Your description of these pens as small works of art is perfect. Some people prefer paintings by Rothko or Mattise for their simplicity and subtlety, others find them boring. To them, paintings by Michaelangelo or Rembrandt might more clearly demonstrates their worth through richness of detail. It's really a difference of personal aesthetics. I find it wonderful that fountain pens seem to express the culture from which they come. I have three Nakayas and I much prefer them aesthetically to what I find to be the gaudy "more is more" stylings of many Italian pens. Nakayas are certainly not for everyone, but for those who are in tune with their aesthetic, they are absolutely worth it.

Funny how I was just considering a Nakaya when you posted this, it's good to get a different perspective and remove some of the hype. Great video!

Very enjoyable video mate. I've been watching your videos on and off since 2013 and don't think I've taken the time to thank you for the work you put into them. The effort truly shows. Thanks mate.

Thank you so much for your entertaining and impartial reviews. I am new to fountain pens and find the information you provide most helpful.

Having watched this review, and the one of the Decapod : Seeing that you've reviewed these pens 3 and 4 years ago, would you still value them, or the Portable Writer in particular, at "no more than 200 euros worth" , or has your perception changed having reviewed more pens, with some price-performance ratios that may be a bit more skewed? ( Every mass produced Montblanc special edition springs to mind, a regular 149 is more expensive than this, even taking the price hike to 750 euros for a base Nakaya here in Belgium into account. ) Yes, you get a piston filler in exchange in the case of the 149, but everyone and their grandmother has one. And 8/10 grandchildren will try and sell the 149 on Ebay because the 149 is a pen almost everyone seems to know, if not by name , by shape. That doesn't seem to happen as often with Nakaya's. And before someone starts yelling : I know, , less people buy Nakaya's, so less of them are bound to end up on Ebay. Which ties into your statement of Nakaya's being tiny works of art. I mean, you pay for the material rarely used pens ( even if ebonite is seemingly enjoying some sort of resurgence, and never left the market in regions like India ) , the workmanship when it comes to the appliance of the urushi layers, and you can also send in your pen to get your nib customized, or changed, for free ( with the caveat that you've got to pay for postage to Japan ). I don't know of many brand that offer that kind of service, without a clear time-frame in which you've got to send the pen to them. Don't get me wrong, I value your opinion when it comes to fountain pens, and I appreciate your honesty, but, in my opinion, you might have been a bit too harsh on this one. In any case, have a nice day and keep spreading the inky love.

Among the 100 plus collectable pens I’ve recently inherited are 2 Nakayas. A beautiful dark blue one like the one you’re reviewing, but a bit bigger, and another one that’s rather different. The hinged box contained,along with the pen, a list of the craftsmen who worked on the various parts of the pen and an invoice/ receipt dated 2011 for $10,000. Ten thousand dollars ! The pen came direct from the Nakaya factory and included a birthday card addressed to my brother in law who ordered the pen, as it arrived just before his birthday. Obviously it’s quite special, with patterns in gold all over it and its also a very large pen with a huge cutaway nib, but $10,000 ! Wow.

Nakaya is hand made, not like pelikan or montblanc that are machine made. Urushi lacquer is not resin nor "precious resin". Nakaya is a work of art that explains the hype you mention and do not see, unfortunately. Also, japanese nibs, craftmanship and customer service are reliable, unlike european brands.

I also have to take issue with the description of these pens as small. Uncapped, the portable writer is longer than a Montblanc 146 or a Pelikan M800. The barrel is thicker, and the section is of a similar width, although more tapered, so thicker at its widest point, thinner at its most narrow. The nib is a little smaller than the M800, bigger than the 146.

I appreciate your honest review, Stephen. Nakaya is definitely on my "someday" list. I'm not removing them from that list because of this review, but I'll definitely think a little harder before ever pulling the trigger. I'm curious, though...I know you'll happily spend that amount of $$$ on Visconti and Pelikan pens. In your opinion, what attributes make them worth it? Design aesthetic? Writing experience? Manufacturing tolerances? Or do they just "speak" to you more loudly? I shed equal amounts of drool over the simple elegance of Nakaya as I do over the flashier coolness of Visconti, so I'm curious what you see in the Viscontis/Pelikans that you don't in the Nakayas. Thanks!

For me this was a great review of a pen maker I am a big fan of. To hear you voice your true opinion is exactly what I want from a review. I really enjoy my Dorsal Fin v2 however you are right, they are very expensive. :)

Great and honest review. Congrats!

appreciate the always honest reviews. I find the ""value equation" applies to ..well, about everything! What is your personal "grail" pen?

I like your presentation. Most important is your sincerity and this is something I look for. Don't beat around the bush, as it were. Good for you. Semper Fi

The same argument can be made for mass produced MB, visconti, etc. As you said, it is a personal choice what you are willing to pay for. Custom pens goes for upwards $200- $300s USD for a Jowo steel nib, without the urushi work. As far as the nib goes, again, it's personal preference. You like fat nibs while I like Japanese bouncy EF with feedback. Note that I am studying American cursive and Spencerian with oblique holders. I prefer my custom holders to be on the light side too, 10gram-ish. Is Nakaya hyped? yes, but no more than the MB, Pelikan, visconti, etc.

