About my first Nakaya (purchased in March 2008)

[ethernautrix]

I'm immersed in the massive Notebook Declutter Project, currently working my way through 2009, and I came across some notes about my APART effort: Autumn Pen Assessment and Relocation Tribulation. (I'm saying Tribulation now; I haven't come across what the "T" meant back then.)

Here's what I wrote on October 24, 2009:

Probably I will want another Danitrio. Just cos I like them. I'm not fond of Nakaya, but they're the only ones with that lovely heki-tamenuri finish. I'm wondering if I could give the [solid black] Nakaya Piccolo Cigar to someone. It has my name on it, though, in kanji and katakana. It's a pretty pen, yes, but I'm not going to use it. I just know it.

I bought that NPC at the end of March or April 2008, but it wasn't until the 2010 LA Pen Show that I swapped the nib for a firm M at Mottishaw's table (it was $50 or $20, I don't remember -- and haven't gotten to the 2010 notebooks, *laugh-sigh*). It was only after having the proper nib that I really began to enjoy writing with that pen sees much use; is, in fact, inked currently and has been for at least a half-year.

Never bought another Danitrio. Went through thousands of dollars of fountain pens, many of which I no longer have, but I still have and use my first Nakaya, along with six more Nakayas (although I've had more but had to adjust according to super secret pen-fancy algorithms that I don't quite understand).

I laughed out loud, scaring the dog, when I read, "I'm not going to use it. I just know it."

So, anyone else have a prolonged engagement with Nakaya before the Nakaya Magic sank in?

[inklord]

Great story - thanks for sharing. Love Nakaya pens, from a distance, since I have none so far.

[jackokun]

When I look back at what I said or what I have written, more times than none I'm "impressed" with myself, :dance3::facepalm:

[whichwatch]

Great story. My experience was actually quite the opposite. After reading so much about the Nakaya magic, I was interested enough to stop by John Mottishaw's table at the LA Pen Show a couple of years ago. Sure, I have to try one of those. Next thing I knew.... well, the pictures tell the story.

I recently had to buy a special place to house my Nakayas

http://www.fototime.com/%7B4AEE3011-D438-4753-9707-9D1EA4A05607%7D/origpict/N1.JPG

Hmmm.... they did seem to multiply from that first one

http://www.fototime.com/%7B6A6B2DCB-55ED-4287-B7E7-FD48AEA940C0%7D/origpict/N2.JPG

Portable Writers in Kuro, Aka, and now discontinued Ao Tamenuri. Aka was my favorite color - until I saw that Ao!

http://www.fototime.com/%7BC477CEF9-3B32-402E-945E-C4679CE457AE%7D/origpict/N3.JPG

Naka Ais in Heki, Aka, and Mottishaw's recent LE Anniversary pen in Olive Tamenuri

http://www.fototime.com/%7BEBDA1FB5-1B29-4633-9409-DF3E8E64E4AB%7D/origpict/N4.JPG

And a Neo Standard in Ishime Kanshitsu

http://www.fototime.com/%7BAAABE90B-4067-46E3-B284-DC07ED9B6B94%7D/origpict/N5.JPG

Now if I could just find one of those Shiro Tamenuris!

[jar]

I've been asked several times how I could possibly us my Piccolo, since it is so tiny. Then they capped their Esterbrook "J" and wandered away.

[Crazyorange]

Great story. My experience was actually quite the opposite. After reading so much about the Nakaya magic, I was interested enough to stop by John Mottishaw's table at the LA Pen Show a couple of years ago. Sure, I have to try one of those. Next thing I knew.... well, the pictures tell the story.

