Are you heavy smooker? I can't remember a women ever with that rusty voice.

@@LazyStory no I don't "smooke". Is that like smoking without spellcheck?

I so agree! We really need to get out of the compartmentalized thinking. I think what helps is that there is such a concentration of stationery customers here in Tokyo that they can try stuff out like this.

hahaha! I had to stop buying rocks to support my habit! Thank you!

Seriously! I need to quit eating and save for more stationery...

Hakuna matata. No worry. Since you live in Tokyo, you do not need to own a car, therefore you do not need to pay the eye popping rent for the parking spot, nor outrageously expensive gasoline, nor the wanton taxes on automobiles.

@@dokugohikken8769 That's true of any city, but the higher cost of living makes up the difference and then some.

​@@InkyRocksROTFL 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Wouldn't that be awesome!

hahaha! I know! The bag is also kind of shaped like Mt Fuji!

I've been thru Mariposa several times! But it was way before I was interested in rocks! I think it's great your son still tumbles rocks--I had a tumbler that I was always running stuff thru, but moving out to Japan, there is limited space and I had to give it up. I hope you can make it out here sometimes in the near future--you would love it.

Thank you! I would love to see one in Toronto--I want to go visit!

I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’ve been so busy lately but comments like yours really make me feel like I’m contributing to the community and keep trying to make time to make these vids-thanks!

THanks so much for watching Lynne! It really is a fun store!

Thank you so much! I especially appreciate your comment as I’m now scrambling and behind schedule on my next vid hahaha!

Thanks so much. Nice to hear when I’m so busy-feels worth it!

Thank you so much Michael! Kind support from people like you really keep me going. I appreciate it.

Thank you so much Paul--and thanks for your continued support!

Thank you so much! When you do make it out here later, you will definitely enjoy the store--I guess that was the silver lining to your cancelation!

Wow! I can't wait! Thanks for the heads-up!

Thanks so much for watching! It really is a fun store! Good Luck!

hahaha! That is a bummer but hopefully this will be over soon and we can appreciate how nice it is to go out and about. My next video is about appreciating my pens (kinda--I know I will appreciate them after I am done!)

@@InkyRocks Looking forward to it! ^__^

Thanks so much Peter! One of our friends is a boss in a pretty big office with young people and he is always going to weddings. The family actually have to budget for that! When you go over to his house, he has expensive looking stuff that when you ask them, where did you get that--the answer is always, "it's a gift from the bride and groom!!!" His whole house is decorated with gifts (LOTS of clocks!)

@@InkyRocks So I guess, the concept of "regifting" kind of does not work in Japan:-)

@@peterhofmann8292 You would have to be VERY careful as it would be a major faux pas to be caught at it!

haha! Ancora is good to dream about! Thank you!

They really are--it makes purchasing things more enjoyable!

I know! The US definitely needs a store like this. But I think the on-line shopping is way stronger in the US. My wallet is always screaming hahaha!

I really do enjoy living here. I'm glad I can share it. And as always, thank you so much for your support💞

@@InkyRocks 🤗🤗👏

Thanks so much for watching! It really is a fun store!

Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Take care💖

Thank you so much--glad you enjoyed it!💕

hahaha! ONLY the cool stuff! Thanks!

Thank you so much Russell! That's one of the things I really liked about the store--cool things at every price point!💕

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you are coming out here to visit--Japan has so many things that are fun and interesting. And yes, I'll eventually make a quick tips video for visiting!

It really is! Thank you for watching and commenting!

hahaha! Sorry but not sorry! You are so right about the Pro Gear. Right now, I think it is the funnest fountain pen place in Tokyo!

Thanks so much! It was a fun visit!

It really is a fun and gorgeous store! I've seen a lot of those kits but this one is pretty luxe!💕

It IS a cool store! I can’t wait till things open up too!

I know! Those paw prints were pretty cute. It was a fun store and hopefully can lure more stationery people over to try fountain pens!

Thank you --glad you enjoyed it!

I really love your always positive attitude. I'm so glad that not only are you back into fountain pens, but you have the grace to credit Gen Y and Z. The community is better with you in it💖

I'm GenX and proof that you can teach an old dog that fountain pens and pretty ink are awesome! 👌 ❤

Thanks so much! I think the US is so much more “on-line” centric. The online stationery shopping in the States seems much better. The US just needs to be more active in getting more overseas stuff!

Thank you. It really is a cool store. I'll be first in line when they customize the Pro Gears!