What is the most you've spent on a pen and which pen was it? Love your channel by the way!

Excellent review Stephen. I think you make the right call on the issue of price, design and quality. On this occasion exclusivity seems more like a confidence trick. I felt the same way during you MB Starwalker review.

Urushi Lacquer pens aren't as striking as Maki-E pens. They're expensive due to man hours needed and the result is nice but understated. I can see why it's not easy to relate the value. For what it's worth, I do think the brand name is definitely a factor in the price since there are some Urushi Platinum pens that do go for well below the Nakaya prices.

Without ever having seen one in person I would only comment on that price to say it ought to do summersaults for that number of clams. Three questions: [1] how well does it post?, [2] Is it durable or is it prone to chipping or scratches? and [3] is the step-down to the section uncomfortable for someone with fairly large hands?

As usual, thank you for an informative and candid review. I share you view of the brand, although I haven't had a chance to test one in person. It seems to me that for around $700.00 US, one should get more than a cartridge converter pen with only average ink capacity. Then again, I speak as a writer rather than as a collector. The perspective does count, because these pens are art objects which require extensive work to produce. But, that said, are they significantly better writing instruments than the very handsome yet workhorse Platinum 3776's? One might say the same for such pens as the Sailor KOP which limits its ordinary nib offerings to a mere two (the Sailor brand has about ten stock offerings usually), and uses the cartridge converter filling system. In sum, a thought provoking and important video. Please keep these reviews coming!

So here's a crazy question. Could you eyedropper a nakaya? Oh. And great review as always!

I feel kinda same - would like to have Nakaya one day - maybe when I visit Japan. Until then there are many customs that appeal to me more and other pens which I must have first (Dark Age for example lol)

I have similar feelings about the hype factor which is why I don't get MB or Viscount and other pens that are nicely made and and upwards of $250... and are hyped up for ephemeral qualities such as image etc... but I do like your reviews as you often bring out such aspects which are a counterpoint to some of the breathless deer in headlights reviews. keep it up Doc Brown!

Thanks for showing us this beauty and giving your opinion. A lot of your review subjects fall into my category of ludicrously expensive pens (LEPs). But I'm the opposite of you: I don't get it, but only about all the OTHER LEPs. Nakayas I actually covet, while all the others, like Visconti or Omas, don't do it for me. I guess I just prefer laquer over swirly plastic, or lava, or whatever.

Great works! What do you think about MB writer editions? I mean they seem to have better design aesthetic compare to Visconti limited editions at same price point. A lot of viscounti limited have same standard nibs where MB WE all have individual nib design matching the Writers.

Does Platinum own Kakaya? Or are they in partnership, or just some sort of deal?

Yeah, I don't really get the appeal either, but then again I don't see the big deal about a Mont Blanc. I do like that MB toffee ink though.

Are the threads sharp? same question for the Wancher Dream. great reviews!

With Nakaya, I've always thought that if I ordered something custom, and got painted gold kanji letters and a pen made just for me, with a custom-ground nib to match, it may be worth the cost. But of course if you get all that, the price is going to be much higher than the $550 standard. And Shiro Tamenuri is the only finish that appeals to me, and of course they've discontinued it. Figures. So I won't ever be put in the position of wondering if they're too expensive for what you get.

I applaud you fair review. Like most things we buy, price is driven by supply and demand. Nakaya wishes to limit supply to make their brand exclusive - which is great for those people who will pay for having something most others cannot afford or choose not to pay for. But much past the $200 US mark i see very rapid diminishing returns in most fountain pens.

Those pems by Nakayawent up by $100 or so once John Mottishaw received the US franchise. That pushed the price beyond what the market price ought to be in my opinion.

I wish Nakaya had more options for the main color of the lacquer and the color that is underneath. The Kuro-tamenuri is the only one that really appeals to me.

+1 for personal opinion

Is it kimono or fukuro?

it definitely is my Grail pen. I think that this pen appeals to those with minimalistic sensibilities. The Japanese aesthetic is always that less is more. The Italian aesthetic is that more is more. This is my grail pen but but I probably won't ever own one because I just think it's silly to spend more than $200 on a pen.

Another great review, your dislike for what I presume are "trendy" pens comes across very well. Needless to say a frank and honest review. It sounded a bit scratchy to write with ( gives a lot of feedback) or was that just your mic being over sensitive?

