Masters Of The Fountain Pen

[terminal]

I've thought about trying Filofax before but I read on the forums here that the paper quality can be inconsistent. I don't want to get in to punching my own paper and stuff. Virtu, how do you compare their papers to the already mentioned T.R. and LIFE? Not even in the same ballpark I bet?

[notVirtuThe3rd]

I've thought about trying Filofax before but I read on the forums here that the paper quality can be inconsistent. I don't want to get in to punching my own paper and stuff. Virtu, how do you compare their papers to the already mentioned T.R. and LIFE? Not even in the same ballpark I bet?

 

Yes, the paper quality of fILOFAX is inconsistent. The paper refills vary considerably in quality every year... In contrast, Japanese paper （Traveler's notebook MD paper, LIFE paper and so on...） are regarded very highly as a friendly paper for many kinds of fountain pen inks. Do I compare these papers? It's tough to tell which is better because I don't know what ink you usually use for writing. So, please tell me the brand and color of the ink you use. Then I'll tell you which paper to choose!

[terminal]

My 'signature ink' is Iroshizuku Ama-Iro but I also use a lot of other inks... though I'm heavily biased towards Iroshizuku in all cases.

[notVirtuThe3rd]

My 'signature ink' is Iroshizuku Ama-Iro but I also use a lot of other inks... though I'm heavily biased towards Iroshizuku in all cases.

 

Nice color! I use 天色（ama-iro） for my diary as well. If so, you should choose "LIFE SYMPHONY RULED NOTEBOOKS" because ama-iro stands out against the bright paper color. I believe Life delivers higher-quality products than Clairefontaine.

 

 

Kobe "Pen and message" : Iroshizuku sample page

https://www.p-n-m.net/contents/products/IC0032.html

[wisma46]

 

Nice color! I use 天色（ama-iro） for my diary as well. If so, you should choose "LIFE SYMPHONY RULED NOTEBOOKS" because ama-iro stands out against the bright paper color. I believe Life delivers higher-quality products than Clairefontaine.

 

 

Kobe "Pen and message" : Iroshizuku sample page

https://www.p-n-m.net/contents/products/IC0032.html

 

Really informative website. Thanks for posting this.

[notVirtuThe3rd]

 

Really informative website. Thanks for posting this.

 

I like "Pen and message" very much.

The shop owner Mr. Yoshimune is my senior at university.

 

 

- The capsule hotel "9 Hours" in Kyoto, Japan -

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_i3-ZDueE

[bobaroo]

More Japanese culture videos please!

[notVirtuThe3rd]

More Japanese culture videos please!

 

Thanks for the comment, Bobaroo!

What about this one?

 

 

- Master of the Maki-e art fountain pen -

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baCfXWjBomc

[bobaroo]

All of these videos are so fascinating. I have watched every one. Thank you so much for taking the time to share these.

[terminal]

I agree, thank you very much for all your trouble!

 

I looked for Life Symphony but they seem pretty hard to get stateside. All I can find are noble, vermillion and expert. It's very hard for me to tell how they compare -- is your favorite specifically the symphony or is it any Life product?

[Pennata Penna]

Yeah, the Japanese paper TOMOE-RIVER has a high compatibility for fountain pen inks.

In fact, Design.Y uses TOMOE-RIVER for making their order-made notebooks.

 

 

 

Design.Y "LP Record", take two..

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3678/10622255933_00af750bf8_z.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Tony

[notVirtuThe3rd]

All of these videos are so fascinating. I have watched every one. Thank you so much for taking the time to share these.

 

You're more than welcome.

 

Have a good weekend,

Kota

[notVirtuThe3rd]

 

Design.Y "LP Record", take two..

 

Cheers

 

Tony

 

Thank you very much for your posting additonal picture, Tony!! Looks sooooo tasteful. If Mr. Yoshino (a manager of Design.Y) look at your picture, he'll surely feel glad.

 

 

- Writing sample of Iroshizuku kirisame -

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj6qxMwMp1U

[notVirtuThe3rd]

I looked for Life Symphony but they seem pretty hard to get stateside. All I can find are noble, vermillion and expert. It's very hard for me to tell how they compare -- is your favorite specifically the symphony or is it any Life product?

 

Hmm...I see. But Noble, Vermillion and Expert notebooks made by LIFE are all comfortable and have superior quality for writing with fountain pens. Above all, I think that Noble botebook is the most popular among FP geeks in Japan. Anyway, if you choose LIFE, any notebooks will make you feel happy! I guarantee you won't regret it.

[mongrelnomad]

I'll keep with the design.y theme...

 

Fabulous (and addictive!) notebooks...

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/10630120336_29dcfb2ab6_c.jpg

[mongrelnomad]

Though the paper is a little less delicate, and the binding is a lot less beautiful, LIFE are also fantastic (and substantially cheaper )!

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/10630191634_f297981c1e_c.jpg

[notVirtuThe3rd]

I'll keep with the design.y theme...

 

Fabulous (and addictive!) notebooks...

 

Awesome!!! I didn't know you are a user of Design.Y's notebooks.

Thank you very much for the additional pictures.

 

 

 

Edited November 3, 2013 by VirtuThe3rd

[JJ51]

Thanks for your time to share the cool photo.

Is the photo you've just posted cross-processed?

 

By the way, I have one more question.

I'm looking for a fountain pen shop where English is available in Tokyo.

 

Do you think which shop is the best?

 

Thanks in advance,

JJ51

[notVirtuThe3rd]

Thanks for your time to share the cool photo.

Is the photo you've just posted cross-processed?

 

By the way, I have one more question.

I'm looking for a fountain pen shop where English is available in Tokyo.

 

Do you think which shop is the best?

 

Thanks in advance,

JJ51

 

Yes, it is cross processed.

 

Please refer to the links below. Both of two shops have a reputation for being polite to

customers. If I remember correctly, there are staff members who can speak English at the

two shops.

 

 

One of the most reliable fountain pen shops in Japan

 

- KINGDOM NOTE -

 

 

 

KINGDOM NOTE : website （English）

http://www.kingdomnote.com/html/worldguide/english_page.html

 

 

- Shosai-kan -

 

 

Shosai-kan : website （Japanese）

http://www.shosaikan.co.jp/

 

 

Have a good weekend,

Kota

[mongrelnomad]

I've never been to either of Virtu's suggestions, but Itoya in Ginza has always been incredibly accommodating to me in English...