THank you so much! Definitely drop by this store when you come back to Japan again! If you like Sailors pens or cool stationery, it's a must!

Thank you Susan! Hope you can make it out here one day (and the food is AWESOME!)

It really is!

Pretty cool right?! It feels heavy and pretty luxe.

It really was fun! Hope you can make it out here one day!

Thank you so much--glad you found it to be an adventure!💕

Thank you Eduardo! It WAS cho kawaii!!

It really is a neat store!

Thank you so much! I hope you can make it out here one day soon!

Thanks so much--hope you enjoy them!

It's so cool!

Oh another ink and rock person! Best kind! Thank you and yes, I am very lucky to live out here. I hope you can make it out here sometimes in the near future! You would love it (but not the prices for minerals/gems--way better to get that in the US!)

When my wallet was empty, I left hahaha!💞

Thanks so much Richard! Yes, when that customized Pro Gear shows up, I'm in trouble!💕

My pleasure--thank you so much for watching and commenting!

Thank you so much for watching! I hope you can make it back out here again soon! You know how much fun it is!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

hahaha! Hope you make it back out here soon!💕

Thank you so much! It really is a fun store!

hahaha! Thank you! I hope you can make it out here one day!💕

It really is! Thank you for your feedback. I feel like including stuff about Japan makes the pen/ink/stationery experience richer but it's good to hear that others find it useful too!

Oh, mine is always screaming. I need to go sell some of my pens and stuff now hahaha! I've pretty much well stopped buying rocks now...

hahaha! That would be such a fun trip coming out here with friends! There are so many cool things here in Japan and I hope you and your friends can make it out here one day. Thank you for sharing my hobby with me!

hahaha! I just like Fuji a lot! Those Sakura erasers are really good. But most erasers in Japan are. Thank you!

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Someone gave me the idea of doing budget stationery shopping in Japan--that might be a cool video!

@@InkyRocks I'd love to see that!

Thank you so much Marianne! If you get a chance, Japan would be a great place to visit--some many cool things besides the awesome stationery! You'd love it! Take care💖

Thanks so much 💖

Thanks so much Cynthia! I really enjoyed myself. That Kaweco pen customization sounds pretty cool and I want to try it when I can return to the States for a show!💖

Thank you! You are so lucky having family out here! You definitely need to come. I have several videos on pen stores here in Tokyo and I'm trying to add more. I may even take a couple of short trips, once the pandemic is over, to cover some out of Tokyo shops too!

Thank you! I hope you can make it out here one day soon--you would love it!

Oh. And Kaweco most times gives you the opportunity on trade fair to build your own fountain pen (Kaweco Sport) too. But only with one color mostly. But: you build it yourself. ;) Unfortunately this is nearly only at fairs. Or sometimes in the store.

I was also surprised that I had quite a few Plus stationery items already. I bought them at staid little stationery/office supply stores near my home. I like this new marketing approach by them because Plus didn't seem very memorable before hahaha! I did not know that about Kaweco. That is pretty cool!

@@InkyRocks Well... I think Plus is a little more accessible in your area. ;) But it was a good surprise to realise that I have some. The marketing idea is great. For both a win I would say.

Thank you so much Greg! Glad you liked it.

It really is!

@@InkyRocks It is like the Ikea of stationary.

Thank you so much! I hope you can make it out here one day. Though I really love the stationery and pens, there is also so much more that is cool over here. Someone suggested I make a "travel tips to save money" on shopping in Japan. I may do that. (oh and the FOOD is awesome here too!)

@@InkyRocks You are right about food in Japan! When I used to visit, clients would take me to really fabulous restaurants which certainly proved the truth of the Japanese saying that you also eat with your eyes- such is the exquisitely beautiful presentation of their formal meals. I have very fond memories of the Tsukuji market -even a sushi breakfast and once, a sumptuous feast in a Ryokan in Kyoto. I have discussed a holiday in Japan with my wife, but she is vegan and I think this could be a problem, although my impression is that Japan (especially Tokyo) is now very trendily embracing fusion and vegan food. Maybe I will be able to find a really good vegan restaurant for her so she can be "persuaded" to allow me to go on a pen and ink foray while we visit?! Incidentally, do you know Eurobox, the vintage pen shop run by Eizo Fujii? He is a wonderfully knowledgeable pen repairer and vendor. You should do a video of his interesting shop just off the Ginza.

