exPENsivePhotography

2019

Piccolo-Long, Toki-Tamenuri

I had been looking for a Nakaya Piccolo-Long (Long-Piccolo?) for quite some time, having always appreciated the small chubby aesthetics of the regular Piccolo.  But having purchased and sold two over the past 5 years (one Aka-tamenuri, one Ama-iro), I always found the size prohibitively small.

Solution?  The Piccolo-Long store-exclusive from Aesthetic Bay!

I was hoping for the recently re-introduced Midori-tamenuri, but there would have been at least a 6-12 month wait on that.  I had the choice of standard colours only and was wavering between the Heki and and Toki-tamenuri’s.  In the end I feared the variation in the Heki too much so went with the more consistent finish of the Toki-tamenuri.

Pen Body

Historically (over the past 5/6yrs in the hobby), I have always gravitated towards the  black Nakaya urushi finishes.  My first Nakaya was an all-black Urushi Desk Pen, and since then I have accumulated 3 Nakaya’s in the now-discontinued Ao-tamenuri finish.  Although I somewhat regretfully sold an Ao Decapod Twist because the Ao appeared more of a yellow/brown-green than a teal blue.  I also found the Fine nib pleasant but boring.   As mentioned, I did have an Aka-tamenuri Piccolo but wasn’t that keen on the red urushi, although I do love the Aka-tamenuri and red unpolished Shu-dame finish of my Danitrio(s) Sho-Genkai and Genkai.  Although I always meant to get a Nakaya something-or-other in the Heki-tamenuri finish, I always lurched for the harder to get or just-about-to-be-discontiued urushi finishes instead.

A lot of people rave about the no longer available Shiro-tamenuri, but I was never really sold on that colour.  The Toki-tamenuri has been recently introduced into the standard-colour Nakaya line-up.  It is considered by some to be the next best thing to Shiro-tamenuri, but I find I actually prefer it.  It somehow reminds me less of cheese and tomato quiche, and more of caramel.

Here are a few pics showing off the flawless Toki-tamenuri finish (incidentally I would say the Toki-tamenuri out of all the urushi pens in my collection, is the most perfectly finished)…

Showing off the Music nib;

Side profile and capped;

From behind;

A note on the Piccolo-Long

I love the feel and balance of the Piccolo-Long, probably the most comfortable of my Nakayas.  Both aesthetically and in the hand I find I prefer it over the Naka-ai, particularly given the Naka-ai’s much shorter section and the tapering at the back of the barrel.  The double-dose of pointy ends are of course awesome, and really allow the caramel Toki-tamenuri urushi to pool…

Sometimes Toki-tamenuri can look lighter and more reddish, but it can also look more dark and pronounced.  The threads and section are particularly impressive in this finish.   Much more so than on my single shade Ama-iro or even my Ao-tamenuri’s.

Nib

I had initially wanted one of the Nakaya ground Broad or Double Broad ‘stub’ nibs that Aesthetic Bay offers, but they emailed back to say the feeder for this particular Piccolo-Long was specifically for the Music nib only.

I was always curious about the Nakaya Music nib, being a fan of Broad and Double Broad nibs more generally, but having only seen writing samples on-line, I was worried that the nib might be too round and ill-defined for my handwriting.

I’m happy to report the unmodified Nakaya Music nib is wonderful!

It somehow manages to have a generous ink flow, whilst retaining a fast dry time (magic?).  Whenever I ask for customised nibs or get nibs reground, I always request 8/10 ink flow, and to write with “no pressure”, because the wetter the better to show off sheeny inks, as far as I’m concerned.  However, the downside to that is a monstrously long dry time.

I am so happy with this nib, here is a writing sample.  So far I have been using it (and refilling it repeatedly- it’s a thirsty nib!), with Pen & Message Old Burgundy.  However I couldn’t find a sample with Old Burgundy, so here is a random writing sample with Ishida Bungu Gagome instead;

And finally here it is pictured with my other Nakayas capped and out in the sun;

Soooooo shiny…

And finally uncapped, check out those nibs;

L-R:  Naka-ai Ama-iro Rhodium BB stub grind, Toki-tamenuri Gold Music nib (factory), 17mm Portable Ao-tamenuri Gold SF nib + Flex, Dorsal Fin V1 Ao-tamenuri Ruthenium B stub grind.

