What Namiki

[deuter]

These seem to be very confusing, unsure what's worth what.

Keen to know what is usually recommended, I know Emperor is the flagship however its way out of my budget.

Looking to learn more about the brand and its offering rather than advise such as buy this one now.

[mke]

google for information - there is enough basic information

 

https://www.pilot-namiki.com/en/about/history.html

https://www.pilot.co.jp/100th/en/history/

https://www.iguanasell.com/blogs/news/namiki-history

https://www.pilot.co.jp/100th/en/story/dunhill.html

 

 

There is no cheap Namiki - even used, they start above $1000. Rarely, you find one below.

https://chatterleyluxuries.com/product-category/pens-2/pilotnamiki/

 

 

[mke]

For people like us exists a poorman Namiki: 

 

[deuter]

24 minutes ago, mke said:

google for information - there is enough basic information

 

https://www.pilot-namiki.com/en/about/history.html

https://www.pilot.co.jp/100th/en/history/

https://www.iguanasell.com/blogs/news/namiki-history

https://www.pilot.co.jp/100th/en/story/dunhill.html

 

 

There is no cheap Namiki - even used, they start above $1000. Rarely, you find one below.

https://chatterleyluxuries.com/product-category/pens-2/pilotnamiki/

 

 

We have some on sale the Nipon ones for $700 AUD. That's cheap isn't it for a Namiki?

[XYZZY]

https://www.pilot-namiki.com/en/  will give you a good idea of current offerings.  A neat part is they have 360-degree images so you can spin the pen to see the full maki-e artwork.

 

I'll take a crack at a model overview.  I'm assuming from the sort of questions you have been asking on FPN that you're more interested in the current pens, and not company history or vintage pens.  I don't have better links to offer than what @mke has already shared.

 

Today, Namiki is the prestige brand offered by Pilot.  Apparently they used to offer more models, like Vanishing Points, but as far as I know they are now much more limited.  I don't know whether by coincidence or official company policy, but all the Namiki pens today appear to involve urushi.  Some plain (i.e. all black or all vermillion), some maki-e. 

 

Note that the size 50 and 20 nibs of the Emperor and Yukari Royale pens are only available on Namiki pens, whereas the others (size 10, 30) are similar to what you'll find with Pilot, although I think all from Namiki are 18k.  Whereas Pilot's gold nibs are generally 14k, although the size 30, and size 15 of the Custom 745 are 18k.  Of course the design stamped into the nib will say Namiki, not Pilot, but the overall shape is similar enough that I expect that if they aren't stamped on the same machines then they're at least stamped with similar dice.

* Emperor.  There are plain and maki-e versions, all are urushi over an ebonite core.  Cigar and squared shape (latter only for maki-e).  The big number 50 nib, plain on the plain pens, but plated or bi-color on the maki-e.  Currently only FM, M, and B nibs, but I think others have been made in the past.  They are "Japanese eye-dropper" pens: filled like any eye-dropper, but with a shut-off valve to shut off flow of ink to the nib.  The execution of the knob for the valve is absolutely gorgeous: when closed the seam is so well executed that you won't see it. It's my personal favorite part of the design, even though I think the shut-off valve has no practical value.

 

* Yukari Royale:  like a smaller Emperor, but...   urushi on brass (so more heft), and they use the Pilot cartridge/converter system.  I think they all come with a CON-70 converter.  The size 20 nib is the same overall geometry as the size 50, just smaller.

 

* Aya:  these are pretty new, introduced in the last couple of years.  My take:  Somebody at Namiki fell in love with the number 30 nib from the Pilot Custom Urushi and designed a pen around it.  Squared ends on the body, maki-e on ebonite, cartridge-converter.  There are no plain versions, instead they all have a similar abstract maki-e design.

 

There are also Yukari and Nippon Art pens built around a size 10 nib.  It seems odd that there aren't size 15 Namiki pens, perhaps I'm just missing them?  I don't know much about these models: they are less discussed here, and I personally I haven't had enough interest in them to seek out information.

[XYZZY]

7 minutes ago, deuter said:

We have some on sale the Nipon ones for $700 AUD. That's cheap isn't it for a Namiki?

Goulet Pens has Namiki "Nippon Art" pens for $800 USD, so under $1000, yet a lot more than $700AUD.

 

Another thing I forgot to mention:  Namiki seems to do a better job of preventing online discount retailers than Pilot.  I don't see them on Amazon, or rakuten.co.jp.  On eBay a Namiki is almost always used.  Common wisdom for expensive Pilot pens is to buy them direct from Japan, and I'm sure that can be done for Namiki, but I don't know how.  I don't even know what the going price is for an Emperor in Japan.

[deuter]

1 minute ago, XYZZY said:

Goulet Pens has Namiki "Nippon Art" pens for $800 USD, so under $1000, yet a lot more than $700AUD.

 

Another thing I forgot to mention:  Namiki seems to do a better job of preventing online discount retailers than Pilot.  I don't see them on Amazon, or rakuten.co.jp.  Common wisdom for expensive Pilot pens is to buy them direct from Japan, and I'm sure that can be done for Namiki, but I don't know how.  I don't even know what the going price is for an Emperor in Japan.

Hopefully someone can find out for us.

