Namiki Yukari Royale Lioness and Cubs

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

Pilot Enthronement of Japan New Emperor Commemoration Phoenix Maki-e Limited Edition Fountain Pen

In the past, Pilot Corporation released a limited edition maki-e fountain pen to commemorate Emperor Heisei enthronement ceremony (year 1989).

 This year (2019) Pilot Corporation commemorates the emperor’s enthronement ceremony on May 1, 2019 with a launch of a limited edition of 800 pieces of maki-e fountain pen. The Phoenix ( 鳳凰ほうおう) maki-e fountain pen will be launched on May 24^th, 2019.

The Chinese mythology bird Phoenix motif is hand painted on the pen barrel. A special box is designed for this major event. A ink bottle cap is printed with the letter of the Japan new era “Reiwa” and May 1^st 2019, the original date of the era.

 

Pilot Capless Decimo - An Evergreen Fountain Pen

Pilot iconic capless decimo fountain pens popularity has been steadily increase in the recently years based on the special edition sold out rate. It is getting faster each year.

I have the opportunity to add few to my Pilot Capless Decimo collection.

Above is the Pilot Annual Capless Limited Edition.

From the left
2006 ... Ice Blue
2007 ... Orange
2008 ... Purple
2009 ... Vivid Red
2010 ... Ice Green
2011 ... Pearl Pink
2012 ... Charcoal
2013 ...Maple Wood ... Vanishing Point 50th Anniversary
2014 ... Metallic Copper
2015 ... Twilight Blue
2016 ... Guilloche
2017 ... Crimson Sunrise
2018 ... Crossed Line

Below is a picture of Japan Only edition of Pilot Capless Decimo, except for one in picture. Are you able to spot the fountain pen?

PILOT IROSHUZUKU INK 色彩雫（いろしずく)

Last evening, while shopping for Christmas gift, I picked up a good Pilot Iroshizuku offer at Fook Hing Trading.

Pilot pen Singapore is giving away one piece of Kakuno fountain pen and a Pilot 100th anniversary bear when you purchase a bottle of 50ml of Iroshizuku ink, and a set of 3 15ml Iroshizuku ink.

The availability of the bear is while stock last. Check it out the your local Pilot Pen Singapore authorized retailers for this offer.

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.

Aurora Optima Fine Flex Grey Resin Limited Edition

I was looking for a new pen to accompany me on my Japanese language learning journey. The Aurora Optima nib got my attention while browsing.

The Aurora Optima comes with a fine flex nib. It is suitable for those users who uses fine nib for their daily writing, and want a fountain pen that can flex for some creative drawing or writing.

J.S. Staedtler Inkwell

Is there still a needs or market for ink well?

A very simple Staedtler ink well got my attention in my recent visit to local pen shop. The ink well is not fanciful or well decorated like the Bortoletti Inkwell Cal40.

The beauty of this Staedtler ink well is its simple and symmetry shape of the cube shaped ink well.

It is hand-made using lead crystal with a all metal screw up flat top cap. The cap is decorated with Staedtler Mars head logo. It has a ink capacity of approximately 25ml

I was told this is made in Germany.

This ink well make a good Christmas gift.

PILOT CAPLESS LIMITED EDITION 2017

Back to colour!!!

Pilot Capless Limited Edition 2017 color theme is called Crimson Sunrise. It is excellent blend of orange and red.

Only 2017 pieces will made available. Each pens are individually numbered.

It was launched on September 1. It is now available locally at all authorized Pilot retailers.

Danitrio The Battles of Kawanakajima Makie Fountain Pen

川中島の戦い Kawanakajima no tatakai

This Danitrio makie fountain pen theme Battles of Kawanakajima  bring back some old memory - my favour Samuri movie titled "Heaven and Earth". Do not mistaken this movie with the Hollywood 1993 war movie directed by Oliver Stone, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Joan Chen and Hiep Thu Le.

This block blaster Japanese Heaven and Earth (天と地と, Ten to chi to) was a 1990 film directed by Haruki Kadokawa, starring Enoki Takaaki, Tsugawa Masahiko, Asano Atsuko, Zaizen Naomi and Nomura Hironobu.

The movie is based on the famous fifth battle of the Japanese history Battles of Kawanakajima. They were fought in the Sengoku Period of Japan between Takeda Shingen of Kai Province and Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo Province in the plain of Kawanakajima, "the island between the rivers", in the north of Shinano Province.

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.

PILOT VANISHING POINT KASURI GREEN AND RED

Pilot launched the kasuri green and red capless in rhodium trim fountain pen together with the matt blue with black trim.

The Kasuri green is a one off production colour. If you have not got yours, do get it early to avoid disappointment.

Both kasuri green and red capless is available in Singapore authorized retailers.

PILOT CAPLESS BLUE MATT BLACK TRIM FINISHING

Pilot launched a matt finishing vanishing point in blue with black trimming. The 14K gold nib is in black finishing too. It comes in the standard nib size of F, M, B and stub.

It is available in Singapore authorized retailers now.

SAILOR ARITA 400TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION - KORANSHA SOMENISHIKI YUKENNOZU

After 4 months wait, the Arita 400th years anniversary special edition pens are finally available locally in Singapore.

Sailor launched 8 designs to commemorate their 400th year anniversary. Koransha and Gen'enmon Kiln each has 4 designs under them.

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.

MONTBLANC CHINESE ZODIACS MONKEY LIMITED EDITION

Recently, Mont Blanc launched the Chinese zodiacs monkey limited edition pen. At least for me, this is not an interesting theme as I already has a few zodiacs theme pens. Namiki, Montegrappa and Cross are two of pen manufacturer who has launched two series of such theme pens in the past.

Caran d'Ache also launched such pens during the Year of the Dragon.

While it is not an interesting theme for me, it is for a lot of Mont Blanc fan. I am not sure if Mont Blanc will launched one pen a year, just like Caran d'Arche, or a one off ... test the market

The sales executive at the boutique has no comment when asked.

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.