Japanese Pens

[Drawing61]

I simply want to know, from fellow enthusiasts, why we love the pens of Japan so much. I know my reasons, but what are yours?

[katerchen]

Engineering and quality control.

 

They are so brutally perfect, it's not even funny. They really should at least give a chance to the rest of the world.

[Algester]

cheap... simply bang for buck if you know where your going... but I also heard stuff in the US for JP pens arent exactly cheap either... well be your guess

[Exlaminis]

For the cheaper models, I see Japanese pens as being fairly reliable and value for money. The expensive ones, like the maki-e etc., get my attention for being handmade pens that are different to what other manufacturers offer. Any person can craft a pen from metal if given the machines and the knowledge to use said machine, but it takes a lot of skill to make a handmade pen. That said, I reckon the machine does most of the work anyway.

[Algester]

another note Japan has and probably stay as the stationery capital of the world... and I think they know about it hence most of the stationery innovation starts in Japan

well anything besides the weirder things that may pop out of Japan every so often...

Edited January 6, 2015 by Algester

[KBeezie]

Inexpensive and pretty much great out of the box, I don't think I've ever had a Japanese pen (not even a used one from the 70s) that required adjusting the flow or the nib out of the box. Where as most of the western and chinese pens I've gotten required some minor adjustment at the very least. I get more consistent quality out of $3 Pilot Petits.

[ProfMS]

Very good quality, write out of the box without a need for tuning, vast choice of nibs, their extra fine nibs are finer than the American or European equivalent and have better flow. Some of them, like the Nakaya Urushi are a visual and tactile delight.

[rutherfordr]

I agree -- the three reasons I like Japanese fountain pens are quality, quality, and quality.

 

I'll bet that, a hundred years from now, people will be saying, "the best vintage fountain pens you can get are the Japanese models from the turn of the 21st century!"

[RitchieMac]

Value for money, quality control. Many nib options, when most Western manufacturers are trimming their nib offerings.

 

And the Japanese inks ...

[Kevan]

I could write a post long enough to qualify as a monograph, but I'll just say that it boils down to two things: nibs and value for money.

 

Quite simply, some of the offerings from Japan make the pricing of European models look silly by comparison. Sure there are really expensive options from Nakaya and Namiki, etc...but in general, great value for money. And Smooooooth nibs, with great nib selection.

[Kuhataparunks]

I use them for their finer nibs: Pilot's PO and EF nibs, and Platinum's UEF

[WaskiSquirrel]

The Japanese pens I've used are high quality and generally good at disappearing into my hand when I write. I forget that I'm using a pen when I write with them. They don't attract attention.

 

There are some more artistic Japanese pens like the Nakayas or high-end Platinum or PIlot pens. These are more showy, but I don't own one, so nobody should take my comments as referring to those.

[shedberg]

Definitely quality control. My first "expensive" pen was a Parker Sonnet, and it was awful. I've had only amazing experiences with Pilot and Platinum pens.

 

Sailor, on the other hand... errr...

[tinta]

Japanese pen manufacturers still make their own nibs. In the mid price range you get good value for your money.

My eight Sailors have been comfortable to use & very reliable. The same can be said for my inexpensive & cheery Pilot 78Gs.

The Japanese also make exquisite one-of-a-kind writing instruments for collectors & folks with deep pockets.

[Tinjapan]

Definitely quality control. My first "expensive" pen was a Parker Sonnet, and it was awful. I've had only amazing experiences with Pilot and Platinum pens.

 

Sailor, on the other hand... errr...

I use Pilot, Platinum and Sailor pens and have had no problem with any. You have had problems with Sailor, I gather?

[______Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

The nibs, especially because they know what An Extra Fine means.

[fabri00]

I own several japanese fp and I agree the quality is very high, in particular considering medium/low price rangr.

 

But......design is very flat: take 3/4 of the platinum sailor and pilot models, and those are just cigar shaped pens, sometime a bit more rounded, sometime a bit more pointed.

 

Fillling: 90% is just cartridge/converter. Very few offers some more "emotional" filling system.

 

For my opinion japanese pens offers the same great quality of other japanese products.

like watches: what you could complain to a seiko ?

Or cars: all of them are perfect, but flat for many aspects.

 

If someone want perfect products fairly priced, no better alternatives than japanese pens of producs.

 

But this is far from say that japanese pens or products are on top of others.

 

it only depend from what aspects are taken in to account.

[shedberg]

I use Pilot, Platinum and Sailor pens and have had no problem with any. You have had problems with Sailor, I gather?

 

Yeah... I really don't like the nib on my Sailor 1911L. I should probably send it to a nibmeister to have it looked at, but I am at the point where I just don't care anymore. That pen has been one brutal experience after another, from the day I ordered it. I'm so happy with my Platinum and Pilot pens that I'll never, ever use a Sailor pen again.

[Jeff_H]

I love the quality you get for a reasonable price and the selection of nibs. My first two Japanese pens were Sailors from nibs.com. Both wrote like a dream, especially my Naginata-Togi. Then, I ordered a Sailor from Engeika and the nib was awful, just awful. Sent it back and upgraded to another Naginata-Togi. That one stunk right out of the box too. That one is on it's way to a nibmeister now. Maybe I just got unlucky, but I'll buy my Sailors from nibs.com from now on.

 

My Pilots on the other hand, have all been dead perfect out of the box. Especially my Custom 823.

 

Most of the mid level Japanese pens (say $250 and under) aren't going to win any design innovation awards, but you get a classically styled pen with a nib made in house that will likely be perfect out of the box.

[Albinoni]

Definitely quality control. My first "expensive" pen was a Parker Sonnet, and it was awful. I've had only amazing experiences with Pilot and Platinum pens.

 

Sailor, on the other hand... errr...

Why don't you like Sailor I thought they're meant to be very good