Hirota Urushi - Sakuragawa

Important Notice: This pen is only one piece available for each color. Since the complexity of the model will take months to craft, we cannot guarantee the same model will come back again in the future.

Sakuragawa

Imagine a delicate white mist hovering over a clear river in an area of Japan untouched by man and the trappings of civilization. As the day continues, Japanese trees with beautifully colored and varied flowers begin to shed these petals into the river, and it is the beauty and grace reflected in that river that we found our inspiration for the Sakura-gawa.

Multiple thin layers of natural, white lacquer (Urushi) is applied as a base onto the fountain pen. After a significant period of time, authentic cherry-colored lacquer is applied on top of these layers, which is thoroughly polished after drying to reveal the layers of white Urushi in a completely unique and un-repeatable pattern. Through this complicated method, we are able to evoke the unmistakable, impossible to recreate vision of flowers floating on a river. Due to the difficulty of the handcrafting process, only one piece exists with this design. 

Hirota Urushi

Hirota Urushi is the Japanese traditional Urushi art hand-crafted by master Hirota Yoko (廣田洋子). Master Hirota's artworks are unique in designs and techniques, which are hard to find among common Urushi lacquerware.

There are 4 main techniques normally used in Master Hirota's art:

- 櫛目堆漆塗 (Kushime Tsuishitsu Nuri)

- 金箔 (Kinpaku)

- 石目堆漆塗蒟醤 (Ishime Tsuishitsu Nuri)

- 金彩ひび塗 (Kinsai Hibi Nuri)

Fountain pens from Hirota collection are handmade one by one and require years to create. Therefore, each design is limited to only 1-3 pieces.

About Master Hirota Yoko

With a great interest in traditional handmade crafts since elementary school, Master Hirota decided to choose this path and developed a strong passion for Japanese Urushi-making traditions. Master Hirota now has more than 30 years of hands-on experience in making Urushi and Maki-e.

Hirota's artwork focus on the stylish minimalism and durability of the objects. Either it's a pair of chopsticks that serve everyday meals, or it's an ornament used in the palace, it must last long and express the aesthetics of Japan's art.

Specifications

Material & art: Ebonite, Urushi

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Nib: #6 Jowo stainless steel, Wancher 18K gold

Feed: Plastic, ebonite black, ebonite red

Compact air-tight cap: Preven dried-out ink problem

Size & Shape

Packaging

Traditional Japanese Wooden Box + Cartridge & Converter + Instructional Materials