Japanese Fountain Pen Ink Show (Inku-Numa Part 1)

[@PensandNeedles]

Wow! I learned so much, and I really want to go to an ink show like this one. I also appreciate the call to action to encourage voting in the usa by handwriting notes. It's an awesome way to use our pen hobby for change! 😁😁😁

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! These ink shows are a bit exhausting as I have to exercise so much self discipline hahaha! It really is a great way to use our hobby in a positive way! Thanks!

[@animula6908]

God almighty, do we need change! I’ve never before felt like a president would take the time and effort to literally murder me.

[@stargazer1359]

I love the ink that you display.....And, your voice s so soothing.💜

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! It's pretty creaky at the end as it's 4 in the morning now and my voice was giving out hahaha!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

This is such a delightfully fun video I can't watch it just once!!! I definitely have the Inku Numa fever! I'll be back I have to work literally. LOL

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much Chris! I'm drowning in the Inku Numa too and it's fun! haha! I'm exhausted from exercising so much self discipline on my wallet--I wanted to get everything!

[@jcparkins]

Tokyo shows are so much more interesting than ones in the US and I enjoy seeing them through your eyes. I'm looking forward to your next video and those beautiful glass pens.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you Jackie! This one was difficult as I've already covered this show last year. Those glass pens are far more fun that I had thought!

[@ramachandranmuralidhar8262]

The video is an eyeopener on ink choices and popularity in Japan and your representative examples are terrific. The videp brought out the stunning green sheen in the brown ink and the Kobe University Romanesque blue is stunning. Thanks

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you like that brown, it's pretty wild! Thanks for your comment!

[@miltonbonani2952]

Great video as usual. Thanks for this. Japan is the paradise for lovers of inks, papers and fountain pens.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! It really is. I can buy a fountain pen at the grocery store I shop at! Pretty amazing!

[@MrsinTN]

Inky.Rocks no way...at a grocery store? So cool! I wonder if the US will ever embrace fountain pens again... I wish that I had been introduced to them years ago.

[@InkyRocks]

@@MrsinTN Yes! Granted, I live in Tokyo and this would not be the case in a rural area, but stationery is much bigger here. On the other hand, I think many more people buy and renovate vintage pens in the US.

[@berryrohseberryrohse8392]

Thank you for Amabie (7:50/16:26). All your weekly videos have been a joy and inspiration during the pandemic.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much for your support! That Amabie is pretty cool hahaha!

[@annhall2937]

Loved this video. So relaxing to watch. I’m ready to be in the Ink Swamp

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! I'm currently drowning in the Ink Swamp!

[@davidmcguigan5497]

If the fountain pen world were Middle Earth, Japan would be Rivendell, at least in the delightful way you present your adventures, there! Thanks, so much fun!

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! What a great comparison! I live in Rivendell! Thank you!

[@VannessPenShop]

Thank you for showing us your ink shows! Someday....

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much for watching! You definitely need to come if you get the chance!

[@animula6908]

Thanks for blessing us against Covid. Sweet thing to do.

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! An inky blessing to boot!

[@HavokRose]

Thank you so much for giving us insight into Ink Numa. I hope I can go someday. And I also appreciate you including the Vote Forward information! I'm definitely checking that out.

[@InkyRocks]

Thanks so much for watching! It's a great way to use your pens (depending on your printer paper hahaha!)

[@bobbythompson263]

I love Japan, but never been there for fountain pens or inks, was there to perform and visit, next time I have my list, thanks to share that ink show and good luck for election day ...

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! At least next time you come, you will be prepared hahaha! If you ever go to Taiwan too, they have awesome stationery!

[@takeusaway3]

I picked up the Orihime ink directly from Yotsuba when I visited Shizuoka. It was a couple of days after Tanabata so I knew I needed to grab it. I went to Kawasaki recently, too! They had Amabie fountain pens in addition to the ink!

[@InkyRocks]

Wow! that's pretty legit! I have not been to a fountain pen/stationery store outside of Tokyo, since when I lived outside of Tokyo, I wasn't into fountain pens hahaha. Timing is everything!

