All subtitles are up!

This has to be the video of the century!how amazing to see her in action! I really can’t thank you enough for this video!

Just watched this again before the SF Pen 2023 pen show. I’m so excited to see / say hello to Hiroko and yourself. Safe travels to all!

I enjoy seeing Hiroko's pens on Instagram, so I've been looking forward to this video. I was surprised to hear that urushi is waning in popularity in Japan but increasing in the US, but I guess that makes sense. I only learned about urushi relatively recently through my interest in fountain pens. Now I'm interested in acquiring one of these functional works of art, so the information in this video is much appreciated!

Wow. I LOVED this. It was like a travel show and documentary! So great to get the interview with the artist and learn more about urushi. Thank you so much for this top notch content!

That was a wonderful intro! I really appreciated hearing from Hiroko, and how she's extending the traditions, and making new ones. Thank you so much for this!

Thank you as usual for another wonderful glimpse into Japan for those of us elsewhere. After hearing and seeing Hiroko-san’s work through you, Jacob, and CY, it’s so nice to hear from the artist herself!

I just received my raden pen from Hiroko. Her work is beautiful and this video was a real treat to be able to see her and her workshop. I think Hiroko should hold a Kickstarter that would fund a trip to an American pen show (the same way that the Pen Addict did a Kickstarter for going to shows for a live show). Even if I couldn't go to that show, I would help fund that. She is a treasure and should be treated as such.

Thank you Alesa and Hiroko! What a special treat! Love the lunch and temple break too 😸

Your calm and composed soothing voice is exceptional, ideal for this kind of documentary. Love & respect from India 🇮🇳

Thank you for this wonderful feature Ms Alesa! It's the next best thing to meeting Ms Hiroko herself ❤️

Her works is stunning. Definitely something I would very much like to have. Thank you for this, it's lovely to see the person behind the name and craft.

This was such an amazing treat .. I enjoyed every moment & felt like I personally met her and saw behind the scenes of an art I knew almost nothing about before today!!! Thank you Alesa!!!!

I have been very much looking forward to this video since you teased us a few months back. It is great to meet the amazing woman behind the outstanding work. I have pens I want to have her work on but have no ideas on design. I’d prefer she have creative freedom.

Alesa, I cannot thank you enough for this behind the scenes of Hiroko's work, I love seeing her transformations of pens into something special, a video to be watched again and again. Also a big thankyou to Hiroko for sharing this with us and the time she took out of her day.

What lovely and varied work! I can see why she is getting the recognition. Thanks for the video!

What a pleasure it would be to meet her in person. I’d fly out just to meet with her and consultation and wait til she’s finished to come back and pick it up…. Sooooo with it. BUCKET LIST!!!!!!

This was a great video! I watched it yesterday and loved it. I am familiar with urushi but didn't really know that much about it. Very informative and thank you. Hiroko has some beautiful work to be sure. The Japanese craftsmanship is second to none.

Thank you very much for letting us know more about her and her work. I found it superinteresting!

Fascinating insight into this legendary artist. Great to see behind the curtain in this video. Top notch.

I love your videos so much. The quality of the content, and production value are incredible. Thank you for giving us such delightful glimpses into Japanese culture. ❤️ I learn so much from your videos.

Another gem, Alesa! Thanks so much for sharing!

Thanks for this!

This is such a great video - thank you for showing us the artist behind the incredible creations! I really liked the shrine mini-tour as well as the studio.

Amazing video, thank you for this!

What a great video! Thank you so much!!! I was planning to go to TIPS last year but, well that didn't happen as we all know. I love seeing a glimpse of Japan as well as meeting the artist behind such beautiful work.

Thanks so much for this documentary.

Gosh, such an amazing video. Wow. Her work is stunning. Such a great subject. Thank you😻

Fascinating. Breathtaking. Moving. Thank you for sharing.

I like how your camera can take extreme close-up shots of those lovely pens. She is a very skilled artist. Thank you for showing her work.

Loved this. Thank you for interviewing her and showing her studio. She has always been an enigma to me and it was great to see the artist in action.

Another unique mini documentary. Thanks.

Thank you both for doing this video! It was absolutely beautiful. My Bokumondoh fountain pen brings me so much joy. I hope to see you both again soon.

So cool to see Hiroko and her studio. I love the pens she's done for me and can't wait to get more.

Thank you for making this very informative video. I really enjoyed seeing this whole process as well as seeing Hiroko.

this was lovely to watch Inky! Thank you for showing an artist who works in Urushi and thank you Hiroko for showing your work! I would love to have a pen worked on by you one day :) Very informative and always lovely to see your videos

Great video! You really have a knack for it. Her work looks amazing, I think I’ll be getting one in the future.

Thank you so much! It was just awesome to see and find out more about how these pieces of art are created and to meet her. For some reason I expected a much older person and was pleasantly surprised. What a wonderful craft to carry on the tradition.

Great video and lovely work. Congrats.

WOW just so beautiful without words!

Gorgeous-learned a lot about the lacquer process!-(Aomori prefecture is close to Iwate prefecture where my mother was from…)

Wonderful! Thanks so much for this peek behind the curtain. Amazing to hear Hiroko herself on the nature of innovation and tradition.

Great video. I like the variety on this channel.

Beautiful artist and a beautiful video honoring her work!

This video is such a joy!

What stunning work. She is an amazing artist snd craftsperson!

🤩 stunning work. Great video and interview! Thanks so much for doing this 😃👍🏻 I’d love to get one done by her.