All in all, I’m very happy with my Piccolo-Long in Toki Tamenuri, if I ever get to purchase a Blue Dragon or Milky Way, I would like to get it in this model.

It looks like my Nakaya collection is coming along nicely!

———–

A quick note on Nakaya sizing

*Interesting to note, as you can see the barrel of the Piccolo-Long and the 17mm Portable are the same length, though the section of the 17mm is much longer and wider.  The Barrel of the Dorsal Fin 1 and the Naka-ai also appear the same length, but the Naka-ai section is significantly shorter.  The Section length of the 17mm Portable and the Dorsal Fin 1 are the same length, but the Dorsal Fin flares out at the back a bit more.

2018

Dorsal Fin Version 1, Ao-tamenuri

Having managed to escape both 2016 and 2017 without a single Nakaya purchase, I was not so lucky in 2018.  I bought two Nakaya’s in a frenzy in early February.  I was idly browsing the nibs.com website one day when I stumbled upon my grail pen…the Nakaya Dorsal Fin Version 1 in Ao-tamenuri finish.  I actually mention this pen in this very post way back in 2014.  I knew I had to pounce and didn’t have much time to cosider nib options.  I quickly opted for a ruthenium- plated Broad Stub.  I clicked the buy button and waited.

After a few back and forths with Classic Fountain Pens about the approximate colour of the Ao on the Dorsal Fin (I was worried it might be green vs teal blue), both pens were shipped within a few days.  They arrived in UK Customs on the 12th February.  After completing a long form from the Customs department at Parcel Force UK, and calling and speaking to them repeatedly on the phone FOR FOUR WHOLE WEEKS, my Nakayas arrived.  Here is the Dorsal Fin Version 1 in Ao-tamenuri…

Very stealthy looking and shark-like.  I’m glad I departed from the gold- colour nib and went Ruthinium this time.  The pen shape is actually much less pronounced in person than it looks in pictures I have seen.  It is actually very similar in size to my Ao-tamenuri 17mm Portable.  *I noticed Nakaya have started calling the 17mm Portable as the 17mm “Thick”.  I’m not sure thats really selling the design 🙂

Here is a picture of the pen capped.  The Ao-tamenuri colour is perfect, that cool teal that makes you think of deep Japanese waters.  The fin allows for a nice sliver of Ao finish to come through.  Here it is capped, lounging on another sea creature…

In addition to the sharks fin, the other differentiator between the 17mm and the Dorsal Fin 1 is the tapered barrel and pointy end.  If it wasn’t for the Fin in the cap, it could actually pass for a beefed up Naka-Ai.  Now there’s an idea…

Here it is from the rear…

Nib:

I asked for a hybrid cursive italic/ stub for my Dorsal Fin 1.  I had selected the cursive italic, and then elaborated in the “additional comments” section that I wanted it as smooth as a stub.  Basically a stub but with a thinner cross stroke.  I opted for a “Medium to Heavy” ink flow, then specified 8/10.  I’m not sure if that is “Medium- Heavy” or “Heavy”.  All I know is I did not want “dry”.

Here is a close up of the Ruthinium- plated Broad nib…

Here is the Hybrid Broad CI/Stub nib in action.  I’m trying to pick up the sheen off Hakodate Twilight, hence the angle…

Here are my two Ao-tamenuri finishes, one with gold nib one with ruthenium.  Which do you prefer?