[@empirestudio4397]

Subscribed :) I like the ink diluting in the water, it makes such beautiful shapes.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! This was flagged as spam for some reason and I just discovered my spam folder. I have no idea why, there were several other comments in it that made no sense either for being labeled spam...

[@mieumieu33]

Love your video, very inspiring, and sharing all these information. Very informative. Thank you for introducing to Inku Numa :)

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much for your kind comments--I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@tsherbs1309]

Another beautiful video

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much!

[@tezzcan1]

It sounds like heaven to me.💕

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! It was pretty fun--but exhausting!

[@irule102]

WOW! That brown ink after you diluted it blew me away!

[@InkyRocks]

Yes! It was the ink "find" of the show!

[@pdtrubber]

You always put the icing on the cake. Thanks for all your love of sharing.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! It's people like you that make it so fun!

[@freespirit995]

You are so fortunate in living in Japan, which is a real paradise for pen lovers. I currently live in London where there are no dedicated pen shops. There is one fabulous stationery shop in Covent Garden called "Choosing Keeping" which stocks an interesting range of inks, but nothing like what you see on display in Itoya or Maruzen. I love your videos of Japanese stationery shops, and please do more on the local boutiques which sell their own bespoke products. I am thinking of shops like Kingdom Note in Shinjuku and similar. These are little jewels. I hope that the pen, ink and paper culture will one day really catch the European imagination as it does in Japan- but perhaps the Japanese (and the Chinese) start with the advantage of using a form of writing where a good nib and fine nib somehow enhance the communication experience... Looking forward to your next video!

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! That's funny, I always imagined London would be, at least, a vintage pen mecca. I was planning on attending one of the pen shows till Covid messed with all our lives. But I will definitely do a video on Kingdom Note and make it a combo video with a coffee shop or something! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@freespirit995]

@@InkyRocks The problem in London is that shops on high streets or in fashionable areas are being hammered by very high taxes and rents. For brick and mortar pen shops, this has proved to be a killer and the best shop (Pen Friends) closed a few years ago both of its shops (on Fleet Street and in the Burlington Arcade off Piccadilly). They are now an online shop. There are a couple of pen displays in Harrods and Selfridges, but these are franchises of expensive brands like Mont Blanc. Some of the "chain" stationery shops have cheap pens, like low level Parkers and similar, but otherwise a pen enthusiast living in London is therefore forced to shop online or travel out to "provincial" cities, like Oxford where there is Pen Plus or even further away like Write Here in Shrewsbury, on the English-Welsh border. When I travel to Rome or Paris, there are many fine pen shops, but in London it is sadly a desert!

[@InkyRocks]

@@freespirit995 Ahh! That's sad. I've heard London's cost of living is really high. I think fountain pens are part of the stationery scene here in Tokyo and even little shops have some fountain pens and then of course the large department stores do too. I guess I'll need to do more "pen shop" type videos!

[@paulsim2605]

Love it! cant wait for part 2. I can't believe the amount of new things there are out there and all thanks to you :)

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! It's hard to keep up with but a lot of fun!

[@hatshepsutxlll]

the old school stationary shop down here in Kumamoto, Kogyokudo, also has a store-exclusive Amabie ink (as she is, evidently, originally from kumamoto). Its a really gorgeous color, a bit like Pilot Ama-iro but more turquoise leaning.

[@InkyRocks]

That's pretty cool--I wasn't sure if the youkai was a he or she hahaha! Are you in Kumamoto? I used to live in Miyazaki--went to Kumamoto a few times, but it was before I got back into fountain pens.

[@1487marta]

amazing, as usual!

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! Happy New year!

[@MukeshGupta-mk4bh]

Good job... Lovely voice... Please keep spilling...

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! I will hahaha!

[@MultiEbbot]

Very nice video:) To go to Japan is my grailjourney and it would be so cool to attempt a pen/inkshow there.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! It would be if you can get the timing right. But if you can't, there are enough stores here to keep you way too busy and seriously injure your wallet!

[@FromStudioZ]

Loved your video! I have now added going to a pen show in Tokyo to my bucket list. Not sure it is one that I can accomplish, but I am dreaming!

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! Tokyo is a really fun place, even without the pen shows. If you get the opportunity, you should come. In the mean time, I plan on weaving Tokyo stuff into some of my videos!

