The concept for this article was nebulous in my brain at first. Fall. Changes. Unexpected new releases and retiring pens from some of my favorite brands. They all felt connected, but I couldn't figure out how to put it into words. So I decided to take a walk, and I thought about how changes can be very difficult for me to accept at first, but then after I've had the time to process them, I slowly let go of what I previously clung to, begin to enjoy details of the new experiences they bring me, and even realize that what I rejected at first has now become something I treasure.
That's how I feel about autumn. My heart tells me I love summer and I want it to stay the way it is: lush, lingering, languid. I want flowers, long days, fresh fruits and vegetables, shooting stars, a soft warm breeze on bare skin. When Daylight Saving Time ends, things feel dark and not just literally. But, the cooler weather means I can go for a brisk afternoon walk without being hot. I can sleep better at night. That cup of hot coffee tastes extra good. And there are so many colors.
I always forget about the colors, so intense and so extraordinary that they are hard to even describe: a vibrant orangepink, bright golden yellow, rich squash-apricot, crayon red layered with purple, chartreuse, faded cherry lemonade ombré, crimsonblack, fire orange copper, apricot, saffron, faded plum, custard, subtle soft and rich browns with details and contrasts almost too lovely to bear, and every exquisite gradient in between. And then, the dark seems to recede. It's not gone, but it's no longer what I notice. Now the changes are interesting rather than threatening, and I'm ready to appreciate the details and the new direction life is taking.
[Pictured: Sailor x KAMAWANU Professional Gear Standard Tsurumaru-Ume Limited Edition fountain pen and my 2027 Mega Light Hardcover Hobonichi Weeks planner in Mandarin Orange.]
I guess that's a long, drawn out way to say that I want to talk about Sailor. And I want to tell you about a brand new pen from Pilot and some favorite colors that are going away soon. I'm in the mood for earthy browns, subtle textures and bold contrasts. I'm open to surprises, and excited about what's next. I'm feeling whimsical and creative and I want something that makes me smile. All of that. It's November, and, in a pen landscape where there's a new color, a new gimmick, and new resin mix every other week, it's the thoughtful choices, creative ideas, and unexpected directions from my favorite Japanese pen brands that stand out to me the most.
[Pictured: Pilot Enju, a new release this November. Where to next?]
The Warmth of Wood: Pilot Enju
Let's start with the Pilot Enju. This new pen is part of Pilot's Custom Art Craft series, which has previously only been released in Japan, but it's totally different from the Custom Kaede Maple and other pens that have appeared in this line. The Enju is a tall pen, the same size as the Pilot Custom 845 (the slimmer of Pilot's two classic Urushi lacquer pens), and uses the same amazing #15 size 18 karat gold two-tone nib, available in Fine, Medium, or Broad.
Like Pilot's Urushi lacquer pens, the Enju is handcrafted and features a very special material of its own: Japanese Enju, the wood of the Styphnolobium japonicum, better known as the Japanese Pagoda Tree or Chinese Scholar Tree. This very hard and durable wood has beautiful, fine grain and is traditionally associated with longevity, prosperity, and good fortune. It has been revered since the Shu dynasty (1122-240 B.C.) and used to decorate the architecture of temples and shrines and in traditional crafts. Each pen has its own unique grain pattern, and the wood will develop additional depth and richness over time as you handle it, becoming more and more individualized. I was surprised when I first saw one, as it starts with a lighter color than I expected. The brand-new pen almost has an unfinished look. Then I thought about how it begins like a blank slate, waiting to take on the warmth and character that will make each pen special to its owner, and I realized that changes that happen slowly are more valuable and rewarding.
I love Pilot's 18 karat gold #15 nib, so I'm very excited that a second pen will now feature it. It's precise, springy, very responsive, and seems to float over the page. The first time I used one, I was blown away by what a light touch I needed and how effortless it felt. It always writes perfectly for me with every stroke, no matter how quickly I jot down notes or how carelessly I hold it, and I can write with it for hours without ever getting tired.
When I show people my Custom 845, they are sometimes surprised by its weight, which is fairly light for its size and substantial presence (27 grams when empty). The Enju is a few grams heavier (31 grams) and I can feel the difference when I hold it in my hand. Those who prefer a little bit more heft will really enjoy the feel! The Enju also has a more contemporary clip design than the Custom 845, and its center band is entirely shiny gold with no contrasting black elements, allowing the beauty of the wood to take center stage with only the warm gold trim as contrast.
