With its whimsical and evocative design, the Nakaya Piccolo Writer Yakou Maki-e 'Enjoying the Moon Cat' is based on a sketch by a Nakaya customer who loved cats.
Similar to Tame-Sukashi, a technique that involves creating a painted motif under layers of clear smooth Urushi lacquer, with the Yakou Maki-e the motif itself is painted in black Urushi over a Tame-Nuri base, an effect clearly visible here.

The compact Piccolo Writer model is a perfect size and shape for this composition. If you look closely you will see small paw prints have been painted along the gripping section to give the illusion of a cat tracking paw prints across the pen.

The artist uses Tame-Sukashi technique to paint the moon in striking reddish orange, ensuring that it will increase in brightness over time. Paw prints on the gripping section and the featured cat are made using the Yakou Maki-e technique whereby the images are painted in black Urushi over an Aka-tamenuri base.

This elegant design is transformative. We have preserved the Japanese syntax of the title because it so clearly captures the essence of this pen.
A black cat painted in Yakou Maki-e technique gazes up contemplatively at the moon, as does a smaller mouse depicted by the cat's side. However this evocative fountain pen represents more than simply a cat, a mouse, and the moon. This pen embodies the sense of appreciation that a passive observer can have for the natural world. The Yakou Maki-e technique adds texture to the critters, bringing them to life.
The Nakaya Piccolo Cigar can be filled with bottled fountain pen ink using the provided converter. Nakaya pens can also use Platinum brand ink cartridges. Hand-painted Maki-e converters are also available.
The Nakaya Piccolo Writer Yakou Maki-e 'Enjoying the Moon Cat' 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. 14k nibs are well-suited to customizations including Architect's, Stub, Cursive Italic, and Left Oblique, as well as the modification for added flex.
The brighter underlayer of the Aka-tamenuri base will reveal itself even more with time and use, but can already be seen breaking through along the edges of the end cap.

Decorative rice paper, a simple solid softwood shipping box decorated with Japanese Kanji script, and a fabric pen ""kimono"" are all included with this pen, making it 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.