Build Your Perfect Kakimori Pen

Choose from five elegant pen holders and two metal nibs to create your perfect Kakimori pen. First, choose your nib. The difference between the brass and stainless nibs is pretty subtle, so you can't really go wrong. Brass is slightly smoother and inkier, while stainless is slightly more precise.

Next, choose your pen holder. The wooden holders are all the same lovely, tapered shape, and all are lightweight, for minimal hand fatigue. The wood holder options are sakura wood, blonde sakura wood, walnut, aizome indigo-dyed sakura wood, or black urushi (a traditional Japanese lacquer finish).

You can also select the Kakimori Aluminum Holder, which is larger and heavier than the others. It's ideal for those who like weightier pens and people with larger hands.

You'll receive a nib and a pen holder, both in embossed Kakimori gift boxes. All components of these sets are made in Japan. Ink is not included; pair this set with any fountain pen ink or dip pen ink. (We have quite a few ink options to choose from...)

About Kakimori Metal Nibs:

We don't often see genuinely new tools for artists. More commonly, manufacturers announce refinements to existing products, new colors, etc., but the analog art materials business is a very old one, and it's often thought that there's nothing really new to be invented.

The metal dip pen nibs from Kakimori ares a rare exception. We've never seen anything quite like it: a conical nib with eight capillary slits carved into the sides, capable of holding a surprising amount of ink near the surface of the nib. Submerge the Kakimori Metal Nib in pigment ink, liquid watercolor, or any other water-based artist ink, and it quickly fills with color. Then, you can write or draw for a long time before needing to dip again.

It's not just the high capacity that distinguishes this nib from traditional dip pens. It's an incredibly expressive sketching tool, because the ink is continually drawn to the variously shaped surfaces of the nib through capillary action. The ink doesn't run and drip; it adheres to the tip and the wider, wedge-shaped areas around it. As a result of this unique design, you can quickly transition between line weights, shapes, and flow rates by turning and angling the nib.

Because you can use it with such a wide range of wet media, the Kakimori Metal Nib is truly a game-changer for artists in a variety of disciplines. Calligraphers will appreciate the ability to write longer pieces without constant re-inking and the unique line transitions this nib offers. Illustrators and cartoonists can pair the ease of use of a fountain pen with their favorite pigment inks.

And if you enjoy watercolor sketching, the Metal Nib might just change the way you work. Fill it with liquid watercolor (like Schmincke Aqua Drop) and draw freely on watercolor paper, then use a wet brush to blend and texture your piece.

About Kakimori:

Kakimori began as a stationery shop in east Tokyo, and they've quickly become one of the most creative and thoughtful product design firms in our industry. Drawing on a tight-knit network of Japanese artisans and manufacturers, Kakimori offers playful and poetic supplies that bring traditional media into the contemporary world.

Browse our full Kakimori collection.