Hunting for Japan Exclusive Inks: Part 1, Kingdom Note & Lichtope

[@thewetpen]

Hi Everyone! In case you didn't notice, I snuck in some writing samples at the end of the video, so don't skip the end if that's the kind of thing that you like to see :-)

[@Tea_Mist]

I'm so excited about this series of Japanese inks!!

[@zenandink3531]

😮😮😮 fun!!! Liked them a lot-Looking forward to the next samples! 🌸🪲🍱

[@santauxia]

I would love to visit rural Japan one day!!! Nice video BTW

[@thewetpen]

Thanks :-)

[@ger1g0]

Yes there is an exhaustive and complete list of Japanese pen stores. It's on the back of every issue of BunguBako magazine.

[@thewetpen]

Ahh... I think I've heard mention of that magazine in a FPN thread, but I've never managed to find one for myself. Guess I'd better start searching.

[@thewetpen]

I found two issues of Shumi no Bungu Bako available online (issues 51 and 67, so far). Very cool magazine. Each one does seem to have an extensive section about new shop-exclusive inks, and it does have a comprehensive list of stationery stores, but there's no list that tells me which ones have Sailor exclusive inks, which is really what I was getting at. Still, it'll be a big help to start collecting all of the issues.

[@Alliejay-C]

I believe Tokyo Station pens also has a list of pen shops on his website.

[@thewetpen]

@@Alliejay-C Yep, I definitely used his map as a starting point while I planned my search. It's more focused on pens than ink, but it was really useful.

[@ger1g0]

@@thewetpen For that, you might have to dive into specific issues. They have since put out a couple issues completely dedicated to inks. But at least there IS a master list of Japanese stationery shops that sell fountain pens.

[@ilikepens]

Great as always Matthew! Excited to see the rest of this series!

[@thewetpen]

Thanks! With any luck, I'll get the rest of them out on a regular schedule...

[@mebpratt859]

I like the way the inks looked on the Cosmo Air paper. I have never used it but maybe it will be the solution to give some of my inks some character. Thanks for an enjoyable video.

[@thewetpen]

Cosmo Air Snow is one of my favorite papers. Cosmo Air Light is the same in every way, except a little more warm toned... and the new Iroful is very similar. Hope you find something that you like :-)

[@SatieSatie]

I can't believe I only just discovered your exclusive Japanese inks series after enjoying your Inkvent reviews. Watching this while soaking in a warm, soapy bath at 6 AM is a treat.

[@starr-starr]

Those are some gorgeous inks!

[@thewetpen]

Thanks! I got pretty lucky with these, I thought 🙂

[@Alliejay-C]

Awesome video! I just got back from Japan myself so I am curious to see what inks we now have in common.

[@OnMyOm]

This is so helpful! I am heading out there in a few days, so you could not have timed it better. 🙏🏽

[@thewetpen]

I wish I could post the rest of the videos in this series in the next few days :-) There are TONS of pen shops, and tons of places that sell ink. I ignored pens completely, in favor of ink (I couldn't reasonably afford to buy 32 new pens, after all). If you need some hints on finding more ink/pen shops, let me know. Actually, this is probably a better place to start, for pens: tokyostationpens.com/fountain-pen-shops-of-japan/

[@OnMyOm]

@@thewetpen Thank you for the link to the various stores. It is an amazing resource. I want to check out Bungubox for sure. Any other pen stores you recommend? The ones you visited, did they have any amazing store-only pens.

[@thewetpen]

@@OnMyOm Virtually all of the pen stores that I visited had exclusive pens. I nearly bought one at an Itoya in Yokohama, but didn't. I wasn't looking for pens, though... I pretty much ignored them, to make life easier on myself.

[@Nada__Mohammed]

I am heading to Japan later this year, and only discovered fountain pens at all through my research for this trip (via the Japanese stationery rabbit hole). I plan on buying my first pens during my trip, to give them extra sentimental value, but I am really excited about this series and all the glimpses into the stores I can visit :)

[@thewetpen]

Ahh, that sounds like so much fun! I can't wait to go back myself. As you may have already noticed, my interest is much more in ink than pens, and there are tons and tons of pen shops that I just completely ignored in my videos (and often in person) just because I wasn't in the market for new pens. There are plenty of good resources out there, though, for lists of good pen shops in various Japanese cities :-)

[@Nada__Mohammed]

@@thewetpen I have encountered plenty of shops in my searches, but seeing as I'm a beginner, I am more focused on entry-level pens than anything fancy (Preppys, Kakunos, etc.) But having an art background, ink is way too tempting for me, so I definitely understand the appeal!