Well Stephen this may be your most controversial review I have seen you do. I will say that your are correct in that it is a piece of art and this is my biggest departure from your views on a Nakaya pen arise. As an owner on one such little pieces of art, I do understand the willingness to splurge on paying that much for a hand crafted pen. Unlike the giant pieces of resin (149 and m1000) that are pressed out in the hundreds, if not thousands, by a machine, the bodies and finish are labored over by a skilled artist. Yes, the nibs are stamped out and mostly crafted by a machine, and that only afterwards are they tuned, does the individuality of the nib present itself. Your rating this pen as a 200 euro pen is highly unfair in my opinion when you presented other pieces in your collection which are clearly of lesser performance and more expensive than the Nakaya Writer. My Nakaya has a fine, soft flex nib with a Negoro Shiro-tame finish and I am in awe every time I write with it. It has the flex of vintage Waterman nib. The ink capacity may be small, but I would say that is an advantage in that it allows me to change colors more frequently that that of a piston filler. Well I should get off my soapbox now. An accurate review, but not one of your top reviews. (now let the trolls begin chewing on me) ha ha ha

Well, my next trip will probably be to Diest.

It is not a cigar (no clip) portable. It is a writer (with clip) portable. I have several Nakaya pens. They are works of art and they perform spectacularly. Different nibs provide different experiences that make writing a pleasure. I have watched many of your thorough reviews and I have noted your fair objectivity. You were a bit overly opinionated in this review. You dwelled on the price and not the merits of the pen. Premium fountain pens are generally expensive and appeal to those that appreciate them. However, it is your review and your prerogative. Thank you, Stephen for continuing to assist fountain pen enthusiasts make informed decisions.

For Nakaya prices I feel there are many more beautiful pens which have more than just shiny laquer and an otherwise fairly standard looking pen to boot. That said, I never held a nakaya in my hands, so who I am to complain.

These pens are absolutely worth their asking price! I own several of them and they have never disappointed! When you consider it takes months to create one of them, what is not to like? Stephan.... you say they are worth to you 200.00 Euro? I say bury me in them for that price!!! Check book in hand! Literally!

I subscribed within 4 minutes of the review.

The personal opinion is appreciated and maybe even right. But publicly putting your personal proce tag of Eur200 on the pen is uncalled for. It's like passing judgment on the maker who labored over the pen.

I had this with the Montblanc 146, definitely nice, but not for that price. For others this is the grail pen.

Indeed, this is one of the most plain of Nakaya's offerings. It also goes without saying, that both Nakaya's and Platinum pens (in general) are not for those with large to very large hands. (For some understandably, that's a certain deal-breaker.) Some would also say that the cartridge converter fill system is nothing special and that the nib units are the same as the standard nibs on the much lower priced Platinum 3776's. This is not to disparage them, I've found them excellent performers. Does it mean I need to scratch a Nakaya itch? Not likely. If you could get a Nakaya Decapod Twist or a Dorsal Fin, in the size and color to suit you, it might be more tempting. They are indeed a work of art, but then art is subjective. Thanks for the review! That Heki-Tamenuri finish is quite eye-catching.

Writing sample 8:30

I think the Urushi work is the art, the rest doesn't match the price tag.

I was just thinking today, there are fountain pen USERS and there are fountain pen COLLECTORS. As a user I really don't want a pen that is so $$$$ I would be afraid to use it for fear of eroding its value.

Hmmm, a nice reviw with poor picture …. much shaking, half the head in picture, issues with focus …. while moving to much for this distance

As long as you know what and why you are paying for, the that is no longer "hype". same thing goes for all brands. one needs to educate himself before making the purchase, otherwise, it'd be just following the hypes. That's why videos like this is doing a valuable service to the community. I always appreciate your honest reviews, even if I don't agree. Opinions are subjective, personal. :)

I loved that sigh and pause before you started the "like/don't like" part of the review. Your review explains why I bought my Nakaya used (for around 315 euros). It's a Kuro-tamenuri, cigar portable with no clip. instagram.com/p/BB_tc7MlXY2/ It ticks all the boxes for Japanese simplicity of form and design, and my own dislike of pomp and flash--I'm not even a big fan of the Nakaya Decapod design--but it's also an excellent writer I can use every day without attracting too much attention. Of course, it also helps that I live in Japan and can go to pen shows and have it adjusted by the Nakaya staff in person. That was also an important part of the sale for me.

What I find interesting is that while there seems to be plenty of people lined up to criticize Monteblanc, Visconti, Pelikan et al for their pricing/value, no one seems to want to do it to Nakaya. In fact owners seem to speak of them almost in religious terms. Have we found the Apple of fountain pens? They seem nice, but the styles I like are well above the $600 base models here in the US and therefore are near the bottom of my acquisition list. I'll have to settle for using my Platinum pens for the time being.

Hola. Es de miedo ! Se desliza sobre el papel. Saludos.

KONNICHIWA STEFAN-SAN

Semper Fi

excellent Japanese :)

When I graduate from a user to a collector, this is the first pen I will buy.

Mr. Brown, I've ask for advice before, and followed your recommendation, and the result was great. I don't know if you would help me with this, but I'm ready to spend around 100$(give or take) for a fountain pen, at the moment, and there's this pen shot in my area. I'd like to know which of the fountain pens on their website you'd say is the best for this much money. Also, I live around Montréal, so if you know any fountain pen shops to recommend around here (I don't know how that would be, but you never know), I would be glad to know of them. Here is the website of the shop, I would really apreciate if you were to check it out and give me your thoughts on the matter. www.stylo.ca/en/pages/accueil/index.html Thank you very much.