Thank you so much for this video! It's so nice to put a face to the wonderful artist behind some of my most treasured and beautiful pens. It was great to "see her in action" and to see the studio and neighbourhood. Amazing video, as usual, Alesa!!

So beautiful! I wasn't familiar with her work previously. Thank you!

What a wonderful artist! The video is pretty wonderful too. Thank you.

Thank you four your video. Many beautiful Urushi pens. Wonderful. I really want it. I always watch your channel.

Well this has made my lazy Sunday morning! Thanks so much, that was amazing. "Urushi" was something I knew nearly nothing about until today. Domo arigato

Fascinating video. She is so talented and her work is beautiful.

Her work is stunning!!! This was such a lovely video to watch, thank you for taking the time to put this together - it was really nice getting to know her better :))

Merci a lot for this amazing video

wow what a great treat- I love her work. May I one day have a pen worthy of her work.

Fascinating. I was so surprised that she is a woman! The pens are just beautiful, of course. But seeing her work space was incredible. What an amazing artist. Thank you so much, Alesa, for continuing to share your love of Japan with me/us. ❤️

Thank you for another fascinating look at an aspect of fountain pens that i only had a slight understanding for. In addition to sharing the beauty of urushi you make it possible to consider opportunities to actually acquire a ururshi pen.

Love studio tours. Pens as art and hand jewelry. Thank you.

What a great video! It's so nice to see something about her beyond the usual "Check out this pen I just got back from Bokumondoh".

Wow... Impressive

The great humility of a real artist What a person you allowed us to meet Thanks to both of you

I love your voice!

Thank you so much for making this video. I am fascinated and hope one day to have a pen that she has worked on. It would really be an honour.

Coolness, I love fine wirting instrumetns, the amazing fountain pen being the best and my favorite amoung the fine writing instruments- the pen, specifically the fountain pen is mightier than the sword. God bless, Rev. 21:4

Aloha 🌈. Thanks for another interesting and professionally done video. Hiroko-san’s pens are wonderful, although I think my first urushi pen will be a solid red or black like a miso bowl. I enjoyed a few hours in Hirosaki. Beautiful historic small city with nice castle, library, and apple pie. I didn’t know about urushi there. I saw some great lacquer in Wajima 👹on another trip, but I wasn’t as crazy about FPs then. Have a good holidays and enjoy late autumn and early winter in Japan 🍂🍁🎌

Nice content, thanks for the effort, subscribed xD

Thank you very much for this. Talk about 'perfect timing'. I am working through my ignorance and lack of value surrounding urushi and your video helped immensely. Can you believe I just ordered a Nakaya and didn't order a pen with urushi? Yeah . . . can you say ignorant ... or just stupid?!?!?! Anyways ... I am overcoming my shortcomings and learning to let go of my biases and appreciate the artistry, techniques, and value of these beautiful pens.

漆で嬉しいですね！I'm learning from Urushi decorations for tasteful way to decorate figurines that I make someday, I guess? How else can you put glittery items in such way I'm always amazed by it, maybe start with regular clear coat lacquer(that you use on models). Thank you for this very close interview! I'd love to try Urushi lacquering someday

One if your best vids so far, if I'm being honest. Good job. I'm not a huge fan of her flashy style, but can't undervalue the amount of skill it takes as a craftsman. One thing I keep wondering about such custom works though...if you're increasing the width of a grip with the urushi layer, does it not cause unnecessary frixion with the plastic inner cap, if a pen has one? Alternatively, if you trim down the grip on a lathe, how do you make sure the end result is wide enough to not cause any air leakage?

Thank you for making the video. I would like to know is there a way one can learn the urushi technique

I just found this video. Thank you very much. I have several of Hiroko’s urushi pens now. They are, of course my favorite. In fact I just got one a couple weeks ago. I immediately asked to be put in the queue for another. It sounds like a year wait but her work is worth it. I wanted to ask her if she would consider, for my next pen, something similar to the last pen but with a few pieces of raden. The last pen was shuro-zaya-nuri (棕櫚鞘塗り) with a ishime texture. I was imagining a new pen to be like this but with a few small pieces of raden showing through. sort of like jewels or hot magma being revealed though cold lava. not sure if that is possible given the materials but I am very open to whatever she comes up with. Is that possible

As for questions? I have none, but I want to express my eternal gratitude for my pen and I want to express what joy it brings me!

Your videos are all gems, especially these mini-documentaries that capture for all of us (everywhere) the people, places, and values of your fountain pen community in Japan. Thank you for including us as "virtual" members! Knowing that your Bokumondoh-ed Montblanc made your Top 3 Pens for Appelboom Pennen it is a joy and an honor to meet Hiroku Makino in your video.

New subscriber here.

I wonder if Hiroko could or would urushi a Lamy 2000 in solid yellow color

Thank you for this wonderful look into the artistry of Urushi. Your approach really highlights the "person to person" intimacy of Urushi lacquer work. I imagine that in many cases, the number of hours of a pen in the hands of someone like Ms. Makino exceeds those of the purchaser. 😃😃🖖

It's incredible to obtain a kind of pen like this and incredible to have the wallet rip open thanks to that too

Such a nice video. Did you study how to make documentaries? I always enjoy your videos they are so well made. The music in the back ground is perfect Thanks

80 percent of her orders are fountain pens! Indeed pens are mightier than (Katana) swords.😁

My only fear is if I discover I have an allergy to urushi 😅😅😅

So nice to learn more about Hiroko! Thanks!

I just got on her waiting list last month with a Pilot Custom 743, and I really want to tell her my favorite colors and let her do her thing! I'm so excited. Everything she does is beautiful.