I recently had to buy a special place to house my Nakayas

http://www.fototime.com/%7B4AEE3011-D438-4753-9707-9D1EA4A05607%7D/origpict/N1.JPG

Hmmm.... they did seem to multiply from that first one

http://www.fototime.com/%7B6A6B2DCB-55ED-4287-B7E7-FD48AEA940C0%7D/origpict/N2.JPG

Portable Writers in Kuro, Aka, and now discontinued Ao Tamenuri. Aka was my favorite color - until I saw that Ao!

http://www.fototime.com/%7BC477CEF9-3B32-402E-945E-C4679CE457AE%7D/origpict/N3.JPG

Naka Ais in Heki, Aka, and Mottishaw's recent LE Anniversary pen in Olive Tamenuri

http://www.fototime.com/%7BEBDA1FB5-1B29-4633-9409-DF3E8E64E4AB%7D/origpict/N4.JPG

And a Neo Standard in Ishime Kanshitsu

http://www.fototime.com/%7BAAABE90B-4067-46E3-B284-DC07ED9B6B94%7D/origpict/N5.JPG

Now if I could just find one of those Shiro Tamenuris!

Ssswwweeettt! Outstanding collection of beauties. [emoji7]

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I'm still on "Not going to use it" in reference to a Nakaya. And, yet, two weeks ago I purchased a Visconti Homo Sapiens. Were it new, it would be a more expensive pen than the Nakaya. I'm loving it right now.

In honesty, the pen was cheaper than a Nakaya because I bought it new. But, what it did is get me thinking about the expensive pens I lust after. I'm thinking about the Nakaya again and another expensive pen (Pelikan m800). I can actually afford one or the other within that fund. But, I'm going to enjoy my Visconti for a few months until that lust dies down. But, the Visconti did answer the question: I will use it, even if it's expensive.

So, there may be a Nakaya or other expensive pen entering my life some time this year.

[Miss Fountain Pen]

Now if I could just find one of those Shiro Tamenuris!

You may have seen this already, but according to the Nakaya Availability Chart (http://nibs.com/Nakaya-Availability-Chart.html), nibs.com currently has a piccolo writer in shiro-tamenuri in stock.

[fountainpagan]

Great story. My experience was actually quite the opposite. After reading so much about the Nakaya magic, I was interested enough to stop by John Mottishaw's table at the LA Pen Show a couple of years ago. Sure, I have to try one of those. Next thing I knew.... well, the pictures tell the story.

I recently had to buy a special place to house my Nakayas

http://www.fototime.com/%7B4AEE3011-D438-4753-9707-9D1EA4A05607%7D/origpict/N1.JPG

Portable Writers in Kuro, Aka, and now discontinued Ao Tamenuri. Aka was my favorite color - until I saw that Ao!

http://www.fototime.com/%7BC477CEF9-3B32-402E-945E-C4679CE457AE%7D/origpict/N3.JPG


Hmmm.... they did seem to multiply from that first one

That Ao Tanemuri is a beauty. would it be possible to have a closer look at it, please (uncapped, etc)? And the Nakaya "house" is a beauty. Congratulations.

Ethernautix, that is a nice story. Thank you for sharing.

I have been admiring Nakaya from a distance, for some time, now. I do not own any, yet.

[whichwatch]

That Ao Tanemuri is a beauty. would it be possible to have a closer look at it, please (uncapped, etc)? And the Nakaya "house" is a beauty. Congratulations.





Sure - and thanks for the nice comment. Here is the Ao Tamenuri, though I have trouble capturing the true color with an I Phone

http://www.fototime.com/%7B1EBFD66C-C8BD-4B1B-855D-F27A6283ED0E%7D/origpict/A1.JPG

http://www.fototime.com/%7B8B8570B1-28D6-40C5-AF06-A5AEBB77C5DD%7D/origpict/A2.JPG

http://www.fototime.com/%7B791A15D5-0862-4553-B4F4-00A33519D28B%7D/origpict/A3.JPG

[jar]

That Ao Tanemuri is a beauty. would it be possible to have a closer look at it, please (uncapped, etc)? And the Nakaya "house" is a beauty. Congratulations.





Sure - and thanks for the nice comment. Here is the Ao Tamenuri, though I have trouble capturing the true color with an I Phone



I have a Platinum Izumo Soratamenuri (I know, probably should be midori but Platinum says Sora) that is similar and have the same problems capturing the true color even with a real camera.


http://www.fototime.com/ABD0905B7FCB1F7/large.jpg

[Nineninenine]

Whichwatch, that box is gorgeous! Just perfect.

[ethernautrix]

As I recall, the shorter length of the Piccolo took a very short acclimating period. I noticed it a couple of times, and then I didn't.

