To be honest, only 3 questions arise immediately before we can talk about the pen itself. Who or what is Nakaya? What is urushi? What does ‘ultimate goal’ or ‘Grail Pen’ mean to a pen enthusiast? Let's see!

 

NAKAYA FOUNTAIN PEN Co., Ltd., Japan

Although the name may not mean much to many, perhaps even to those less lost in the world of fountain pens, ‘Platinum’ as a pen manufacturer may sound familiar (Preppy, 3776, as popular models).
The company, originally founded in 1919 under the name Nakaya, is actually the Platinum Pen Company today, and in 1997, the Nakaya Fountain Pen Company was established separately. The president of both companies is Nakata Toshiya.

Why are there still two separate ‘brands’? Unlike Platinum, Nakaya pens are handmade, and rather in a workshop style, by the hands of experienced older pen masters. So much so that pens ordered directly from them have a waiting time of several months, or even exceeding a year. Naturally, due to this, the production numbers are relatively limited.

 

An important feature of these pens is the hard rubber / ‘ebonite’ body and the ‘urushi’ surface treatment, which can only be realized with the experience and attention of skilled pen masters.

 

What is ‘urushi’?

A type of natural lacquer obtained from the resin of a certain tree species, the East Asian lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera). According to some sources, it has been used on various objects for 6000 years, but it truly reached a high artistic level in the 6th century. Naturally, luxury items were made exclusively for the imperial family and the nobility.

 

Like all lacquers, this must be applied in a completely dust-free environment, and a storage environment with specified humidity and temperature must be provided for its solidification. The hardening is important for several reasons with urushi. Unhardened material can cause allergic reactions, and since the coating is applied in multiple layers, the proper hardening of each layer is crucial. This is also why making a pen takes several months. The lacquer itself is nearly transparent or amber-colored, and pigments can be added separately.

Interestingly, finished urushi products are water, alcohol, solvent, and acid-resistant, and they do not contain toxic substances. The resin also prevents mold, and according to a recent test, it has antibacterial properties as well. Only prolonged exposure to strong sunlight damages urushi, and over time, the layers become increasingly translucent.

In short….

 

But then what is this „Nakaya Dorsal Fin 2”?

We might think of it as being similar to Pelikan's M1000 or Montblanc's 149 in the product range.
Every Nakaya pen (with one or two exceptions) is built on a hard rubber body, onto which the urushi surface is created. There is a kind of physical nib size (14k gold), but with several surface and broad writing thickness options. Additionally, every pen is cartridge/converter system.

 

A distinctive feature of Nakaya pens is the differently colored urushi surface on the edges. This is the so-called ‘tamenuri’ technique, which consists of a more pronounced base color and dark top layers that are wiped off at the edges. Usually, it is sealed with several transparent layers. Each color combination also has a specific name. The Dorsal Fin 2 here has a ‘heki tamenuri’ surface, which represents a green-brown combination, and the sibling model features a ‘toki tamenuri’ color, which consists of orange hues.

Naturally, many other urushi colors and techniques are also used. It is worth browsing their site and the resellers.

 

What makes the Dorsal different?

What stands out at first is the pen's larger size compared to other models. The wall thickness of the pen body is significantly greater, and of course, the pen itself has a larger diameter. This also makes it noticeably heavier, but urushi pens are fundamentally very light. Just from this, it can be felt that this model is positioned a bit higher. The diameter of the Dorsal grip section, where our fingers rest, is nearly comparable to a Pelikan M1000, which also indicates that it is a relatively large pen. This already sets it apart from other Nakaya pens, which typically feel “one size smaller.”.

But its true uniqueness lies in the urushi, where there is the ‘Fin 2‘, which I think can be calmly translated as fin. As a dorsal fin. The pen cap and the end of the pen body feature two elements that are characteristic of this model, which are unusual for traditional pens. The translation of ’fin' also fits well, but in fact, the form also conceals the classic Japanese sword, the katana.