@@freespirit995 Eurobox is definitely on my list of "planned videos!" Tokyo now has quite a few restaurants that are vegan or have vegan options. You'll have to plan carefully but I've watched quite a few videos on vegan couples coming out here to visit. Certainly one of the main things is to do a Airbnb kind of thing.

It really is! We need more like it!

Glad you enjoyed it! You are so lucky to live near the show! This year is the first I've missed the Gem Show in 12 years. Trying to lug all those rocks home on a plane is always daunting hahaha! "A rising tide lifts all boats" is often used as a economic statement but I meant it more of community improvement one. We help out the pen community and that leads to actually helping ourselves out along with everyone else. Hugs back from Japan!💕

Hi Susan, I am a fellow Arizonian. =^..^= Live 3 hours from Tucson. :(

hahaha! I love this! I live in (fountain pen) Rivendell!

Yes, I feel like if one gets a chance, Japan is very worthy of a trip. There are so many cool things here to include, of course, the stationery/pens. I agree with you about the Manyo inks. I like having them here but they were originally marketed as "exclusive" to outside of Japan. But as far as I know, I've only seen them at Ancora. Thanks so much for watching!💕

Seriously! When they come out with that, I'll need to exercise some discipline!

Oh no! Does your sister really like stationery? There are so many cute things over here in Japan!

@@InkyRocks ^_^ we both love miniatures so small cute stuff is right up our alley

That's pretty cool! And yes, I've never seen a travel kit use magnets like that!

Thank you!

hahaha!💖 Indeed!

Welcome to fountain pens! There are several fountain pen stores here in Tokyo. I think I have a playlist of them. I'm trying to add more videos of that type. And of course, the stationery over here is amazing!

You are so right--I hope they don't jack the price way up if they do a create your own PG! I kind of did run amok...hahaha!💕

You need to absolutely come when you get the chance. There is so much over here that is interesting and fun!

Hope you can make it out here one day soon!💕

Absolutely. I think they meant for it to be that (maybe in Italian?)💕

@@InkyRocks Yes, Italian makes sense. Another language in which anchor is "ancora". 😊

hahaha! I kind of got sparkled out and am trying other pens (pastel and pearlescent are my current obsessions!)💖

@@InkyRocks I still love the sparkle! :)

Thank Jacob! Did you see yourself in the front hahaha!

@@InkyRocks I did! Btw, I remember when Plus first released that team-demi stationery kit box in September last year. They tweeted several teasers, calling it their biggest release in years. I thought they were going to release a pen ...

hahaha! At the rate I'm going, that may be the case! Those ladies were indeed happy but there were so many other people that were acting the same. I think it was a real hit! Thank you for coming along!

haha! They had a couple of pens (Pro Gear Ginza Black) and journals that were marketed to men!

I KNOW. There is just so much to do and see here! Pro tip: bring an empty suitcase (maybe 2) hahaha!

Thank you so much! That is such a great idea for a video! There aren't a lot of second hand fountain pen stores and they tend to sell high end pens. But there are a lot of places to shop for inexpensive stationery and and some fountain pens. Believe it or not, sometimes the "character" stores carry some cool stationery. I'll try to think of ways to save while shopping for stationery in Japan and make a video once the pandemic is over so I can go to all those places and film.

hahaha! The store had so many MORE things I would have liked to buy, but alas, my wallet was already pretty damaged by the time I left! I should do a review on it--maybe in with other similarly priced pens!

It really is--a little different than your run of the mill stationery store.

@@InkyRocks It is. Ive never seen pen customization on that level before. The build your own pen is an amazing (if not dangerous to wallets) concept haha!

hahaha! I may not be back for awhile--I left too much of my wallet there!

It’s held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center in Hamamatsu cho here in Tokyo. It’s typically at the beginning of November. I’ve got several vids out on it. It would also be helpful to check out their website and Instagram.

You are amazing. Thank you so very much .

That is great! I hope you can make it back here! I really enjoy living here. I've live here off and on quite some time but my Japanese is crappy mainly because I can get by with English with so many people hahah!

@@InkyRocks For now not an option, but I really hope we can come and stay for a while in a few years. If anywhere, I think my hubby will be happy with Japan. It would be a dream come true. Might be a bit too much $$$ but I can hope. Not sure where to start... I have to do more research.

SERIOUSLY! I hope they come around with that soon.

That's an interesting thought. Do most women you know who use fountain pens prefer cartridges? You may be right as their build your own pen comes with only cartridges. I think the problem with them is that they eventually dry out so maybe a company won't want to have a huge inventory.