You can really see the difference in the threads between the Ao-tamenuri finish 2015 17mm Portable and my 2018 Dorsal Fin 1;

Here is moody picture…

Verdict:

I am extremely happy with this Dorsal Fin Version 1.  The Ao-tamenuri finish is exactly as I like it and the barrel is nice and fat and comfortable to write with.  Do I wish I got the Dorsal Fin Version 2 instead?  Well aside from it not being available and (ahem) more expensive, I quite like the shape of the Dorsal Fin 1 in the Ao-finish, as it more closely resembles a shark.  A very expensive Japanese shark.  Which is cool.  The Version 1 model’s single fin curves outwards like a fat shark fin, whereas the version 2’s double fin model curves inwards to more resemble a Katana, or Japanese sword.  The benefit of the 2-fin model however, is you get an extra slice of Ao on the barrel.  I may well be tempted by one of these in the future, if it magically appeared at nibs.com, Aesthetic Bay…but hopefully not this year as my pen budget is well and truly spent 😦

The only slightly negative thing I would say about this pen is the cap is much lighter than I expected.  It’s much lighter than the 17mm and its shorter too.  That seems strange as the Fin is created by adding multiple layers of urushi.  I believe this process takes about 6 months to achieve.  I would have thought all that urushi would add some weight.  To me it seems like it has less urushi on the cap than on the barrel.  But I could be imagining things.  I will try to get some weight measurements.

The nib is perfect with a good flow and the requested additional smoothness to the cursive italic Broad.  The ruthinium-plating looks great.

The real negative for me was the customs process and the mahusive customs charges I paid on getting this Dorsal Fin and the Naka-ai into the UK.  But that is an issue I have with this UK Government (one of many!).

All in all, a grail achieved.  I will not be parting with this pen I think, ever : )

Nakaya Naka-ai, Ama-Iro

Whilst I was browsing for my Dorsal Fin Version 1, I happened to spot a Naka-ai in Ama-iro finish also “in stock”.  After the disappointment of 2015’s Piccolo, I was wary of the Ama-iro finish, but the sky blue looked so optimistic, so thought I’d give it another shot.  This time the Nakaya was offered in the Naka-ai shape.  I much prefer larger pens, and in addition to the issues with the condition of the Piccolo I had, the tiny size was also a problem.  I had not seen the Naka-ai in person before, but had read it was quite a substantial size, with a larger section and an attractive tapered shape.  I quickly decided I would go for a Double Broad Stub nib and with Rhodium-plate this time.  With hindsight, I would have had the nibs the other way around- the BB nib in the Dorsal Fin and the Broad CI/Stub hybrid nib in the Naka-ai.

Here is the Naka-Ai…

Ok, I haven’t had the chance to take any dedicated pictured of the Naka-ai yet, but I’m hoping to dust off the old Leica X and take some soon.  However I did manage to grab a few group shots with its urushi brethren…

View from the rear…

Is it me or does the Naka-ai nib look ruthinium instead of rhodium?  I’m sure I asked for rhodium, and it says Rhodium on the box- see here…

However, I see they described my Dorsal Fin 1 as the Version 2.  I can’t tell if the nib is rhodium or not as I do not have another nib in this finish.  Either way I think it looks good.  Here is a close up of the nib…

Yup, looks ruthinium to me.

Verdict:  I really like the shape of the Naka-ai.  The tapering is very attractive and it is also a very good length- same as the Dorsal Fin 1 but shorter than my 17mm Portable.  The section as you can see from the pictures, is shorter and narrower, but I find it very comfortable to use.  The Nakaya nib also looks more in proportion on the Naka-ai because of this.  Some people have said the nib on the 17mm looks too tiny in proportion to the section and barrel.  I don’t agree, but definitely the Naka-ai looks more harmonious.  The colour of the Ama-iro is exactly as I would like it.  It’s not really a bright sky blue like some I have seen, but more of a natural colour, quite sober, austere and to my liking.  Not an in your face blue.  I have read somewhere that Nakaya take their urushi colours from nature, and if you want a custom colour, you have to pick one from there massive list of “colours from nature” pdf.  I like this idea.  Quite in keeping with the Nakaya brand.