[@FromStudioZ]

@@InkyRocks Fantastic! I look forward to seeing more about Tokyo!

[@dmullins311]

Thank you so much for sharing, especially for us who might never get the chance to experience it. I loved everything you showed us, but that glass pen....💟💟💟. Cannot wait for the next video.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! I used to not like glass pens and now I'm hooked!

[@dmullins311]

@@InkyRocks they do take a bit of time getting used too and they are sooo beautiful!

[@lorenzodellaquila4468]

Bellissimo video! Spero di poter partecipare un giorno a questo evento! I hope to go there one day!

[@InkyRocks]

Grazie mille! Spero che un giorno visiterai il Giappone! Please do come visit!

[@yobo93]

Man, the ink culture in Japan seems so fun 🤩 do people do tours of all those stationery shops w/ their exclusive inks?

[@InkyRocks]

I don't know. I haven't heard of it before! There are a LOT of collaborations and just about any major stationery store has some sort of special ink!

[@yobo93]

That sounds like a 🎶challenge🎶

[@FIDOUS]

Your videos pleasant, informative and very relaxing! Thank you!

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much--I'm glad you like them!

[@pamdemonia]

I know it's been 3 months since this was posted, but I just spent a bunch of time trying to find anywhere that might let me buy a bottle of that amazing brown ink, to no avail. I have been using Higgins Sepia Calligraphy ink for years to paint with as it both comes off decent watercolor paper easily and shades into a decent pink with water. Bit nothing like that Sessai ink! Anyway, thanks for your interesting and witty videos! Love from lockdown in San Francisco!

[@InkyRocks]

That Sessai ink is hard to get even when you live in Japan. I could only get it from this show or actually travel to the pen shop itself! I'm sure someone is going to capitalize on this soon. Thank you so much--I'm glad you enjoy my videos!

[@cwestern08]

Another great video. That is a beautiful glass nib.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! It is gorgeous--I didn't capture the opal very well.

[@stargazer1359]

Love the glass pen. It's perfect.

[@InkyRocks]

It's pretty cool. I'll be giving it away on my IG next week after the video!

[@stargazer1359]

@@InkyRocks I've been looking for one ...that one is so nice. I'll be on IG, you never know. 😉🖋

[@6ta8hs]

Your voice is so soothing! I love it! Thank you

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! It's funny, maybe I should do meditation videos hahaha!

[@MrsinTN]

It’s so interesting seeing how many opportunities you have in Japan regarding fountain pens and ink! It would be a lot of fun, I would think, attending that show. I was excited to get to stop by Vanness1938 last month on my way back home, but I had many many more miles to drive, so I only had 15 minutes or so. So as excited as I was about my short stop, I just cannot imagine how much more it would be to see a show! I’m very anxious to see part 2. Great video as always.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! I have yet to go to Vanness--I would like to go there and then afterwards dig up quartz in that area! It would be an "inkyrocks" kind of trip! But you are right--between the shows and great stationery shops, I have a lot of fun (and have to keep a close eye on my wallet!)

[@aag24]

Lucky old Tokyo. Everything is in lockdown again after the failed first lockdown. Another beautiful video, thanks. What an amazing show I loved the notepads and printed blotting paper. (So happy I found you on Instagram! I’ve been off it for so long … it wasn’t good for my mental health … but I missed old friends).

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! Japan's Covid numbers are pretty good and almost everyone wears a mask. I think it is a good thing to take breaks from social media. I do (but usually for about a week or so) and I also frequently put my phone on "airplane mode" to give myself blocks of time to concentrate on things. Take care!

[@axionoscar]

Great video! Thank you for the announcement at the end. I will be voting Next month

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! And thank you for voting!

[@marshdrifter]

Well great. Now I have a whole list of things to buy. Or maybe moving to a Nagasawa store would be cheaper.

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! I agree, just moving to a Nagasawa store would be better!

[@arlopalmer8195]

Love the video! It was definitely worth the wait! I think I'm going to have to plan an entire trip to Japan simply for one of these shows. They look amazing. As for the voting thing, thank you for using your platform as a way to get word out. It's getting pretty scary over here in the US. The dictator has started saying that he's not going to leave peacefully if he loses the election. Pure fascism. I'm pretty terrified of what is going to happen.

