Sailor Rei 4th Aomori Fugamon-nuri Ochiguri-Iro Fountain pen

The Sailor Rei 4th Aomori Fugamon-nuri Tokiwa-Iro fountain pen, made by lacquer artist Hirokazu Shimamori, uses the kawari-nuri technique. The Fugamon-nuri style art that adorns these fountain pens is an original style developed by lacquer artist Hirokazu Shimamori, based on Tsugaru togidashi-nuri with a highly creative twist, fusing both of the aforementioned methods of lacquering. By layering Urushi a few dozen times from the base coat, patterning coat, surface coat, gold/silver powder coat, to the top coat, each coat lends an artistic quality of its own that shines through when polished, creating lacquer art of refined sophistication. These fountain pens are intricate masterpieces that embody the Japanese spirit of modesty and elegance, expressed through a serene and tactful design.

Sailor's Rei fountain pen series showcases traditional urushi lacquer techniques from various regions across Japan. Urushi lacquer is prized for its beautiful finish and also is incredibly durable and naturally antibacterial, leading to its use in art, furniture, dishware, temples, and more since thousands of years ago. The process of creating urushi lacquerware is time-consuming and labor-intensive; it involves the application of dozens of layers of urushi lacquer, each of which must fully dry in a humidity- and temperature-controlled chamber before being polished with charcoal powder and recoated. Consequently, each pen can take months to complete. The result is a smooth, glossy, highly refined finish.

The Rei 4th series features two designs created by lacquer artists Hirokazu Shimamori. The fountain pen caps and barrels are constructed of ebony wood, with grip sections made of PMMA resin. The Sailor Rei fountain pens are slightly larger than a Sailor 1911 Large and use the 1911L-size 21k gold nib and use a cartrdige/converter filling mechanism.

Sailor pens was established in 1911 in Japan, becoming the first to produce fountain pens in their home country. They have subsequently built a first-class reputation in the manufacture of the highest quality nibs, with all parts made in their own factory in Hiroshima. Their flagship collections are the classic 1911 and boldly designed Professional Gear, all available with a 14k or 21k gold nib. The Sailor name comes from founder Kyugoro Sakata's British sailor friend who introduced him to fountain pens.