Inspired by the spreading fronds of an evergreen tree also known as the windmill palm, the Nakaya Naka-ai Cigar Shuro Tree fountain pen is also an innovative work of Maki-e art. Utilizing bright red Akakuchi-Shu urushi lacquer for the base and silver and gold powders in Taka Maki-e technique for the motif, this pen is a blend of the traditional and the contemporary.

Our complimentary nib tuning services ensure that your Nakaya Maki-e pen will have writing qualities equal to its appearance, and our optional nib customizations can additional character and distinctiveness to your writing on the page. We are an authorized Nakaya dealer.

The windmill palm, scientific name trachycarpus fortunai, is native to China and Southern Japan, but Nakaya has chosen to realize the motif inspired by the Shuro Tree in a decidedly non-traditional manner. The use of Akakuchi-Shu urushi, brighter in hue but also much more challenging to work with than the Tamari-Shu used in most Nakaya Shu finishes, gives this pen a unique appearance.

Gold and silver powders are applied using Taka Maki-e technique in a process that can require weeks or months for the motif alone – the skilled Maki-e artist creating this pen in a private workshop in Wajima on the west coast of Japan will even adjust individual grains of powder in order to achieve the aesthetic effect desired. Centuries of Maki-e technique and tradition have gone into the realization of this pen.

The pen body is individually hand-turned from natural ebonite hard rubber in the Nakaya workshop in Tokyo, and is returned there for final assembly after the urushi finish and Maki-e work has been completed in Wajima. Final nib setting and tuning to the individual writing preferences of the end user occurs in the nibs.com workshop in Los Angeles.

The pen ships in an attractive softwood presentation box decorated with kanji style script. A fabric pen kimono and starter pack of Platinum brand ink cartridges are also included. The Nakaya Naka-ai model is available exclusively through us here at nibs.com.