Of the seven Nakayas I have, five are Piccolos. It's my favorite model.

EDIT: OOPS! This was in reply to jar.

[ethernautrix]

Great story. My experience was actually quite the opposite. After reading so much about the Nakaya magic, I was interested enough to stop by John Mottishaw's table at the LA Pen Show a couple of years ago. Sure, I have to try one of those. Next thing I knew.... well, the pictures tell the story.

I recently had to buy a special place to house my Nakayas

http://www.fototime.com/%7B4AEE3011-D438-4753-9707-9D1EA4A05607%7D/origpict/N1.JPG


Now if I could just find one of those Shiro Tamenuris!

What a gorgeous house for your Nakayas!

I have a shiro tamenuri, Negoro-style, the one that sometimes elicits the puzzled question: "Is it... broken?"

Nope! Those flaws cost extra!

[ethernautrix]

It's unfortunate you're not close enough to attend Pen Posse and get a firsthand look at some Nakayas. Or attend one of the pen shows that John Mottishaw works (he goes to only a few and last year he was not at the SF Pen Show).

On the bright side, not getting a Nakaya helps prevent developing a preference for urushi pens which tends to make previously favorite pens slightly less favorite. At least, that's what happened to me, even though it took a couple of years for the preference to take hold.


EDIT: OOPS. This was in reply to Waski. D'oh!

[ethernautrix]

That Ao Tanemuri is a beauty. would it be possible to have a closer look at it, please (uncapped, etc)? And the Nakaya "house" is a beauty. Congratulations.





Sure - and thanks for the nice comment. Here is the Ao Tamenuri, though I have trouble capturing the true color with an I Phone

http://www.fototime.com/%7B791A15D5-0862-4553-B4F4-00A33519D28B%7D/origpict/A3.JPG


I remember when the ao came out. I was soooo tempted. But I heard about the variation, so I figured I'd wait until I could see them at a pen show. And then I entered Pen Reduction mode, or maybe that mode was accelerated, I don't remember, and I never did buy one. Probably cos I wanted a heki first.

[ethernautrix]

I have a Platinum Izumo Soratamenuri (I know, probably should be midori but Platinum says Sora) that is similar and have the same problems capturing the true color even with a real camera.


http://www.fototime.com/ABD0905B7FCB1F7/large.jpg


These pens are also gorgeous.

[dannzeman]

So, anyone else have a prolonged engagement with Nakaya before the Nakaya Magic sank in?

My first Nakaya. I think you may be familiar with it. Though, it didn't take long for the magic to sink in.

[da vinci]

I remember my first Nakaya. Did lots of research then took the opportunity to make a trip to Japan. Visited Itoya and bought! Unfortunately it lives as a souvenir of that trip rather than a user. I have 2 others, the most recent a writer in kikyo blue which is a great pen and is in rotation!

[whichwatch]

Whichwatch, that box is gorgeous! Just perfect.

Thanks. I picked it up at an antique show from a dealer who specializes in Asian antiquities. It is circa 1890's and is actually Chinese, not Japanese, but the motif seemed appropriate for my Nakayas. There are many reproductions of these coming from Viet Nam, but this is an old one and the real thing. It only cost $45, due to some marks in the paint on the bottom of the box. That sort of destroys its value as an antique collectible, but I thought it was a good buy as a pen box.

[whichwatch]

As I recall, the shorter length of the Piccolo took a very short acclimating period. I noticed it a couple of times, and then I didn't.

Of the seven Nakayas I have, five are Piccolos. It's my favorite model.

I've always been afraid a Piccolo would be too small for me. Could you possibly post a picture of one of your Piccolos next to one of your other size Nakayas?

[whichwatch]

I have a Platinum Izumo Soratamenuri (I know, probably should be midori but Platinum says Sora) that is similar and have the same problems capturing the true color even with a real camera.


Beautiful! I didn't realize Izumos came in that color. I have an Izumo Yagumonuri (maki-e) and love the shape and feel in my hand.

[jar]

I have a Platinum Izumo Soratamenuri (I know, probably should be midori but Platinum says Sora) that is similar and have the same problems capturing the true color even with a real camera.


