 845

[mke]

→Pilot Custom 845

a bit over the budget, don't you think so?

[GranTorino25]

What sort of nib should I be looking at for a Japanese 'feel'? Obviously a F/EF, are the softer nibs a Japanese style, or a western add on?

[Bluey]

Pilot Custom 845

Oh boy!

 

 

What sort of nib should I be looking at for a Japanese 'feel'? Obviously a F/EF, are the softer nibs a Japanese style, or a western add on?

The soft nibs are very much designed for Eastern scripts, so they can't be used for Western calligraphy as they'll railroad quickly. The soft nibs that are available in your price range are soft fine, soft fine-medium, and soft medium.

 

The nib width that you should be looking for is whatever you're most comfortable with.

Edited July 13, 2017 by Bluey

[AmandaW]

I understood the soft nib to be useful for writing Japanese characters. Happy to be corrected.

 

My Platinum #3776 SF certainly feels like my most special nib. Hard to describe, but It feels gentle or delicate as the nib touches the paper.

 

I have one in ultra extra fine that was the result of an impulsive ebay bid - it feels very Japanese too. Suitable for very tiny characters, or in my case, tiny cross-hatching.

 

I like both, but I don't think the UEF will get used nearly as much as the soft fine simply because it's more specialised.