We are over halfway through 2026, and we would like to take some time to reflect about these past seven months. We made our second consecutive appearance at the Manila Pen Show in March, and more recently, the entire True Urushi collection made its triumphant return to our store. As we continue to prepare for upcoming releases, we thought it might be good to look back on our newest pens, and what makes each one special to us.
The Brilliance of 14K Solid Gold
Due to the rising price of gold and its general market instability, we decided to explore 14K Solid Gold as an option for our fountain pens, which we debuted with the Imari 14K Fountain Pen. This pen was originally available with a 21K Solid Gold Nib, but when we realized it may take years to have the original back in stock, we decided to remake it in a more compact size, as well as a 14K Nib.
Thanks to the amazing support we received, we followed it up with the Mocha Brown 14K Fountain Pen. The original Mocha Brown was a Japan exclusive, but we thought we would surprise our international enthusiasts by making its new 14K version available worldwide. Soon afterwards, we released the first truly original 14K pen - the Wataame. This pen is named after the Japanese Cotton Candy, popularized in summer festivals since the Meiji Restoration period, this pastel-colored delight was a treat for the eyes.
The Art of Zogan (Mother-of-Pearl Inlay)
Mother-of-pearl has been one of the most beautiful artforms in Japanese history, which is why we have treasured our Zogan Urushi Fountain Pens, and held them so close to our hearts. After years of development, we released not one, not two, but three new fountain pens featuring handcrafted mother-of-pearl art. The Zogan Momiji - Green Tamamushi-nuri joins several other Momiji Fountain Pens, which feature a motif of autumn leaves drifting with a cool breeze done entirely with Zogan on top of a coating of Tamamushi-nuri (Japanese lacquer mixed with metallic powder).
The Limited Edition Zogan Swan - Urushi Teal Fountain Pen, which was inspired by the gentle waters of Lake Shidaka in Oita Prefecture, was soldout, but the swan design is featured on another Urushi fountain pen - the Zogan Swan - Urushi Black. This features a dark, light-absorbing black Urushi finish, which makes the radiant white of the Zogan stand out even more in contrast.
1xOnexWan and a Handful of Fun
To a lot of laymen or non-enthusiasts, the fountain pen hobby can appear intimidating, or overly serious. We created the 1xOnexWan sub-brand to show everyone that fountain pens can be as quirky and as un-serious as any hobby. This year, we introduced a new pen to our world’s smallest fountain pen - The PuChiCo Cotton Candy. As the name suggests, this pen is as cute as it is sweet, and it can add the perfect dose of quirkiness to any collection. The PoChaCo, which retains the same shape but in a somewhat larger size, has a darkly alluring Midnight Violet Fountain Pen.
To anchor all of these different pens, however, we introduced the Onsen Cat Pen Stand! This delightful pen stand is modeled after the Hot Spring cats of Japan, who are known to take naps near the Japanese onsen for its warmth during winter. Available in a Calico, Black, and White configuration, the Onsen Cat Pen Stand adds a little bit of whimsy to every desk setup.
New Treasures from Vietnam
As part of our Voyage initiative, where we collaborate with artisans from all around the world to create new fountain pens and stationery products, we created the Son Mai (Vietnamese lacquer) collection with Master Pham Chinh Trung. This year, he has crafted the new Whisper in Bloom collection to highlight the unofficial national flowers of Vietnam - the Hoa Ban and the Lotus.
Each fountain pen was crafted to be a celebration of Vietnamese culture. The Lotus showcases the perseverance and strength of the country, while the Hoa Ban symbolizes peace and tranquility. Each of these pens were handcrafted by Master Pham Chinh Trung over the course of several months, and they are impossible to replicate even by the master himself.
A Sakura Fountain Pen Like No Other
We are used to seeing sakuras in mainland Japan with their white-pink petals, each one small enough to be carried away by a nice spring breeze. In the Ryukyu Islands, or modern day Okinawa, the sakura is a hardier, darker variant, and it is most commonly found on sakura trees dotting the mountains of Okinawa, where the heavier petals slope downwards from the branches.
It is this vision that the Tsuikin Master Artisans had in mind when they handcrafted the eyecatching Tsuikin Kanhizakura Fountain Pen. Like the Twin Dragons and Bonsai, the Kanhizakura Fountain Pen represents another facet of Okinawa’s rich cultural heritage, which is our unique privilege to share with our fellow pen enthusiasts.
An Urushi Master’s Legacy Continues to Grow
Master Nagaya Momoko has spearheaded the revival of Yakumo Urushi since she completed her training, and with each pen, she sets a new challenge for herself. She has never been content to simply recreate or redo the same technique; instead, she finds ways to test the limitations of Urushi.
Her newest collection, the Chijimi-nuri, is one such example. The first fountain pen, Chijimi Black, was handcrafted with the Shrinking Lacquer known as Chijimi, resulting in textured lines wrapping around the entirety of the fountain pen like the roots of a gnarled mangrove tree. She followed this up with the Aodaisho (green), Shirohebi (silver), and Nishikihebi (Yellow), but she increased the complexity by mixing the Urushi with metal powder in order to achieve these new, unique colors.
In an effort to further test herself, Master Nagaya handcrafted the limited edition Raden - Shuryu Fountain Pen. Representing the Vermillion Dragon of East Asian mythology, each fountain pen features hand-applied red mother-of-pearl (Raden) shells and Urushi coating, which shimmers under the light like the scales of a dragon come to life. This laborous piece were only 10 pieces ever crafted.
For Master Nagaya, each pen is handcrafted to be a part of her legacy, as well as the legacy of Yakumo Urushi.
Untamed Horns
The Tsuno Fountain Pen made waves when we first released it last year, but even then, we received many requests about releasing an all-black version of this horn fountain pen. At the time, we responded that we would take it under consideration. Behind the scenes, however, we were already quietly developing the Tsuno Black Fountain Pen.
We also decided to release two versions - the Origin and the Classic. The Origin, as the name may suggest, showcases the horn in its natural form, and each one may be different from the other even in shape and size. The Classic, on the other hand, is crafted to be exactly like our classic Dream Pen shape.
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Perhaps the most special of all was the release of our Argentum 925 Sterling Silver Fountain Pen. Made with genuine silver and decorated with complex acid etching techniques, this 1 of 1 masterpiece was gone within 24 hours.
Now that we are in the second half of 2026, the past seven months feel almost surreal with how many pens we were able to share with everyone. One thing is clear, however: none of it would be possible without the support of pen enthusiasts all around the world. For the rest of the year, we will do our best to make the best possible pens while respecting the craftsmanship that goes into each one.