Platinum Izumo Tagayasan Matte Fountain Pen

Platinum Izumo Tagayasan Matte  PIZ-50000 #20

In 2010, the prestigious Japanese writing pen brand Platinum decided to pay a well-deserved tribute to Shunichi Nakata, the entrepreneurial businessman who founded the brand at the beginning of the 20th century, with the launch of the Izumo collection, an impressive repertoire of high-end fountain pens named after his hometown.

Izumo is a small town located in the Shimane prefecture, southwest of the island of Honshū, which maintains a significant connection with the world of writing, since, in addition to having the honor of being the birthplace of the founder of one of the three largest Japanese fountain pen manufacturing companies, has an important tradition in the manufacture of “washi”, the famous Japanese paper used in beautiful artistic creations such as “Shodō” or Japanese calligraphy, in luxury bibliographic editions or in ancient documents restoration work, to name a few examples. This product, known worldwide for its unmatched quality and extraordinary properties, is made with natural fibers collected in the area and enjoys such consideration that in November 2014 UNESCO declared this craft as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

With these conditions, the Izumo collection was born, a spectacular series of fountain pens characterized by its excellent performance, the use of first-rate materials in its manufacture and, above all, by its original design, which has captivated the public from the first moment. , garnering a great reception and success of such dimensions that over time different pieces have been added to the original models that, maintaining their essential qualities, have enriched them with new colors and finishes.

This is the case of the Tagayasan line, whose most outstanding distinctive feature is the use of black Bombay wood, with a gloss or matte finish, as the main raw material. It is a noble wood originating from the Asian continent, with a dark tone and famous for its great density and hardness, characteristics that have earned it a nickname that is certainly clarifying, since the term “Tagayasan”, by which it is also known, can be translated as “hard as an iron sword”. Used, among other things, for interior decoration, the manufacture of furniture, canes or wooden swords, its extraordinary solidity gives it great resistance, but increases the difficulty of carving a material as delicate to work as wood.

Platinum subjects it to a rigorous drying process that lasts for 20 days to eliminate any trace of moisture before tackling the manufacture of the Platinum Izumo Tagayasan Matte fountain pen, a splendid hand-carved and polished work that, with its wonderful matte finish, leaves the grain of the wood completely visible and you can enjoy its warm touch and softness while writing.

Its notable dimensions, which exceed 16 centimeters in total length, and its 38 grams of weight make it the largest and heaviest pen in the collection. A piece that, despite its massive size, is tremendously comfortable thanks to its optimal balance and magnificent ergonomic conditions determined by the characteristic profile of the Izumo series, which with its harmonious succession of refined curves adapts perfectly to the hand of the user, making it easier to grip and turning its handling into an extremely pleasant and restful experience.

Beautiful ornamental details are distributed throughout this exceptional fountain pen, introducing, with its golden surface and its brilliant shine, an interesting chromatic contrast against the serene elegance of the wood that is evident in the stylized ring that finishes the section, the ring that contains the closing thread and, above them, its attractive clip, adorned with a beautiful engraved decoration that includes the name of the company on a delicate grid that evokes its primitive emblem.

Equally striking is its President nib, an extraordinary element made of solid 18-karat gold with a beautiful heart-shaped vent and a rhodium mask in the shape of a “V” or arrow that gives it its fascinating two-tone finish. This is manufactured with the characteristic Japanese thickness, slightly thinner than its Western equivalents, and is available in fine (F), medium (M), thick (B) and very thick (C or BB) points.

Regarding its loading system, as is common in practically all Japanese fountain pens, it is fed by cartridges, although those users who prefer to enjoy the advantages provided by a self-filling system can proceed to transform it very easily into a piston one using the practical converters supplied by Platinum.

Finally, it would be unfair not to make a brief mention of its luxurious presentation, consisting of a charming paulownia wood box decorated with artistic Japanese calligraphic characters that houses, protected by a practical green cover, this unique fountain pen that, in addition, it is accompanied by a fantastic gift consisting of a roll of “washi” paper handcrafted by Shinichiro Abe, grandson of the first manufacturer of this paper designated by the government of Japan as a “national living treasure”. A great detail to start enjoying the magnificent features of this exclusive writing instrument.