This is one of our all-time favorite pens, not only for its shape but also for the rich urushi lacquer surface. The surprise with this pen is that it is actually red in color. Many layers of red urushi lacquer are applied under more layers of deep urushi pigment in a tradition that goes back centuries. The result is the classic look of Japanese lacquer with red peeking around the corners and edges.

Designed by Nakaya master pen designer Shinichi Yoshida in collaboration with John Mottishaw, the Naka-ai, with its cone 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 Desk pen.

The Kuro-tamenuri finish is a reddish-black color that appears very close to black upon first glance. However, under good light conditions, the red under-layer of lacquer can be seen where the dark color ""breaks"" on the edges. As time goes by, the red color becomes more prominent. These pens are intended to age well and become more colorful as the years goes by.

Like all Nakaya Urushi pens, each Naka-ai pen is made of hand-turned ebonite hard rubber, then sent to the Wajima region in western Japan for finishing with Urushi lacquer. Final assembly is then accomplished in Nakaya's offices in Tokyo and at the Nibs.com office in Miami, where each nib is hand-tuned for the writing characteristics of the individual user.

See the way the underlying reds are beginning to show at the soft peak of the Naka-ai cap. The warm gold clip allows the pen to be securely fastened to a shirt pocket.

The Nakaya Naka-ai Writer Kuro-tamenuri fountain pen is handcrafted from ebonite and urushi lacquer, and comes standard with your choice of solid gold 14k single-tone nib in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, or Extra Broad, with Fine Soft, Medium Soft, and Super Extra Fine nibs also available. The double slit Music nib is available at an added premium, as are plated nibs in Pink Gold, Rhodium, Ruthenium, or Two-Tone.
The larger-tipped 14k nibs are well-suited to customizations including Stub, Cursive Italic, and Left Oblique, as well as the modification for added flexibility.
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.
This pen is also made available in a matching ball pen version.
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.