When we might think that it is special merely because of its shape, the true masterful element comes in: these fins are carefully built up and shaped from urushi layers. At this point, the hand of an experienced urushi master is truly important.
Something very simply special, a pure form, but it radiates all the invested work.
Unique pen manufacturers have tried to replicate it by carving the shape, but they have not succeeded in achieving this fine character.

Interestingly, there are 3 sibling models in the production portfolio: Dorsal Fin 1, Dorsal Fin 2, and Ryogiri.

The Ryogiri can be considered the base model, which does not have an urushi fin, only the simple, larger-sized pen body. For a long time, it was only available to a narrow circle, exclusively at Nakaya events. Later, in 2021, it was made available for order directly from Nakaya, but it is still not available through resellers.
The Dorsal Fin 1 has only one fin on the cap, which also has a different shape, as its name suggests.

(There is also a larger pen body of this kind, the 17mm Portable Cigar, which is a typical cigar-shaped pen.)

 

People don’t just like to look…

First of all, Nakaya pens arrive in a balsawood box with a silk lining, in their own „pen kimono,” which is a pleasant and stylish accessory during use.
For someone who has never held an urushi pen, it is a bit difficult to describe the feeling. It has a very light silky, almost soft, warm sensation. It is completely different from even a systematically polished acrylic body. It is a truly unique, distinguishable feeling.

To all this comes the culture of Japanese quality, which envelops the whole thing. You can feel that you are holding a handcrafted quality premium product in your hand on the pen body, the threading, and the nib.

Speaking of writing, my experience is as follows: for those who have written with a Platinum 3776 pen, the feeling may be familiar, as their nibs are nearly identical. There is a certain amount of feedback from the paper, but their writing is smooth and pleasant. They are often described as having a „pencil-like” feedback. It feels smooth, but you know where you are on the paper. The amount of ink that is laid on the paper (ink flow) is also well-calibrated, just enough to be sufficient for the nib's nominal thickness. As a Japanese pen, the thicknesses write about one size thinner compared to European brands. So, a European EF thickness is typically comparable to a Japanese F.
Both types have a very pleasant writing style and are comfortable for everyday use.

The nib itself, therefore, aside from the design, is not very special, but only because Platinum nibs are inherently very good. Of course, for custom orders, writing preferences are also requested, the nib is checked, and adjusted to the wishes and writing position.

The essence is that it is not only beautiful but also works and writes as one would expect.

This is surprisingly not the case with many other manufacturers.

The design of the cartridge/converter does not provide enough premium feel for some, but precisely because of this, the whole construction is characteristically simple and clean. There is no built-in pump, it won't make it heavier, and it doesn't shift its center of gravity. Moreover, it can be cleaned much faster and easier. Japanese pens rarely have built-in pump models anyway. Fortunately, unlike Sailor, the converter capacity does not differ from the usual. It is important that only Platinum cartridges and converters are compatible with Platinum and Nakaya pens.

 

Nakaya – The peak of layers

For me, Nakaya represents simple yet elegant, refined Japanese functionality with a touch of luxury. Can anyone wish for more who truly wants to use their pen? The urushi is indeed incomparable to other pens.

It may seem a bit abstract that an urushi pen is treated as such a special object while it is still just a writing instrument, but when rational arguments run out, emotions can come in. Very pleasant and eye-catching emotions!!!

 

I have always bought pens by only purchasing those pieces that I truly desired, those that left me restless with the desire to possess them.

I don’t have a huge collection.

For me, the Dorsal Fin 2 has been the pen from the very beginning that I said if I ever get one, I won't need another. It will be the ultimate goal, the ‘Grail Pen’.

In fact, it turned out that way because I no longer have a sense of lack. But this was not my last pen. Since the thicker barrel proved to be very comfortable, I was tempted to make the basic model, Ryogiri, available. So in the end, it got a twin 🙂

Before owning these, I already had two unique urushi pens. I received the first one as a gift, but even then I knew that this feeling was so different that perhaps transcending rational thinking, I would like to own more masterpieces from these masters.