[K Singh]

58 minutes ago, mke said:

For people like us exists a poorman Namiki: 

 

This was custom-made by a friend years ago. It's a Guider pen which I have upgraded with Kanwrite BBB nib. Just sharing for info 🙂 

 

If someone wants to experience a giant nib pen on a budget, I think Kanwrite Mammoth is a good option. Priced at approx 72$, it comes with a #9 steel nib(45mm length which is bigger than the Emperor) and 9mm feed.

 

Of course, nothing can beat the Emperor. Hope to add it to my collection someday.

 

 

[mke]

53 minutes ago, deuter said:

Nipon ones for $700 AUD

Namiki Nippon Art for 774 AUD on Iguana - but not all, only a few.

[Paul-in-SF]

1 hour ago, XYZZY said:

Aya:  these are pretty new, introduced in the last couple of years.  My take:  Somebody at Namiki fell in love with the number 30 nib from the Pilot Custom Urushi and designed a pen around it.

Well, I thought, this is exactly what I've been hoping for. My Custom Urushi is a big fat beautiful pen, but black (could have been red, but I already had a Custom 845 in red) and a trifle staid and boring. But I love the nib, and would like one in a different pen. But holy stinker, not at that price ($3400 at Goulet). So if I do go to Japan for the pen show in November, I may be trying to see what the local price for an Aya is, and splurge. 

[XYZZY]

33 minutes ago, Paul-in-SF said:

Well, I thought, this is exactly what I've been hoping for. My Custom Urushi is a big fat beautiful pen, but black (could have been red, but I already had a Custom 845 in red) and a trifle staid and boring. But I love the nib, and would like one in a different pen. But holy stinker, not at that price ($3400 at Goulet). So if I do go to Japan for the pen show in November, I may be trying to see what the local price for an Aya is, and splurge. 

Yeah, the Aya price is just dumb here.  I think they should drop the price of the Custom Urushi, then make a simpler Namiki around the #30 nib.

 

I'm curious what the Aya is typically priced at in Japan, too. 

[Penguincollector]

  As an aside, I bought my Namiki Nippon Art Origami Penguin from Cult Pens in the UK on Fountain Pen Day last year for under $450. If there is one you end up having your eye on in the future, check their stock and buy on FPD. Shipping is free after a certain amount, and they carry a ton of Diamine for excellent prices. There is also Tokyo Pen Quill Shop in Japan. 

[Paul-in-SF]

1 hour ago, Penguincollector said:

There is also Tokyo Pen Quill Shop in Japan. 

I am confused about this shop. When I look at their online store, they seem to have only two pen models, the Pilot Custom 823 and the Custom 845. On their About Us page they show photos also of the Emperor and Custom 743, but those don't show up on the Goods page. In any case, only 4 models of pens, at best? Am I missing something?

[Penguincollector]

3 hours ago, Paul-in-SF said:

I am confused about this shop. When I look at their online store, they seem to have only two pen models, the Pilot Custom 823 and the Custom 845. On their About Us page they show photos also of the Emperor and Custom 743, but those don't show up on the Goods page. In any case, only 4 models of pens, at best? Am I missing something?

  I think they have the ability to order from Pilot/Namiki directly and you communicate via email in regards to what pen you want. It’s a bit slow, but prices are reasonable.

[deuter]

6 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

  I think they have the ability to order from Pilot/Namiki directly and you communicate via email in regards to what pen you want. It’s a bit slow, but prices are reasonable.

Cool, do you know much about the prices @Penguincollector?

Keen to know what it is.

[Paul-in-SF]

6 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

 I think they have the ability to order from Pilot/Namiki directly and you communicate via email in regards to what pen you want. It’s a bit slow, but prices are reasonable.

Not if one is to believe their "how to order" page: 

"Please copy the product data from the goods page and paste on the order sheet, then press the send button."

So if it is not on the goods page, I don't know how one would order it. And there are only two pen models on the goods page. I would be happy to find out that my surmise is wrong, if there is something I have missed on their site. 

[Linger]

They use Japan Domestic Market prices (the normal/undiscounted RRP) and invoice in JPY. Referring to earlier posts - email them and ask.

[deuter]

I emailed them, let’s see if they respond.

[Number99]

2 hours ago, deuter said:

I emailed them, let’s see if they respond.

According to recent postings on FPN, it takes quite a while to receive a reply.

( I have read a post about it recently, but have lost track of the thread…)

Due to the destruction of Wajima City caused by the earthquake, maki-e products may be difficult to obtain.

 

Announcement from Pilot Corporation in February of this year.

https://www.pilot.co.jp/information/01/2024/02/14/6.html

 

On 5/23/2024 at 5:21 AM, Penguincollector said:

they have the ability to order from Pilot/Namiki directly

Agree.

Their physical store is Asahiya Paper & Stationery Store (アサヒヤ紙文具店) and is listed as an authorized dealer on the Namiki website.

 

Edited May 25, 2024 by Number99
Add links.

[penwarrior32]

On 5/22/2024 at 11:06 AM, XYZZY said:

Goulet Pens has Namiki "Nippon Art" pens for $800 USD, so under $1000, yet a lot more than $700AUD.

 

Another thing I forgot to mention:  Namiki seems to do a better job of preventing online discount retailers than Pilot.  I don't see them on Amazon, or rakuten.co.jp.  On eBay a Namiki is almost always used.  Common wisdom for expensive Pilot pens is to buy them direct from Japan, and I'm sure that can be done for Namiki, but I don't know how.  I don't even know what the going price is for an Emperor in Japan.

Fly to japan ans you will be surprised how much is each namiki. 50% of your normal retail that you see.