Beautiful! I didn't realize Izumos came in that color. I have an Izumo Yagumonuri (maki-e) and love the shape and feel in my hand.

Thanks. The Piccolo is almost exactly the same lengths capped and uncapped as an Esterbrook "J" but considerably wider at the section and far more comfortable to use.


http://www.fototime.com/6D2FA537CEFE35C/large.jpg

A Piccolo below a portable writer.

[penwash]

Whichwatch, that box is gorgeous! Just perfect.

Thanks. I picked it up at an antique show from a dealer who specializes in Asian antiquities. It is circa 1890's and is actually Chinese, not Japanese, but the motif seemed appropriate for my Nakayas.

Thank you for stating that. I was about to mention it but I am afraid that I'd sound like pouring cold water.

We all know that a lot of cultural artifacts that are now Japanese came from China originally. The Japanese people just make them more ... Sugoi!

[ethernautrix]

So, anyone else have a prolonged engagement with Nakaya before the Nakaya Magic sank in?

My first Nakaya. I think you may be familiar with it. Though, it didn't take long for the magic to sink in.

*Big grin*

I'm so glad you're happy with it. I think my two favorite finishes are the unpolished shu and the kuro tamenuri.

Oo! Seeing your comment reminded me that I have at least one nib that could use your services. The Nakaya nib you smithed (it's in the solid black Piccolo) is a joy to write with.

[ethernautrix]

Whichwatch, that box is gorgeous! Just perfect.

Thanks. I picked it up at an antique show from a dealer who specializes in Asian antiquities. It is circa 1890's and is actually Chinese, not Japanese, but the motif seemed appropriate for my Nakayas. There are many reproductions of these coming from Viet Nam, but this is an old one and the real thing. It only cost $45, due to some marks in the paint on the bottom of the box. That sort of destroys its value as an antique collectible, but I thought it was a good buy as a pen box.


I just remembered a visit to the National Museum in Wrocław a couple of months ago, seeing an exhibition of Japanese art. Among the items were lacquer boxes -- desk sets and charming little boxes. The maki-e work -- was incredibly intricate and gorgeous.

[bleair]

Great story ethernautrix,
Funny how it's the whole package - pen body, looks, and nib that have to come together.

My experience with my first Nakaya was similar. I bought my first Nakaya via online. The person was selling it to raise money after the 2014 Philippines
tsunami. The good cause helped convince it was time to jump into the Nakaya pool. :)

I received the pen, and it looked wonderful, but it had an extra soft nib and I tried on and off for a while to use it, but I never learned to enjoy the extra soft nib.
Then at the 2014 SF pen show I had John Mottishaw swap the nib to a right oblique (85$ for me) and now it's inked all the time for when i want to do broad-edged writing.

There are now three Nakaya in the household (2 portable cigar, 1 portable writer), and I'm sure over time there will be more. :)

[myu]

The nib definitely does make the pen. That's what kept me at bay from buying a Nakaya. For that money, I'd want to write with the pen first. And about the time I'd been looking into Nakaya's I had a rash of bad luck for getting to pen shows (where I'd have a chance at testing some Nakaya pens). I actually met the president and founder of Nakaya back in 2008. He was visiting New York and I was able to meet up with him. He stayed in an extremely modest hotel. Very understated man. But alas, we had a kind of misunderstanding. His presence was a convenience for me to come out and see Nakaya pens first hand. But I think he expected me to buy one. When I didn't extend the intention to buy one of his pens he had on hand prior to our departing, he became very abrupt and barely acknowledged me with a courteous good bye. That experience left me feeling uncomfortable and a bit dismayed with Nakaya.

It's good to see they're still in business and making wonderful artistic pens. I do hope to buy one eventually, once I'm in a better financial situation.

[KBeezie]

I actually traded off my Nakaya (which was my first), mainly two reasons 1) The fine nib while decent wasn't as good as the rest of the fine/extra-fine nibs already in my collection 2) the Piccolo Cigar which isn't a good idea to post, is just borderline too short for my hand, and 3) The nice lustre of glossy urushi while pretty and feels great in the hand makes me paranoid of using it much.

http://i.imgur.com/Pvn7osc.jpg

I still have and plan to keep my Danitrio Mae West (Recession Urushi) with a older Jowo "T" 18K Factory Stub as it feels better in the hand.

