How to Buy Japanese Pens 

Adjusted English subtitles and translations are up! I'll be collecting tips from viewers on how to use some of these resources and posting them on this comment. So far: --Don't use "sea" mail. It is cheaper but takes too long. --Do keep checking back. Someone was able to score the Kyo no Oto by checking back and subscribing to the newsletter. --Thumbs up for White Rabbit and Buyee ---A vote for Tenso. Someone sent a screenshot of their address to confirm it was right --When sending a inquiry to Tokyo Pen Shop Quill, try sending an email. Apparently he is backed up but will get back to you (there have been orders as recently as a month ago with a commenter) --"Giftionery Delta" in Osaka will mail overseas. I'll link the English page. You need to look around on their Japanese page and when you figure out what you want, you have to email them. www.delta-net.jp/en/form.cgi --According to Fudefan, probs the best place for vintage Japanese fountain pens is Mericari or Yahoo auctions. You'll need to use a proxy with Buyee probably being the easiest. --A viewer kindly suggested this Reddit post with information and Japanese words to search with: www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/4m47mm/a_guide_on_buying_japanese_pens_from_japanese/ --Everyone is pretty sure their wallet is going to get lighter...

one huge piece of advice - never use "sea" shipping. read the options carefully when selecting your shipment method. anything that uses a boat usually takes two months or more to arrive if it even does arrive, and so many of those packages just disappear completely. it's cheaper than airmail but it is *never* worth it. *never.*

I'd love to see an updated 2023 video for special editions you think are unique. I keep coming back to this video. It's so useful! Thank you!

Loved "I'm doing this for you dear viewer ". I'm sure this took quite a bit of time to put together. Thanks for the helpful info!

This was incredible nice of you and Jacob to put this video and blog together for viewers. Wow. Thank you so much!

Inky, this is THE video I’ve waited my entire but short Pen life for. I found a Polish pen maker when searching for a gift for my friend in Poland. But with Japan, I was at a full stop. This video is really helpful to my pen addiction!! Thank you so very much.

Thank you for this valuable information.

Thank you so much for the excellent resource, both you and Jacob. So nice to have a video companion to the blog post and vice versa!

Thank you to you and Fudefan for this incredibly informative video. I feel that our family trip to Japan keeps getting pushed further and further into the future. I didn't know about all of these shopping options and will definitely watch this several times as a reference guide. Thanks to you both for your hard work and high-quality content.. I appreciate it so much.

Thanks to you and Jacob for this great information!! It’s super helpful and while I knew some of these folks you have covered several I didn’t know about. It’s good to be cautious and do the research. I am so glad we have you both to help guide us US buyers!!

Thank you for such an informative video, and for the links. You trying it out first was very helpful! Much appreciation for your insight in providing such a wonderful resource.

Dear Inky Rocks: This is such a great video, with its link to fudefan. The information is clear and informative, the images are wonderful and superbly recorded, and your voice-over is lovely and well-paced. Thank you so much for your consistently excellent videos!

Thanks to you and Fudefan for this very enabling video and post. I stumbled my way through buying a store exclusive Kaweco ALSport from Pent Pen through Buyee last year so any help is much appreciated! I also want to add my encouragement to others looking for exclusive pens to keep going back to look or signing up for a shop’s newsletter (TAG Stationery) as the Kyo No Oto pen had sold out and I thought I’d never get it. The pen restocked late May of last year and I was able to purchase it. It is my favorite pen!

Honestly this video just encouraged me to visit Japan in person to check out all these shops in person!

I really can't thank you enough for this video--you and Jacob did an incredible job! I have always wanted to use a proxy service but I was a bit lost as to how it worked. However, you both have inspired me to try it. Thank you so much for all of the shop suggestions as well! I didn't realize that some of them could be contacted in English and that they could ship to you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! This is such a great video!

Thank you Alesa and Jacob for this wonderfully-helpful information!

I now proclaim you and Jacob as the “Dangerous Duo.” Wow, I would have liked to see a disclaimer about my bank account going to zero after watching this video. Haha! Thank you to you and Jacob for putting these resources together. I would be nice if the Daiso stores near me had this kind of stationery or had a service that they could get stuff from Japan to their stores.

Thank you for all the info! As always the production and style is on point!

What a helpful video. I personally have always been super nervous about buying from Japan, mainly because I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, plus UK customs can be very expensive. But that doesn't stop me from looking at and drooling over all the beautiful pens. This will give me more confidence to give it a go. Thank you.

Your knowledge and experience of Japanese fountain pens is amazing. Really enjoyed and learned from this video. Thanks 😊

Your kindness and content are always epic and such welcomed wonder(s). Thank you so much for always going in those directions only intuition may have one look but overthinking undesirably distracts...