The nib?  Oh. My. Days.  That’s a British expression.  No I don’t know where it came from, probably someplace in the 90’s… I asked for a Double Broad Stub on the Naka-ai with a “heavy” ink flow.  It does not disappoint.  The smoothness of this stub is like no other stub nib I owned.  I currently have it filled Ishida Bungu, Hakodate Twilight, which only accentuates the smoothness even further.  I will take a writing sample and post up later.  Needless to say I am happy with it.

Despite all the stress of Her Majesty’s UK Customs, I am very pleased I grabbed these Nakaya’s this year.  Next year?  Who knows, Blue Dragon…

2017

I managed to avoid buying a Nakaya for the whole of 2017!  Victory!

2016

I managed to avoid buying a Nakaya for the whole of 2016!

2015

A Nakaya- heavy year…

Nakaya Piccolo, Ama-iro

Clicking around on eBay in the Autumn of 2015 I spotted a Piccolo in the sky blue Ama-iro colour.  This colour has a lot of variation in it, ranging from bright blue (which is what most people want), to a very light turquoise.  From the pictures, the one I found on eBay looked to be of the light turquoise variety.  It was at a good price too.  The Piccolo shape and size isn’t my favourite, but it was offered ready customised with a “firm fine cursive italic rose- gold nib”, but more on that later…

…this is what I found.

Barrel:

At first glance the Ama-iro finish turned out to be a nice duck- egg blue and looked quite smart.  However, on unscrewing the cap I found the section threads were stained black, and there was serious discolouration to the section.  A kind of yellowy- orange.  This may because the pen is very old, but I don’t think this finish has been around that long.  Although in pictures the outside looks undamaged, there is some strange movement in the urushi near the end of the cap, like a load of urushi had been dolloped there.  Very strange.  The finish of my previous Nakaya’s have been so perfect, they almost don’t look man- made at all.  Not so with this Piccolo.

Nib:

The nib was advertised as “firm-fine cursive italic rose- gold nib”.  Part of the reason I purchased the Piccolo was because of the ready- customised nib, and the fact it was in the higher spec rose-gold, which I did not have on any previous Nakaya.  The nib was a pleasant surprise, not firm at all but with some nice springiness, and with a nice crispy cursive italic grind.  It seemed to me more like a medium width or wider.  Maybe a soft-medium with cursive italic grind.

Conclusion:  I am having to treat this Nakaya as a vintage fountain pen- a crusty pen body with an awesome nib.  Here is a picture of the pen capped…I will NOT be posting a picture of the Piccolo un-capped…

Here is a fuzzy writing sample of the Fine, crisp CI nib…some decent line variation at least.

Nakaya Decapod Twist, Ao-tamenuri finish

Clicking around the internet one day in late 2015 I found…yet another discontinued Ao-tamenuri Nakaya…and in Europe too!  No customs fees for me!  Here is what I found; the mighty Decapod Twist!  Here it is…

Decopod twist soaking up the sunshine next to Danitri Sho-Genkai…

A close up of the section.  As you can see there is quite a step down in the Decopod model between barrel and section.  I found this to be a bit uncomfortable, as I tend to hold my fountain pens a further back from the nib.  The section itself is a good comfortable length.

Barrel:

Although you can’t really see from these photographs, I found the Ao-tamenuri finish on the Decopod I got more to the moss green side, than blue/ teal side.  I would have preferred if it had tended more to the blue.  I believe the inconsistency in colour was the reason for Nakaya discontinuing the Ao-tamenuri finish.

Nib:

I went for a firm fine gold colour nib this time.  Gold was the only colour available at the time.  If you buy direct from Nakaya or nibs.com you can ask for Rhodium or Ruthinium-plated gold nib, which some people prefer on the black finish Nakayas such as Ao-tamenuri, Midori-tamenuri and Kuro-tamenuri.  I don’t really mind the gold colour with the Ao finish, and think it looks quite sharp.  After all Danitrio nibs are always gold as far as I’m aware, as are Namiki Emperor nibs.  It’s only when it comes to Nakaya that people seem to notice the fact the nib is gold colour.  As to the nib itself, it arrived nicely tuned with a decent wetness, writing smoothly but with that lovely Nakaya feedback.