Course that's not to say I disliked the Nakaya enough that I sought out to trade it, I just have a reputation of only hanging onto a few select pens. Just between the two handmade Urushi ones I have/had, the Danitrio won over the Nakaya. If I manage to get a Nakaya again, I'd want it at least as long as a Naka-ai, and preferably in one of the Tamenuri finishes (though sadly the Shiro-Tamenuri is discontinued), and probably have the nib professionally tuned first thing.

[myu]

^ Danitrio makes stellar writing instruments. They are the other fountain pen maker I'd considered. I still kick myself for passing on a Wakasa-nuri. Such a gorgeous design and pattern. Someone had one for sale in the classifieds over at FPN back around 2009, and I balked... someone else bought it. It was a good price, too. Now, they're impossible to find. For some reason, the artist who made that particular style retired it... haven't seen any since.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/winedoc/Urushi/tn_DSC06135.jpg

[mandrbeck]

I purchased my first Nakaya on June 30 prior to the July 1 increase. I picked a Neo Standard in Kuro tamenuri finish with a fine nib. When I got the pen, i was in awe of the beauty, but hated the nib. It felt scratchy and uncomfortable. I was disappointed after the buildup of the great and awe-inspiring Nakaya. I called Nibs and asked if I could trade it back to them and try something else. They agreed and I ended up with a Piccolo Ao-tamenuri (I believe they still have some on hand) with a BB stub. The minute I opened that package, it was love at first sight. You cannot capture this finish with a standard camera. You have to see it in person. And the BB stub... wow! I wrote the pen dry after a day without realizing it. It's incredible, so incredible that I ordered 2 more Nakaya's in the past week! A Neo Standard Heki Tamenuri and a Piccolo Aka-Tamenuri. Don't tell my wife! The magic has certainly grabbed me, and my bank account will surely suffer the consequences.

[FredRydr]

Do all Nakaya pens have the same step transition from barrel to section? Looking at John Mottishaw's website, it appears that's the case except for the wood pens.

Fred

[jar]

Do all Nakaya pens have the same step transition from barrel to section? Looking at John Mottishaw's website, it appears that's the case except for the wood pens.

Fred

It varies but the bigger difference is in the length of the section and width of the threads. The Neo Standard has a longer section and more narrow threads but is only a single start thread which translates into more turns to cap or uncap.



Portable on left, Neo Standard on right.
http://www.fototime.com/ACF7DF7233CF037/large.jpg


Piccolo.
http://www.fototime.com/5F778E3B273DC1C/large.jpg


I have never found the step or even the threads to be an issue.

[FredRydr]

Sorry for the confusion. The close-up of the Piccolo shows the transition I write about isn't from barrel to section, but rather is the shape of the barrel. Compare the "clutch cap" model's barrel and section in Mottishaw's photos: http://nibs.com/nakaya-briarwood-black-urushi-light-gloss.htm If only Nakaya produced the latter's cap and barrel with their other finishes.

Fred

[Jon Szanto]

Compare the "clutch cap" model's barrel and section in Mottishaw's photos: http://nibs.com/nakaya-briarwood-black-urushi-light-gloss.htm If only Nakaya produced the latter's cap and barrel with their other finishes.

Fred

Just one problem, Fred: I have nearly the identical model, an all-Briarwood body that Nakaya shares also with Platinum. It is my only Nakaya, and John ground the nib for me. It ended up being a bust, for one issue: the snap cap allows the pen to dry out. Every. Time. And worse than most. I eventually moved the nib into (of all things) a Platinum 3776.

I wish that nib, which I love to write with, was housed in a Nakaya body. Maybe someday I'll find a way to do that.

[jar]

Sorry for the confusion. The close-up of the Piccolo shows the transition I write about isn't from barrel to section, but rather is the shape of the barrel. Compare the "clutch cap" model's barrel and section in Mottishaw's photos: http://nibs.com/nakaya-briarwood-black-urushi-light-gloss.htm If only Nakaya produced the latter's cap and barrel with their other finishes.