[Pictured: Pilot Enju and Pilot Custom 845 in Vermillion.]
The Enju comes in a newly designed premium gift box and is accompanied by a black leather Pensemble pen case with a soft grey suede interior, making it an especially nice gift, either to yourself or another very lucky pen lover. The case is stiffer and glossier leather than Pilot's other soft, flexible Pensemble pen sheaths, and seems very sturdy. The suede inside is, as expected, luxuriously soft. The overall impression, both of the pairing and of the pen itself, is one of strength, dependability, and refinement.
Collaborative Sustainability: Pilot Chanomegumi
I've already introduced the new Chanomegumi collection in an earlier article, but I wanted to briefly mention it here as well, since it's such an extraordinary addition to Pilot's lineup. Chanomegumi means "Blessings of Tea," and the three pens and matching cases are inspired by the colors, textures, and traditions of Japanese green tea. They are a collaboration with two other intriguing Japanese partners: the tea company Ito En, and Lezza Botanica, a sustainable, eco-friendly leather-maker that uses upcycled byproducts from the food industry, including the leather itself and the tannins used in the tanning process. The soft, touchable pen sheaths feature textured leather on the outside and a lighter-colored, velvety suede on the inside. They're tanned using tea-residue dye, a byproduct of tea production. I think this is an amazing direction for Pilot to be taking, and I love both the sheaths and the pens themselves!
The pens join the Metropolitan, Metro Pop, and Animal pens in Pilot's MR collection, and are the first-ever limited edition MR pens. Their form factor and smooth, reliable nibs are the same as those of the other MRs, but when you see one, it's immediately obvious that it's something different and special. The earthy Roasted Tea Brown and Deep Green pens have matte, textured barrels and a finish with surprising depth, while the fresh Light Green pen's barrel has a lovely high-gloss finish. Unlike the standard-edition MR pens, even their center band designs are textured, and I love rubbing my fingers over them. They are more expensive than the other MR pens, but have a more premium look and feel, and, so far, the response in the store to these new pens has been phenomenal. Will Pilot have more collaborations on the horizon? I don't know, but I'm excited to find out!
Sailor Iriomote Cat: Conservation, Cuteness, and Casual L
Just as Pilot's Chanomegumi collection takes the beloved MR in an intriguing environmentally conscious direction, Sailor's Overseas Exclusive Limited Edition Iriomote Cat Professional Gear Standard fountain pen combines conservation and cuteness in a pen that has obsessed me since the first time I saw it.
First, let me explain. Iriomote Cat and the Pilot Enju were the two pens that inspired this article. I didn't get to actually see the Enju until I had already begun writing, as our shipment was slightly delayed. In the meantime, I brought the brand new Iriomote Cat home and started taking photos. The pen is inspired by a rare wildcat found only on Okinawa’s subtropical Iriomote Island, where fewer than a hundred remain in the wild. A portion of the proceeds from every pen is donated directly to the World Natural Heritage Okinawa Conservation Consortium to support species conservation and environmental protection in Okinawa. Sailor had an Endangered Mammals series in the past, but the pens were hand-decorated by a master maki-e artist and cost nearly $2,000. Iriomote Cat has a silkscreen-printed design bonded to the resin, and is around the same price as an Esterbrook Estie.
I'm not the kind of person who is normally attracted to cute things, and although I know it is very popular now among teens and adults alike, the kawaii aesthetic with big, round, exaggerated, childlike features doesn't appeal to me at all. Iriomote Cat isn't like that. It's just... irresistible.
As I placed the pen in different environments to try to best capture its rich, translucent chocolate-brown resin, the darker spots on the cap that reflect the critically endangered Japanese wildcat's natural camouflage markings, and the two images of the Iriomote cats, I found myself unbelievably charmed. I couldn't stop looking at my photos and talking about how much I loved the pen, much to the bemusement of my friend Bill, our Pilot representative!
Even though I'd thought we had enough Iriomote Cat pens in stock to make it worthwhile to include in the article, my co-worker Joy texted me the same day, asking me to bring the pen back in the morning, as she needed it for an order. Fortunately, I had taken some nice photos outside, but I was a little dismayed because I had hoped to take more pictures with some cat-themed stationery and inks like Félicette and Cat from Colorverse. My photos in this article are the only ones I managed to take, but hopefully you get the idea: it's a charming two-sided illustration of a playful and curious Iriomote cat, shown from the front on one side and from behind on the reverse, with her sweet kitten shyly snuggled against her back.