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! This one had a lot of moving parts and it was challenging to re-do. As an ink lover, I totally would plan any trip to Japan around a show hahaha! I'm glad you appreciate the power of voting. Take care.

[@dennisisit5988]

thank you kind spirit

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much!💕🙏

[@jlee3120]

Thank you for a great video! I love watching them. I am participating in writing letters for the vote forward campaign and am using my fountain pens! :)

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you! Isn't it a great way to use your fountain pens?! Thank you for your civic efforts!!

[@TheGallowaygal]

I want one of those rollerball pens to use at work!

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! It definitely is an idea that is catching on. It's the fourth kind of "fountain pen ink roller ball" I've seen.

[@wendyholiday2021]

I'm so appreciative of you mentioning the US election in your video. I lived precariously through this presentation because not only do we in NYC not have ink shows but we are still unable to have large gatherings. The Japanese covid mascot might help us too.💖

[@InkyRocks]

It's a fun way to combine using pens and civic duty. The ink was pretty disappointing but the bottle and packaging and story was just too cool! I'm not sure (and I don't think anyone is) why we have so much lower Covid numbers, but as you can see, there is almost 100% mask compliance.

[@SourianteOrange]

Thank you!

[@InkyRocks]

You're welcome!

[@stambecco01]

I love your videos they are all gorgeous, especially those that introduce me to a land that unfortunately I have not yet visited ... japan .... the choice of inks is always very high and when I can I try to buy them online even if in this period it is difficult, can you tell me the names of the inks you have presented and if you know a website where you can buy them? Thank you

[@InkyRocks]

Thank you so much! I'm really enjoying living here. These inks are sold only at their individual stationery stores all across Japan. What made this show so special is that they brought all these inks together at the show to buy--you would have to actually go to each individual store to buy it. The small bottle of ink from TAG can be bought off their website store.tagstationery.kyoto but I'm not sure if they ship outside of Japan. Vanness sells some TAG ink online too.

[@fudefan]

Fantastic video as always! Worth the wait 😁 But, now I regret not getting that brown Sessai ink... (Also, that dude shown in the very first second of the video seconds seems out of place at the show 😂)

[@InkyRocks]

Thanks Jacob! I'll bring the bottle at the next meeting. I was wondering if you would catch that--I didn't know I had a clip of you but that turned out to be my best "panning" shot! That cracked me up!

[@korax67]

Amazing .... !

[@InkyRocks]

It really was fun!

[@evemunson5969]

I’ll keep wearing my mask, but thanks for protecting us from COVID! 😘 Loved this video-it makes me want to visit Japan.

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! You should come visit! and that ink is pretty wild!

[@aileensmith7716]

I am so annoyed: if there wasn't a pandemic on, I would have definitely attended this year's Inkunuma. Next year (fingers crossed). And we should catch up again and have some tea together.

[@InkyRocks]

Absolutely! You need to decide if it's the Inku Numa show or the Itoya show you want to go to--though I would vote Inku Numa. I'm hopeful!

[@aileensmith7716]

@@InkyRocks Oh yeah, definitely Inkunuma. I'm so jealous of you being there right now, how blissfully quite is it without the hoards of tourists?

[@InkyRocks]

It is nicer taking walks, less crowded places etc. But things seem to be going back to "normal".

[@Detman101]

Yay!! I'm safe from covid now!! Lol... Awesome that you still have shows there. They tried to do the Ohio Pen Show this year but cancelled due to lack of participation. Oh...my...goodness...that SESSAI!!! Is there any way I can convince you to allow me to pay you to send me a bottle of that ink? Seriously. I love brown inks. I just found 2 bottles of Diamine Lion-Rock a few weeks ago and Sessai looks like the natural progression of that ink. Wow...

[@InkyRocks]

This was the first show since lock down. There is almost 100% mask wearing in Japan and the Covid numbers are a fraction of other countries. These inks are not sold anywhere but the individual stores. This store is on the west coast of Japan, about 3 hours by bullet train.