Fred

Yes. BUT Wait...there's more...

The reason is that the cap and body of Nakaya pens are built to be a smooth transition. The cap does not fit over the body. The newer examples of the Briar Nakyas I've seen online look like they are also transitioning to the threaded cap model. I have the older slip cap Platinum style and the later threaded cap #3776 Century based pens like the older Nakaya Briar design.



Second and third from top:
http://www.fototime.com/8A4AFFCD49207E0/medium800.jpg


The slip cap model is fine if I use the pen regularly, it will sit overnight and start immediately but if it sits for a few days then it is hard start. Not terrible, just touch to tongue to get started but still annoying.

[FredRydr]

Thanks for the info. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives out there! ;)

Fred

[christof]

The only Nakaya I ever had was a very nice blue Piccolo:

https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5722/23350916346_60859b0190_o.jpg

I like the Piccolo because it's the right size for me. And the surface, finish and color is just a dream...

...but, there are two things which I find disturbing over all:

1. The cap does not post porperly. (This is really a shame!!)
2. There is no inner cap. (Since ca. 1910, at least, pens do have inner caps. Why not modern Nakayas???)

Long story short: I sold my first Nakaya.
C.

[ethernautrix]

Recently, I finally added a kuro-tamenuri Piccolo Cigar. My last Nakaya. No, seriously. What. Shut up. So anyway, I agonized over this purchase. Thought I had to sell a few pens, including the hairline matte black Piccolo Writer (only Writer in the group), which was a hard decision, cos it's connected to a great story. I told myself, I already have a kuro-tamenuri Nakaya. (Desk Pen.) But I WANTED A KURO-TAMENURI PICCOLO! Cos the Piccolo is a better EDC pen than the magic-wand Desk Pen.

I received it a few months ago. AND ended up not having to sell the Writer (yay!). The Piccolo Cigar is my favorite pen model, across all pen makes to my knowledge. And I love the kuro-tamenuri more than I realized. Before I placed the order (directly with Nakaya), I thought, "If only I had bought the kuro-tamenuri Piccolo instead of the solid black Piccolo in 2008, I wouldn't have bought blah blah blah (so many pens)." And then I laughed at myself, cos... right?

Anyway, my Piccolo Team is complete. Today, four of six are inked: Kuro, Unpolished Shu (U.Shu), Heki, and Black (solid black). (Also have two non-Piccolos: the enchanting Desk Pen and the aka-tamenuri Naka-ai.)

All these years, it was the kuro-tamenuri Piccolo Cigar, the one that would have been the Everywhere Everyday Pen. Huh. Funny.

[jar]

Recently, I finally added a kuro-tamenuri Piccolo Cigar. My last Nakaya. No, seriously. What. Shut up. So anyway, I agonized over this purchase. Thought I had to sell a few pens, including the hairline matte black Piccolo Writer (only Writer in the group), which was a hard decision, cos it's connected to a great story. I told myself, I already have a kuro-tamenuri Nakaya. (Desk Pen.) But I WANTED A KURO-TAMENURI PICCOLO! Cos the Piccolo is a better EDC pen than the magic-wand Desk Pen.

I received it a few months ago. AND ended up not having to sell the Writer (yay!). The Piccolo Cigar is my favorite pen model, across all pen makes to my knowledge. And I love the kuro-tamenuri more than I realized. Before I placed the order (directly with Nakaya), I thought, "If only I had bought the kuro-tamenuri Piccolo instead of the solid black Piccolo in 2008, I wouldn't have bought blah blah blah (so many pens)." And then I laughed at myself, cos... right?

Anyway, my Piccolo Team is complete. Today, four of six are inked: Kuro, Unpolished Shu (U.Shu), Heki, and Black (solid black). (Also have two non-Piccolos: the enchanting Desk Pen and the aka-tamenuri Naka-ai.)

All these years, it was the kuro-tamenuri Piccolo Cigar, the one that would have been the Everywhere Everyday Pen. Huh. Funny.

Remember. The last pen you bought is the next to last pen you will ever buy.