I brought the pen back and gave it to Joy, expecting to take home another one in a different nib size, but when I checked inventory later that day, we had only one pen left in stock! No!! We'd only had them for a few days! Because Iriomote Cat is a limited edition, I didn't know if we'd get any more. I texted our Sailor representative, Scott, to ask about the possibility of a restock, and he told me Sailor had very few left. Well... thank goodness, the powers that be decided to act quickly, and we are now in possession of the last of the Iriomote Cat pens. Sailor is now completely sold out.
Maybe I didn't need to tell such a long story about this pen, but I can't remember ever having a pen sell out from under me while I was writing an article, especially not one that was a lynchpin of the piece. Why did it sell so quickly? Because it's different and memorable, the price is great, and it's frankly adorable!
Iriomote Cat features Sailor's new, more affordable Casual L nib, introduced in March of this year, which you can learn about in my blog article or companion Laura's Loupe episode. It's a wonderful, very smooth, hand-finished stainless steel nib with IP gold plating, offering Sailor's impeccable performance and distinctive feel, perfectly tuned by Sailor's nib artisans and complete with that famous Sailor feedback to guide you as your pen moves over the paper. Sailor has been releasing more and more Casual L nib pens over the past seven months, and customers were skeptical at first, but I have watched their popularity grow as the community has become more accustomed to the change. I think giving desirable pens like the Iriomote Cat the Casual L nib is an extremely smart move for Sailor. The speed at which this pen is selling shows me that, although there are still many people who refuse to try a Sailor nib that isn't solid gold, others are more accepting of change, or love Sailor pens but struggle to afford the more pricey ones. These customers are welcoming the new nib.
[Pictured: Sailor Casual L nib on a Casual L Stable pen, part of Sailor's initial Casual L collection.]
Sailor x Kamawanu: Cherishing Everyday Life
The Iriomote Cat pen isn't Sailor's first intriguing Casual L release this year. Although the earlier Casual L pieces were more conservative, with an initial core collection of carefully chosen solid colors, I've had my eye on a more recent pair of limited edition sets, collaborations with Kamawanu, a beloved Japanese textile brand founded in 1987. Each Professional Gear Standard pen is decorated with a pattern inspired by the ones found on Kamawanu's fabrics and comes accompanied by a matching, authentic Kamawanu tenugui cloth hand-dyed in the same heritage pattern. Sailor describes this collaboration as arising from the theme "Cherishing Everyday Life," and says it "brings together Sailor’s celebrated Japanese pen craftsmanship and the heritage textile artistry of Kamawanu."
I've long loved fiber arts, and I actually keep my fountain pen inks in a chest with windowed drawers, each lined with a different fabric, so it's no wonder I'm attracted to pens inspired by these versatile Japanese cotton cloths that become softer, more beautiful, and more full of character as they are washed and used, much like denim. Cherishing everyday life is also one of my guiding principles, so I absolutely love this concept for a theme.
You can read about the fascinating craft of tenugui on Kamawanu's website. They are said to have been in use for over 1,000 years, and the traditional chusen dyeing method that Kamawanu uses was developed over 100 years ago. The cloths are used as personal accessories, to wrap gifts, to protect your lunch, to decorate your home, for cleaning, and more.
The two collaborative designs are each packaged in a cleverly designed gift box that includes the pen, matching tenugui cloth (approximately 35" x 13"), and a little guide to tenugui. Tsurumaru-ume "features a clean, warm ivory body adorned with vivid red motifs combining cranes and plum blossoms, traditional emblems representing longevity, peace, and harmony." Fugu-tatewaku is "finished in a rich, deep indigo blue patterned with white pufferfish and rising bubble streams inspired by the classic tatewaku pattern, a motif historically celebrated for bringing good fortune." I love both of them!
Even before I saw the tenugui and understood the inspiration for these pens, the designs immediately appealed to me and reminded me of some of my favorite fabric patterns. Tsurumaru-ume is both elegant and striking, with a bold contrast between the warm red and white. (You can see another photo of it near the beginning of this article.) As a lover of the ocean, Fugu-tatewaku is just wonderful and reminds me of the adorable pufferfish I met on dives and wanted so badly to hug. The happy blue color and undulating bubbles make the design even more delightful.
