5 cents from urushi pens maker
1) urushi art/craft originates from China (like many other thing we associate with Japan, from some types of woodworking to tea).
2) many techniques (including carving) also were adopted from China
3) urushi/lacquer is used for hundreds of years in China, Vientam, Korea, Indinesia etc. each country with some local twists
4) urushi on fountain pens is pretty young compared to urushi craft. Just 100yo. That brings us to fountain pens themselves - Japan adopted it from West. They did not use metal nibs before, they “copied” them from Western companies and perfected. Are they not worthy?
5) i use some traditional techniques, but also i developed some techniques never seen in Japan.
And last but not least - French wines are not best in the world anymore
Same with restaurants. Same with Japanese steel etc. influence of Japan art in Western are reach xvi century. Same with influence of western art/techniques in Japan. And I find it very exciting.
I do not offer “Japanese urushi pens”. I am proud to tag my posts with “Warsaw, Poland”. I use Japanese and chinese urushi, Japanese and german ebonite, Italian silk threads, Japanese and Polish brushes, Polish rapeseed. And I write in English. And I have tons on fun and satisfaction doing it.
Michał
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