Oita Urushi - Kurozan Fountain Pen

Notice: Each Urushi fountain pen is handcrafted with no two pieces exactly alike, which is a valuable characteristic of hand-crafted art. Therefore, the pen that you received might be slightly different from the prototype pictures, yet, at the same time, it will be a unique artwork of your own.

The Origins of Oita Urushi

For almost fifteen years, we have devoted our time and our passion for fountain pens to raising awareness of Urushi arts from all over Japan. This has led to our collaborations with decorated artisans in Echizen, Aizu, Wajima, Aomori, and more. Despite our headquarters being based in Oita Prefecture since the beginning, there was no heritage or tradition of Urushi. That is why, throughout the creation of these Urushi fountain pens, we have aspired to create a new style of Urushi entirely - Oita Urushi. 

It was only a matter of patiently waiting for the right artisan, and the right vision.

Just as the tradition of Urushi have thrived for centuries in other regions of Japan, we wanted Oita Urushi to be the start of a new legacy  that contributes to both Oita's beauty, as well as the appreciation of the art form itself. After years of research, we can proudly share: the Tradition of Oita Urushi begins today. 

First Oita Urushi Pen - Kurozan 

Kurozan (黒燦) - which translates into Radiant Black - is the first fountain pen crafted in the new Oita Urushi style. With the quiet black tone and the red accents, these unique pieces are not crafted to be replicable. These limited edition models have slight differences such as the placement of the charcoal texture, and the swirl pattern.

Through your fingertips, both the matte texture of the charcoal and the gentle raised pattern can be traced, indulging your senses with a quiet, tactile richness. Each writing session is an immersive experience as the pen moves across the page. The delicate balance of weight and craftsmanship in your hand enhances the enjoyment of every stroke.

The Artisan: Onimaru Mayumi

Master Onimaru Mayumi has been trained as an Urushi artisan since she was a young adult in Aomori. For almost two decades, she became a master of the Tsugaru Urushi technique, which you may recognize for its vibrant colors, unique patterns, and impossible-to-replicate designs. After moving to Oita Prefecture for private reasons, however, she was faced with an impossible decision: Does she continue to create lacquerware with the Tsugaru style, or does she develop her own style? 

Since we wanted to create a new style of Urushi, we encouraged her to develop a new technique - one that would be uniquely hers, but one that aspiring artisans in Oita may wish to emulate in the future. 

A Composition Centered on Charcoal

The first layer of Urushi is applied as the base before adding vermillion Urushi as an accent, and charcoal powder to the whole body of the pen. For Master Onimaru, charcoal is the main point when it comes to her composition, mainly due to her origin from the Tsugaru region where the usage of charcoal in Urushi artwork is profound. Many artisans use charcoal powder and mix it with different pigments of Urushi, but Master Onimaru intentionally let the original dark tone of the charcoal set as the base to highlight the swirl pattern she added after.

The intricate pattern she skillfully applied was made using a traditional spatula called Shikake-bera, dipped in black Urushi to create an alluring motif. Finally, all parts of the surface are polished to reveal the pattern and even out the charcoal.

Learn more about the Creation of Oita Urushi story on the page here.

Specifications

Base material: Ebonite

Art: Oita Urushi

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Nib: Jowo #6, Keiryu, Keiryu Kodachi, and 18K Shogun Nib

Feed: Plastic (for 18K Shogun, Keiryu, and Keiryu Kodachi), Ebonite (compatible only with Jowo #6)

Compact air-tight cap: Prevents ink from drying prematurely

Packaging

Traditional Japanese Wooden Box + Pen Kimono + Instructional Materials + Converter + Cartridge (3 pcs)