I love that Sailor is using the Casual L nib on interesting pens like these. The traditional Japanese-style artwork gives them a certain elegance and cultural depth and keeps them from feeling silly and childish, but they are fun and joyful in a more mature way. Sailor will continue to release more pens with the Casual L nib over the coming year in a wide variety of styles, from the conservative and elegant to the bold and surprising, and I can't wait to see where they will take us next!
Pilot: Endings, Transitions, and Appreciating What's Here
Of course, part of accepting change involves letting go, and we do have some favorites from Pilot and Sailor to say goodbye to. I've already mentioned in several of my articles and Laura's Loupe episodes that sadly, Pilot has announced that the beautiful Vanishing Point Raden is being retired. The final pieces will be produced in the next few months, and the remaining supplies will be very limited. We have just a few pieces left in stock.
All three of the standard Vanishing Point pens with gold accents are also being retired, so if you've had your eye on one of these handsome finishes, now is the time to get one. The black model is such a classic, and I also love the warm gold trim paired with the deep blue and red bodies! I enjoyed taking some photos of these pens in our new Ink and Stationery section to say goodbye to them.
[Pictured: Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pen in Black with Gold Trim, Namiki Black ink from Pilot, and Midori 5 Year Diary in Black Gate.]
[Pictured: Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pens in Blue with Gold Trim and Red with Gold Trim, along with the Midori One Day/Page Star Diary, Kartos stationery (background), and Iroshizuku Shin-kai and To-ro inks.]
[Pictured: Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pen in Black with Gold Trim.]
Farewell, old friends!
Along with the three Vanishing Point colors, Pilot is discontinuing the Custom 74 in Grenadine, the translucent bright red. I couldn't believe how much I liked this bold color when I paired it with matching ink and stationery!
[Pictured: Pilot Custom 74 in Grenadine, Pilot Iroshizuku Momiji ink, Hobonichi 5-Year Techo Leather Cover (foreground), and Midori 5 Year Diary in Red Gate (background).]
Pilot is also stopping production on the Grance, the graceful and elegant model introduced to the US market in July 2024. The Grance (pronounced to rhyme with "khan-say," not "dance") was first released in Japan in 1994, where its slender shape was more popular than in the West. The Grance features a pretty Art Nouveau-inspired engraving with a stylized capital G on its 14K gold nib and comes in five colors. The white, pink, and light blue finishes are opalescent, while navy blue and black have a slightly metallic finish similar to the one on Pilot's Decimo models. Fans of the color pink will be especially sad to see the Grance go, as it is Pilot's only pink pen with a gold nib!
We have one final Pilot product to say goodbye to, but don't worry, it's not an ink color, and this is one we've known about for a while. The US Exclusive Custom 743 in Verdigris was a special edition color released in April 2023, intended to be available for only a few years. Pilot's remaining inventory is now limited to the Broad nib. However, we still have some other nib sizes in stock at Pen Boutique (everything except Fine and Falcon), so if you've had your eye on the Verdigris 743, I'd advise snagging one now! My own Custom 743 is one of my very favorite pens, and this beautiful shade is very special. I can't wait to see what Pilot's next limited-time US Exclusive will be.
[Pictured: US Exclusive Pilot Custom 743 in Verdigris, embroidered Hobonichi cover in Skyful Yellow by Minä Perhonen, and Pilot Iroshizuku inks in Sui-Gyoku, Ajisai, and Chiku-Rin.]
Along with these retiring products, Pilot has announced price increases that will go into effect on January 1, 2027. These are due to significant increases in labor, raw material, and production costs over the past year, especially for precious materials such as gold, silver, and Urushi lacquer, as well as the specialized craftsmanship needed to maintain their high-quality standards. Although it's always painful to see prices go up, I'd rather see brands like Pilot and Sailor maintain their exceptional quality than compromise on materials or craftsmanship in an effort to make cheaper products. To me, fine pens like the ones these Japanese brands produce are worth paying more for, even if I have to save up and buy pens less often. That said, if you have a Pilot on your wishlist, buying it before the prices go up in January only makes sense.