[@AndrewWertheimer]

Amazed you made it to Lichtope. Kind of hidden place, but easy walk to Daikanyama Tsutaya, which is a cool bookshop with pens and inks. The woman who runs Lichtope is a great nibmeister. She did a great job on some of my FPs.

[@thewetpen]

I'm a little surprised myself. It was sheer luck that I stopped by on a day that Lichtope happened to be open to the public. I did visit the Daikanyama Tsutaya as well, but on a different day... I hadn't learned of its existence yet at that point in my stay 🙂

[@AndrewWertheimer-xp8rb]

@@thewetpen That is pretty lucky. Actually I was really impressed by your explorations. Even though I was in the Tokyo area for a few weeks I didn't make it to some of the shops you did. :). I think you made it also to the Tsutaya location in Ginza Six. Such an attractive bookstore!! I didn't even make it to the pens section there.

[@Rielcool]

Wow what a trip! I hope to be able to do something similar myself in the not so distant future.

[@thewetpen]

It's well worth it! Of course, the pen and ink shops are great, but there are a million other things that make Japan fascinating and beautiful, too.

[@Alexwhatisit]

That fire belly newt is a lot prettier than I was expecting it to be.

[@dtominator]

Wow, what timing! I'm trying to find the Kingdom Note Giant Stag Beetle ink, and you laid it out perfectly. Thanks so much and thank you for the swatches and writing samples. Now I think I'll have to look into more than just the Giant Stag Beetle, although, not 32 bottles!😂

[@thewetpen]

Oh, it's easy to say "...not 32 bottles!" from the safety of your own home. ;-)

[@VorpalPlayer]

I am going to Japan for six weeks in the fall. I am so glad I don't like Japanese inks--I travel with a carry-on bag! I did your trip three years ago...came home with zero bottles of ink, no pens, and a few Kakimori notebooks with TR. I did had a wonderful time grazing all the stationery stores and look forward to re-visiting the Tokyo stores and going to the Tokyo Pen Show, which might be a bad idea for my wallet.

[@thewetpen]

I've rarely encountered an ink nationality that I didn't like 🙂 I would never have made it back if I'd only had a carry on.

[@VorpalPlayer]

@@thewetpen We travel very light because we move around a lot on our trips and big bags just don't work. But we do buy things and mail them home. I lived in Japan for ten years and am used to that routine! Our kitchen equipment is mostly from the 100-Yen stores. Lightweight and seemingly lasts forever. As for Japanese inks, well, I find them rather bland and too wet for my fine pens. I am looking forward to TIPS, where I hope to be finally proved wrong about them!

[@AndrewWertheimer]

I’ll be in the Kanto region too do this is great although I knew of most from the wonderful Tokyo Inklings. Great video. Must have been a wonderful trip requiring a lot of discipline 😀🖋️

[@thewetpen]

Yes! Actually, the biggest issue was that I knew after Tokyo that my luggage weight limit was going to be a problem, and I knew that my girlfriend would have words for me if I had to buy a second suitcase and pay $100 extra for a second piece of luggage. Looking back, it probably would have been worth it. Luckily, I'm not really much of a pen collector... especially when it comes to Japanese pens. I really only own one (unless you count Metropolitan, Prera, Preppy, etc).

[@AndrewWertheimer]

@@thewetpen yes don’t make the GF upset. One can have only so many shades of blue. 😉. I’ll look forward to other videos.

[@kumarmanish9046]

Love the broad nib writing samples but it would absolutely be amazing if we could see the writing video!

[@paulmchugh1430]

Very interesting overview of these inks. It is a pity that these inks are not readily available. Did you have a chance to visit the Pilot store? You can customize most of the pens with any nib.

[@thewetpen]

I'm not sure... I did stop in at the Pilot storefront in Ginza, but it was more of a museum. Lots of pens on display, but nobody was working there except for a security guard.

[@HuyVu-lx1mf]

Hello I am planning to do the samething like you in the future, I am just wondering if there is a limit on how much ml of ink that you can carry on the plane? Thank you!

[@thewetpen]

If you're carrying your luggage onto the plane, then you'll be severely limited, but it will depend on country and airline regulations. If you're checking luggage, there should not be any practical limit. Ink is not flammable or hazardous, so the weight limit (about 50lbs per bag, for me) is the only limit that I've run into.

[@technoraptor7778]

32😳

[@thewetpen]

A couple of them were little 30ml bottles of Pilot that only cost $4 each, so... really only 30. Right?

[@thespicedune]

Only 32 bottles lol.

[@thewetpen]

I displayed quite a bit of self restraint, I think you'll agree. That's only one bottle of ink per day, on average. ;-)

[@AndrewWertheimer]

Looks like you snagged FP e good ramen too 🍜🇯🇵👹