Designed by Nakaya master pen designer Shinichi Yoshida in collaboration with John Mottishaw, the Naka-ai, with its peaked ends and tapered body, combines many of Nakaya’s most distinctive design features in a single model. ""Naka-ai"" has the meaning of middle or in-between, and brings to mind the Middle Way of Buddhist practice with its emphasis on balance, integrity, and centeredness. Appropriately enough, the Naka-ai occupies a midway position between Nakaya's smaller Piccolo series pens and the longer Deskpen - this is a pen that will be a very comfortable fit for most pen users.

The double slit Music nib is available at an added premium, as are plated nibs in Pink Gold, Rhodium, Ruthenium, or Two-Tone.
Nakaya Urushi pens are meant to age, with the underlying color becoming more apparent as the Urushi lacquer matures. ""Wabi-Sabi"" is the term used in Japanese for objects whose aesthetic value increases with use and wear. Taking this idea to its logical extreme, the Nakaya Naka-ai Cigar Negoro Kikyo Nuno Kise Hon Kataji fountain pen honors the aging process even more by featuring ""cracks"" artfully engraved onto the surface of the cap, barrel, and gripping section.

The Negoro weathering process is particularly painstaking and time-consuming - production of these pens usually requires six months or more. Here the deep blue Kikyo finish contrasts only subtly with the weathered ""cracks"", leaving an elegant, streamlined impression.

The smooth, tapered Naka-ai Cigar model is balanced in the hand. This is an excellent showcase for the Negoro Kikyo motif, matching understated colors with a simple yet powerful design.

Nakaya pens can be filled with bottled inkusing the provided converter, and can also use Platinum brand cartridges. Hand-painted Maki-e converters are also available.
14k nibs are well-suited to customizations including Stub, Cursive Italic, and Left Oblique, as well as the modification for added flex.
Though the complete range of Nakaya nibs is made available, the rhodium-plated version complements the fountain pen's cool color scheme.

Nakaya pens ship in a solid softwood shipping box decorated with Japanese Kanji script and lined with decorative rice paper. A fabric pen kimono and starter box of Platinum brand cartridges are also included, making this pen a lovely presentation item. Sensible and elegant packaging has long been a hallmark of the Nakaya brand.
Nakaya pens are individually handcrafted in a process that requires a minimum of three to six months and often much longer.

Unless requested otherwise, each pen or nib you purchase from us will be carefully examined, tested, and optimized for your personal writing characteristics before it ships.