Sailor: Tradition and Transformation
In case you missed the news back in April, Sailor also announced many changes to their gold nib lineup across their classic pen collections, and these changes are now in effect in their new releases. The 1911 King of Pen has moved from 21K to 18K gold, while the 1911L has transitioned from 21K to either 18K or 14K gold. The Pro Gear Slim has received an upgrade from 14K to 21K gold, while the 1911S, Pro Gear Standard, and Pro Gear King of Pen have retained their existing nib specifications.
Of course, they have also introduced the IP gold-plated steel Casual L nib, and released a variety of different pens with this nib, including a beautiful new 1911 Demonstrator, a sparkly Ringless Galaxy collection, the North American Exclusive Lucky Charm 2, and the Casual L Basis and Casual L Stable collections.
But don't worry, they continue to release solid gold nib pens, too, including their gorgeous 21 karat gold nib limited edition 115th Anniversary Commemorative pens made with three different kinds of wood grown near Sailor's home in Hiroshima. Other recent standouts have been the 21 karat gold nib Professional Gear Anchor collection and an intriguing new version of the Realo piston-filler, which now features an 18-karat gold nib, an expanded ink capacity, a removable grip section, and a translucent barrel.
For the holiday season, Sailor has teamed up with Pentel to create Keep the Sparkle, a fun Advent Calendar for stationery fans. Sailor has also released a beautiful new limited-edition Sailor Voyage 20th Anniversary Ink Bottle Set, celebrating two decades of its famous on-site "Ink Blend" events. The set includes four original 20 ml inks with hand-drawn label artwork and lettering created by the four master blenders themselves, accompanied by a keepsake storytelling leaflet. I love this release and I'm so glad Sailor's incredible ink blenders, Mr. Ishimaru, Mr. Takahashi, Ms. Tetsusashi, and Ms. Iwasaki, are toasting their own accomplishments this way! I love Sailor pens, but I have to be honest, I think I love Sailor inks even more.
Speaking of inks, Sailor also announced earlier this year that they were discontinuing 60 of the colors from their huge Sailor Ink Studio collection in order to refresh the lineup and focus on customers' favorite shades. Most of those bottles have been snatched up by collectors, but you may be able to find a few still around if you are lucky. The remaining 40 colors will be joined by 10 brand new colors, and I can't wait to see those--hopefully, soon! The Ink Studio line includes some of my all-time favorite inks and is such an incredible collection of beautiful shades.
This afternoon, as I was working on the final sections of this article, I took a break for a walk around my neighborhood. In just the past week, it has changed so much. So many of the leaves on the paths are now brown and crunchy underfoot, many branches are bare, and the world has transformed from luminous gold, orange, and red to softer shades and crisper details. But there are still so many interesting and beautiful things to see, changing all the time. On the ground, I found the fascinating fruit of a magnolia tree, a texture-lover's dream. The palm-sized bundle of deep apricot-colored velvet and delightful little spiky projections was bursting forth with smooth and shiny vermilion seeds almost as bright as my Pilot Custom 845. Even when the things we love are going away, life is still full of wonderful surprises.
The leaves swirling through the air and the silvery blue sky reminded me of another pen discovery I made while working on this article. Sailor's Japanese Scenery pens were an overseas exclusive (not available in Japan) from last year, but we never got them at Pen Boutique until last week. They are Pro Gear Slim pens with the discontinued 14-karat solid gold nib, and it truly seemed like serendipity when Joy brought them up to the store to be displayed.
The theme is fuubutsushi, "poetic symbols of the ever-changing Japanese seasons," and the series captures four distinct moments in nature. We have Nyudogumo, which depicts the clear, light sky blue of summer and is engraved with fluffy summer clouds; Tasogare, in a warm yellow showing the quiet beauty of a field bathed in the golden light of sunset; and Kogarashi, which is an intriguing muted brownish gray winter tone. It "represents the strong early winter wind that strips the leaves from the trees, capturing the raw, crisp feeling of late autumn/early winter." So perfect.
We didn't get very many of these pens, but you may be able to order your favorite if you are quick. And if you are able to visit our store on Saturday, November 21st, you can talk with our wonderful Sailor representative, Scott, about Sailor's season of change and renewal. We will also be having a store event with Bill from Pilot on December 4th and 5th, so don't miss that, either! Yes, summer is over, but that means it's time for the season of store events with some of my favorite people. There is always something to look forward to at Pen Boutique, and I choose to focus on the colors, the joy, and the beauty of the small moments with nature's changes and my favorite pens. Happy November!
-Laura P.
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