Namiki Yukari Royale Lioness and Cubs

Namiki discontinued Yukari Royale Chrysanthemum Dew, and launched the Lioness and Cubs.

PILOT 1OOth ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION EMPORER FUJI FOUNTAIN PEN

November 15 2018, Pilot Japan official released their 100th Anniversary Limited Edition Emporer fountain pen.

I was taken by surprise by the Mt. Fuji design of this limited edition emperor fountain pen. Unlike other brands, Pilot decided not to do a Phoenix or some general design which other brands did in the past to commemorate their 100th anniversary.

While some collectors feel that it is a boring, and not a fresh idea or design, I feel it is an excellent choice.

PILOT CAPLESS LIMITED EDITION 2016

Pilot Capless Limited Edition will be launched in September 2016.

Pilot move away from their transition of launching the special color for their limited edition. The 2016 Limited Edition barrel is made from resin with barleycorn pattern (guilloche technique) engraved.

It look similar to the Pilot Justus 95, except this is a Pilot Capless.

There is a divided option about beauty of the Capless/Vanishing point Limited Edition 2016.

Honestly, I am not excited about Pilot vanishing point limited edition 2016.

NAMIKI WHITE TIGER LIMITED EDITION

During the Pilot Pen Clinic 2016, one of the rare pen that was display was the Namiki White Tiger limited edition. It was hand painted by the retired maki-e grand master Kyusai Yoshida.

The Namiki White Tiger was launched in 1996 for the U.S. market.

Namiki Limited Edition 2016 Manekineko 招き猫

Coming October 2016, Namiki will launched their annual limited edition. The most look forward maki-e pen by most maki-e pen collection.

This year, Namiki pays homage to the legend of the beckoning cat (招き猫). A perfect theme for this looming economic period.

The fortune cat (Maneki Neko) on the cap is white with its right paw raised, which it will bring the owner happiness, purity and many positive things to come.

The other maneki neko is on the pen barrel is gold with left paw raised, which will invite many customers, wealth and prosperity.

This beautiful Namiki emporer maki-e pen is hand crafted by artisan Masaru Hayahi.

The Namiki Limited Edition 2016 Manekineko will be limited to 99 pieces, and each pen will individually number.

Pilot Singapore Pen Clinic

Pilot Singapore invited Atushi Takizawa, Namiki’s Nib Specialist from Japan, to Singapore for Pilot Pens Clinic. The pen clinic will be host at our Singapore three big Namiki pens retailers.

In conjunction with this event, Fook Hing Trading will show case some of the rare Pilot Capless/Vanishing Point, as well as others rare Pilot vintage pens such Justus, Ultra 500, Elite and others, as well as rare Dunhill/Namiki limited edition makie pens.

The Pilot Capless Limited Edition 2016 will also be on display at all the three retailers during this event.

The Fook Hing Trading rare Pilot pens display will be from July 27 to July 29.

NAMIKI YUKARI ROYAL CHINKIN CAT & ROOSTER FOUNTAIN PEN

Namiki launched two Yukari Royal chinkin fountain pens this month (March 2016).

These two chinkin fountain pens are crafted by the same artisan, Yasuji Sumi-san, who crafted the Emperor chinkin Tiger and Peony.


The cat is a very popular theme for chinkin artisan. Sailor released 3 chinkin fountain pens in limited edition back in 2009.

The Namiki chinkin cat uses the same technique as the Chinkin Tiger and Peony - Tenbori (also know as the dot carving technique)

The Namiki Yukari Royale Chinkin is now available locally in Singapore.

ALERT: STOLEN NAMIKI LIMITED EDITION PENS

On Oct 15 2015, it is a sad day for a lot of us.

Three (3) Namiki limited edition pens were stolen from Aesthetic Bay.

If someone offer you any of the following pen, please inform Aesthetic Bay  or report them to the police.

1. Namiki Limited Edition Emperor Setsugekka Fountain Pen #63/99
2. Namiki Limited Edition Emperor Polar Bear Fountain Pen #94/99
3. Namiki Limited Edition Yukari Royale Nyoutan Namazu (CatFish) #198/200

The box and certificates are with Aesthetic Bay.

Pilot Japan and Singapore were notified. These pens are number registered as stolen items in their archive.

A police report was made last week.

If you have any information on these pens, please contact Aesthetic Bay.

Picture above taken from Aesthetic Bay fb.

Namiki Kabuto Limited Edition 2015 - Kabuto

I am very  glad that Pilot/Namiki decided to launch their Limited Edition 2015 in Yakuri size. It mean "soft landing" on my pocket. At least for me, I view it as Pilot/Namiki understood that the collectors "pain" during this weak market and appreciate our support in the past and would like the collectors to continue with their maki-e pen collection.

The Namiki Limited Edition 2015 Kabuto landed yesterday. It is limited to 170 pieces worldwide. It is now available locally now. I have collected mine. Have you?

Here are a few pictures of this beautiful pen for your viewing pleasure.

NAMIKI YUKARI CHINKIN FOUNTAIN PEN

The maki-e collectors and lovers are in for a treat. Namiki launched Yukari Chinkin fountain pens collection this month (November 2014).

