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The well-known artist Ms. Etsuko Tsurata, once apprentice of the Famous National Treasure Mr Shogyo Oba, created the Sailor Chinkin Owl using the Chinkin technique. The result is a painstakingly crafted bird of wisdom of which each feather can be individually viewed! The ineffable shape of the Sailor Chinkin Owl is created using silver and gold powder. The delicate flowers are made using the same Chinkin technique and colored with Kansitsu powders.

Something new from Japan: Taccia Hyakko-Hisho fountain pens! These sleek and a bit longer pens are made of ebonite with a hexagonal or round body and decorated in a Kawari-Nuri lacquer layer. Sailor makes the 14kt duo-tone nibs. Therefore the pens are filled with Sailor ink cartridges or a converter. Each Hyakko-Hisho fountain pen is limited to 50 pieces per design and comes in a nice Paulownia wooden box with pen kimono, two cartridges, convertor, and cleaning cloth.

Namiki Emperor Rakucho and Cherry Blossom. The Rakucho is a mythical bird in an imaginary paradise singing love songs. They are mostly depicted as a colorful pair as a symbol of eternal love.

Birds of paradise are not imaginary. They only occur in the jungle of New Guinea and surrounding islands. They stand out for their incredibly colorful and extravagant plumage with exceptionally long tails, colored threads, veils, and fans. They are tough to spot, these polygamous birds. And they appear to be great singers too.

The barrel and cap are made in sakuragawa or cherry bark created with Oh-Hi-Nuri. Underneath the cherry bark, you can discover abalone shells at the top and bottom of the pen. The petals of the cherry blossom are inlaid with mother-of-pearl, colored and polished to a refined finish.

The Rakucho and Cherry Blossom theme was presented in a Namiki-Dunhill limited edition in 1996. Only 100 copies were made at the time.

In official photos, the pen appears to be light anthracite gray, but it is glossy and dark towards the black in reality. The colorful birds seem to blend into the background, but they show their full color and elegance once in view. The birds are depicted with refined brushstrokes and beautiful transitioning color blends.

Artist Masahiro Yamada signed for The Namiki Emperor Rakucho and Cherry Blossom, and it joined the Namiki Emperor pen collection in November 2020.

Lampyridae is a family of small beetles in the Coleoptera order with over 2000 different species. They are soft-bodied, nocturnal, winged insects commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs because of their very conspicuous use of bioluminescence during twilight to attract mates or prey. The firefly is a very well known symbol of Summer in Japan. The Sailor Taki-to-Hotaru is an unexpected fifth pen in the Taki-to-Shizen series featuring a summer evening with a crescent moon in mother of pearl shining over the waterfall. Several fireflies are enlightened in the reed, creating a magical path for prey and mates. Limited edition of 38 pcs worldwide! Reserve yours now; we'll have a few in stock!

The "Shijin", traditional figures in Chinese mythology, are represented by four sacred animals, guardians of the four cardinal directions in Feng Shui art. Each "Shijin" is associated with a symbolic color and an element that makes up the natural world : wood, metal, fire, and water. The Namiki Emperor Shijin limited edition 2020 is arriving in October. It brings good luck and good fortune!  Only 99 pieces for the world, only one for Sakura Gallery.