[@Detman101]

@@InkyRocks Oh yikes. Nevermind then...that's waaaaay too far to go for that. At least the people in Japan are smarter than here in the USA. They take freedom of choice far too recklessly here. Just because you CAN do something...doesn't mean you SHOULD. And that includes being rebellious...

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! It would be a fun trip though! Yeah, there is a lot more cooperation here.

[@miroslavpavlemanovski3886]

High-fives! ⭐️🎁🖋

[@InkyRocks]

HI FIVES!✨

[@miroslavpavlemanovski3886]

I am aiming to be patient, yet Google toys with me, as my searches have not unveiled any delicious results for such gorgeous glass pens, like the one showcased in your video - the one with the opal - be still my heart; I am VERY excited for part 2 🍁🍂🌻

[@InkyRocks]

@@miroslavpavlemanovski3886 Thank you! Working on it right now! Maybe try searching for glass blowing companies?

[@miroslavpavlemanovski3886]

Another query for fun: have you ever tried a Nakaya Dorsal Fin? Maybe you know another friend who has? I wondered if they really were worth the cost - just amazing to me - and weather or not it may or may not still feel like a Platinum Century #3776. Perhaps its sibling. LOL. I guess the urushi process hikes up the price of such an investment - which I hope would make the list of grail fountain pens - and I just wondered what you thoughts may be on the topic. I've watched Figboot and Gourmetpens showcase some Nakaya: so many beautiful pens, so little time. 💸💸💸

[@InkyRocks]

@@miroslavpavlemanovski3886 Yes, I've tried one, but they are pretty expensive pens. I have one of their cheaper ones--the Neo Standard. I love the pen and it's well balanced and I use it often. But at their price point, I would rather get another pen and have Bokumondoh work on it!

[@kaijiitou6484]

omg I need the dog sheer pattern paper notepad

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! It's pretty cool right? It should show up on their website if it's not already there.

[@petalpusher]

2:38 negative space ink cats 😻😻

[@InkyRocks]

really? I can't see them!

[@petalpusher]

​ @Inky.Rocks if you watch the dark cherry-shaped spot directly above the g in Bungu Box, as it descends and moves toward the u, it starts to look like the nose of a fox (the rest of the head is white/negative space)...then as it moves just a bit lower, the fox nose becomes a tag on the cat collar and subtle shading in the negative space looks like eyes and a little nose. I can see it better when I set a higher video quality. That cat may be the easier of the two to see. The other one is just to the left and is more of an upper body silhouette...I saw it first earlier today, but now I can only find it every so often. Hope this helps & you're able to see one or both! Thanks for sharing your footage from the ink & stationery shows. I hope to visit Japan in the next year or two and learned a lot from you today. Stay well :)

[@InkyRocks]

@@petalpusher hahaha! I don't think I've ever had anyone watch my ink dripping that closely! I hope you make it out here--it's really fun!

[@thedoover6520]

Wait, how do you carry the hankies? Do you carry it in your purse? Do men carry hankies? How do they carry? Do you use them like kleenex? I haven't seen a hankie since I was a kid. I'm fascinated by this.

[@InkyRocks]

hahaha! I know! No one here blows their noses into hankies. They use tissues for that. You use your hanky to dry your hands off after washing them because a lot of places don't have paper towels (and now during Covid, they have disabled the hand dryers). They also use them in the summer to wipe sweat off as it gets hot in Tokyo. Women sometimes have lacy hankies to use as napkins on their laps in restaurants as you get wet towels for your meal, not napkins. Men carry them in their pockets and women in their purses.I probably have 20 of them!

[@thedoover6520]

@@InkyRocks my step dad would use them to blow is nose which grossed me out. LoL

[@thedoover6520]

@@InkyRocks one more thing, I remember embroidering hankies for Christmas 💝

[@InkyRocks]

@@thedoover6520 Yeah, blowing your nose on something and sticking it back in your pocket is pretty dicey! I have some embroidered hankies too!

[@GaryScott-pdx]

Ho were you able to go to this show and not max out every credit card you have?

[@InkyRocks]

That kind of self discipline was exhausting hahaha! Especially since they took credit cards! I went home and took a nap!