Gold, lacquer, and centuries of Japanese craft—held in your hand
A $7,000 fountain pen might sound excessive—until you see what’s painted on it.
A new showcase brings together fountain pens decorated with maki-e (蒔絵), a traditional Japanese lacquer technique in which gold and silver powders are sprinkled to create intricate imagery. Here, pens double as functional objects and finely detailed works of art.
Titled “CRAFT & CURATE,” the event gathers pieces from Japan and abroad at G.Itoya’s HandShake Lounge, including several designs created exclusively for the store.
Among them is the “Six Continents” series (六大陸) by Wajimaya Zennin. Each pen features parent-and-child animals representing the world’s six continents, rendered using techniques passed down in Wajima, a historic lacquerware region. The concept is continuity—connecting traditional craftsmanship and culture to the future.
Sailor’s Hanaikada (花筏), limited to 20 pieces, captures cherry blossom petals drifting across water like a raft. Against deep black lacquer, the petals appear to hover—an image of spring that feels both fleeting and still.
Parker takes a quieter route with Sen’ei Ikou (扇影衣香). A kimono-clad figure emerges through suggestion rather than detail, echoing a Heian-period aesthetic that values presence and nuance over clarity.
Elsewhere, Itoya’s ROMEO No.3 Taka Maki-e Fountain Pen Year of Horse (午) depicts a dynamic yabusame (horseback archery) scene, while Platinum’s Hama no Matsu (浜の松) builds a coastal landscape through layered applications of gold and silver powders. At the highest end, Namiki’s Kingyo (金魚)—priced at ¥1,100,000 (around $7,000)—shows goldfish gliding through water, symbols of prosperity whose name echoes a Chinese phrase for financial abundance.
The event also moves beyond display. A demonstration by Nakaya Fountain Pen offers on-site customization, from nib adjustments to design choices, while a talk session explores the story behind Rokutairiku and the philosophy shaping it.
The common thread is time—not only in how long these pieces take to make, but in how long they’re meant to last.
Most pens run out of ink. These are made to outlast their owners.
CRAFT & CURATE: Maki-e Fountain Pens
Dates: April 17 (Fri) – 26 (Sun), 2026
Venue: HandShake Lounge, 10th Floor, G.Itoya, 2-7-15, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 JAPAN
Organizer: G.Itoya 3rd Floor
For more details, including workshop reservations, visit the official Itoya website:
https://www.ito-ya.co.jp/ext/store/itoya/gitoya/recommend/2026/02/005686.html
👉 For another perspective-shifting experience in Tokyo, explore the universe here.