Verdict?

I like the looks of the Decapod, and the Twist is an even flashier (flashy as far as understated Nakaya’s go), version of that model.  It is a decent size and adds some interest to the usual Portable, Naka-ai and Neo-standard shapes.  However, the colour of the Ao in my model wasn’t really to my liking, and the steep step between the barrel and section was also a bit uncomfortable.  As to the nib, it was to my liking and perfect for journaling, but also nothing special compared to my other Nakaya nib.  In the end I ended up parting with the pen, but I would still heartily recommend this model, and for those who hold they’re pens closer to the nib, it would be no problem at all.

Nakaya 17mm “Thick” Portable Cigar (Ao-tamenuri)

It was early 2015 when Nakaya announced they were discontinuing the Ao-tamenuri finish.  Nibs.com had a few of the Nakaya models left in this finish.  I didn’t manage the Dorsal Fin 1 or 2, but did manage to find…

…one of the last Portable Cigar’s in Ao- Tamenuri.  This is the 17mm version.  I hadn’t heard of this before, but after some quick research found the 17mm referred to larger diameter of the section compared to the regular Portable Cigar.

This was a much bigger and more substantial Nakaya than I thought it would be, and has a much more subtle Ao- Tamenuri finish than that of the Decapod Twist, which shows quite a lot of blue-green.  This nakaya veers more towards a teal blue- which is what most people want from the Ao-tamenuri finish.  Here are some pics…

Here is a size comparison of all three Nakaya’s.  A sombre looking bunch but I prefer these to the more earthy Aka/Shiro/Heki-tamenuri options.

For some reason the 17mm Portable Cigar looks better in person and the Decapod Twist looks better in photographs…

In photographs it’s difficult to show the Ao-tamenri finish of the Portable Cigar.  It’s fat waist is VERY visible however!

 

This Ao-tamenuri finish really is my favourite and as of 2015, I had not seen it offered by any of the other Japanese fountain pen brands specialising in Urushi.  I wish I had heard about the Ao-tamenuri finish being discontinued earlier so I could have grabbed a Naka-ai or Neo-standard.  Oh well.

I recently had a cull of my Executive- level fountain pens, but in 2015 I seem to have accidentally replaced them all with Nakaya’s!

2014

Nakaya Desk Pen (Basic black urushi)

I ordered this Nakaya Desk Pen from nibs.com in the USA in August 2014

Urushi finish:

This is the basic black urushi edition.  I actually prefer this to the more popular Aka-temenuri red, that I had on a Piccolo Cigar.  The black urushi deskpen model is currently the cheapest Nakaya finish/ fountain pen combination you can buy.  I’m not sure why this is as the Nakaya Desk Pen is an extremely substantial fountain pen and very well balanced…much more so than the tiny Piccolo.

This is a clipless fountain pen.  I do not believe clips look right on Nakayas, except on the Neo-standard perhaps.

Nib:

I had this nib customised from a Nakaya soft-medium to a medium-oblique (OM) with added flex.  I believe it improves my handwriting no end.

*All of these photos were shot with the excellent Sony RX100iii

Here is a writing sample…

Most wished- for Nakaya:

The most unusual and mystical urushi finish Nakaya currently produce, is the blue-green Ao-Temenuri.  This cool palette has a very modern look to it, and unsurprisingly has become very popular over the past year or so.  The Ao- Temenuri finish of the Dorsal Fin No. 1, is my No. 1 choice for my next Nakaya.  More information can be found at nibs.com (just don’t look at the price!).  To me the shape, colour and texture of the pen brings to mind a shark swimming through the deep blue ocean.  I would order it in the Rhodium trim of course, to resemble sharks teeth.

  

*Update, as of Spring 2015, the Ao-tamenuri finish has been discontinued by Nakaya.  There are still a few pieces left however at nibs.com (where I stole this pictures without permission!)