All four design are the most popular among the maki-e collectors and lovers. The are the silver grass (SUSUKI), pine Tree (Matsu), cherry blossoms(Sakura) and my favor cranes (Tsuru).

Namiki Limited Edition Hina Dolls

Namiki will be launching a pair of Yukari Royal fountain pens for their 2014 limited edition.

Makie master Mamoru Wakabayashi painted the the hina dolls, Obirna (Prince Doll) and Mebirna (Princess Doll).

I managed to take a few pictures at the mini Namiki Exhitbition here in Singapore to promote maki-e art.

The Obirna (Prince Doll) is painted on a black Yukari Royal pen.

Namiki Yukari Sekitei (石亭) Fountain Pen

The Namiki Yukari Seitei (石亭) is another new Yukari size maki-e fountain pen launched by Pilot in November together with Namiki Yukari Matsuba (Pine Needle) Maki-e Fountain Pen.

This new range of Namiki Yukari has a very different themes as compare to those launched by Namiki a few years back. The idea and theme are new.

Namiki Yukari Matsuba (Pine Needle) Maki-e Fountain Pen

Namiki launched three unsigned maki-e fountain pen this month. The maki-e fountain pen posted here is called Matsuba, which translated as Pine Needle.

Namiki Maki-e Vanishing Point Kagimonyou and Nanten

Namiki launched two maki-e vanishing point fountain pens using hira maki-e technique. They are Kagimonyou (Key Pattern Wave) and Nanten (Heavenly Bamboo).

Here is a few picture of the latest and hotest maki-e pens.

Rumours, Rumours Pilot 95th Anniversary Limited Edition

Pilot Japan launched their 95th Anniversary this month, and it will be available locally in October. Every year, Singapore are allocated very limited pieces.

Do make early reservation soon to avoid disappointment. 

NAMIKI YUKARI ROYAL PARROT WITH PEACH

The Namiki Yukari Royal Parrot with Peach is the latest additional to Namiki Yukari Royal range.

This is another fine piece of maki-e art completed by Namiki artisan Masaru-san. It deserve a place in all maki-e pens or art collectors pen cases.

This Namiki Yukari Royal Parrot with Peach is the most colorful and attractive maki-e artwork painted by Namiki artisans.

this is an excellent  theme for a pen. Both the parrot (鹦鹉) and peach are consider symbols of good omen in the Chinese and Japanese cultures.

Rumours, Rumours Namiki Kachimushi (Dragonfly) Limited Edition 2013

This year (2013), Namiki Annual Limited Edition will be available in April. The theme is our favor insect Kachimushi. Kachimishi is an ancient word for Dragonfly.

In Asia, the dragonfly symbolizes summer and autumn and am admired and respected all over, so much so that the Samurai use it as a symbol of power, agility and best of all, Victory.

It is also also associate with prosperity, harmony and as a good luck charm.

The Namiki Kachimushi Dragonfly Limited Edition is limited to 150 individually numbered worldwide. It will be available locally from April 2013.

 

Namiki Vanishing Point Minamo Raden Edition

Recently, Namiki launched Minamo raden and Stripe raden maki-e Vanishing point. The pictures shown is the Minamo raden maki-e vanishing point. This is not a limited edition.

With this new raden maki-e vanishing point, it make the first raden maki-e a good collector value from price point perspective.

I think the Minamo raden is the nicer of the two.

Namiki Zodiac Dragon

We are three weeks away before the Year of Dragon come to an end. I thought it will be a good idea to look a "forgotten" Namiki Zodiac Dragon.

In the pictures, I have taken pictures of the two Namiki Zodiac Dragon fountain pens. If you notice, the new Namiki Zodiac fountain pens are the first sign of Namiki changes their design.

The maki-e design on the pen barrel will be the main theme, and the cap would be a "matching" flowers.

I think Namiki changes their approach for three reasons. Firstly, I think this is to make the design less complex. Secondly, it is to increase the productivity of the maki-e artisan.

Namiki Emporer Kylin 麒麟

The Qilin or Kylin (麒麟) is a mythical East Asia creature and one of the important mythological animals. It is believe that the Qilin bring prosperity, serenity, and male offspring

It is also believe that is will appear with the imminent or passing of a wise sage or an illustrious ruler.

Kirin is sometimes listed as one of the four noble animals, along with the Chinese dragon, phoenix and tortoise - instead of the tiger. Like all great rulers, the Chinese believe Qilin is always lonely

It is believe Kylin As a rule this animal is depicted having a few horns, green and blue scaly skin, hooves of a deer, the head of a dragon and a bear's tail.

The appearance and desciption of Qilin/Kirin (麒麟) has change over time.

 It is believed that the original appearance Kirin have the head of a fragon, a body of a tiger, with green and blue scaly skin and a bear's tail due to culture different in the China dynasties, and different culture in Japan and Korea.
One of the believe the Qilin appearance is giraffe like, and giraffe is the modem version of the Qilin which might have the magical power of the kirin.

This may becuase the giraffe has horn-like "ossicones" on its head.

Do you know that the giraffe is called kirin (기린) by the Koreans and kirin (キリン) by the Japanese?

Namiki Emporer is the third Kirin maki-e pens we come acorss. The first two was launched by Dani-Trio and Sailor.