Wow, thank you and Fudefan for this incredible information!

Lived in Japan for four years, just before I moved I bought a Pilot Capless (Namiki Vanishing Point) Raden Water Surface for $370, because of the exchange rate being crazy at the time I bought it. Didn't even know how much it was online, but I'm quite pleased with it :)

Thank you very much for this video with amazing information. And so beautifully done with clips in between.

Thank you for making this video! I have explored some of the Japanese pen and stationery sites and have been completely befuddled about ordering anything. This is an invaluable roadmap for access to all the fun, special edition pens we never see in the U.S. except for on eBay (for ridiculous amounts). I am excited to explore these sites and hopefully find a treasure. I enjoy all of your videos for the high quality production values, but also because they feel like a casual conversation with a friend who happens to be in Japan.

Thank you so much for all this information! I have explored the world of Japanese pen and inks vicariously through you, but I'm not sure I'm ready to dive in, but I will definitely do some exploring. I'd love to visit Japan, and shop there myself, although I can imagine Customs nightmares.

Appreciate the valuable information! Hope you're having a great weekend!

Wow, what a treasure trove of information - a whole new rabbit hole to explore! I am glad I am "late" in my fountain pen obsession, otherwise my eyes would drain my wallet in a heartbeat. I'll still look and may purchase a few items, but I hope and pray I have the necessary restraint! THANK YOU for sharing this. _I think!_

This could be broadcast on NHK World, prime time. Excellent work, as usual, director Inky! (This little old lady just found two more 3776 with coarse nibs at fire-sale prices. Time to swap nibs...)

Very informative video. Indeed helpful for a lot of people. Thanks for taking time to put up this video. PS: I liked how you refered Jacob San with the old ladies in terms of bargain. He actually gets them quite frequently. Lol 🤣🤣

So much good information, thank you Alesa, and Fudefan of course! I have no experience with buying pens in Japan. Living in Europe I just don't know what to expect. Going to study Fudefan's blogpost, and maybe buy something small to start with 😊

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing these tips and links on buying pens from Japan. I recently discovered that Giftionery Delta in Osaka can entertain orders via email. (English ok.) congrats to you and Fudefan on this wonderful collaboration!

I was slow to watch this video, but so glad I did! Very helpful hints!!

Thank you for another fab and informative video. And I love the humour too. 🙂❤️

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. I am going to check them out, this is so helpful, thank you!

Thank you so much Alesa for this wonderful video. Not enough joyful ink spillage, but I guess you’re allowed a break from that! (I sadly didn’t ever get a reply from Tokyo Quill shop when I contacted them on their form a little while ago. I ready wanted the clear 823 with an FA nib). Thanks again!

Thank you so much!! Such a helpful video 😁

White Rabbit Express have always been great for me! This is really useful, thank you! : )

Very very interesting video ! Thank you Alesa and Jacob :-)

So much information! I will no doubt be revisiting this page in future.

What a Great job both of You. Like You said Alesa a simple Kakuno it's amazing!!!!!

Thank you for putting this video together in partnership with Jacob. Very interesting and instructional.

Great information. Thank you!

I bought my Pilot 823 FA from Tokyo Pen Shop Quill and it was super easy. You basically email them with the order request for the pen you want, they email you back that they'll let you know when its in stock, you get that email (took about 8 weeks for mine), you then pay for it through paypal and they send it to you (took about 7 days for it to arrive). It can be a lengthy process, but easy and rewarding since this has become my all time favorite pen (for daily use) :)

Really interesting video! I'm trying really hard to not start collecting pens or inks as I already collect so many other art supplies. I subscribed anyways because you just sound fun, and there seems to be lots of eye candy in your videos! Thank you!

I use white rabbit and buyee. Never had any issues with either--though you do have to be willing to pay the shipping twice and the handling fees. During the pandemic, shipping from Japan was only available via DHL, which while expensive, is remarkably fast and they have never lost a package on me.

I've used tenso and it's very nice and the customer service is really helpful. They let me send a screenshot of my shipping address to double check it was right

Exelent video like always!

Way over my poor beginner's head! I only just started even using a fountain pen, and I'm buying Platinum Preppys from Jetpens. And some paper, a gorgeous little pair of folding scissors, and a brass clip ruler with stencils of cats on it. Very cute, very simple. I'm enjoying the fountain pens, though! I found Jetpens looking for 2mm lead holders. I use them for drawing, and I found the Pentel 8 series and bought all three! That gives me lots of options for sketching, drawing, and writing in just 3 lead holders. I keep them, a retractable eraser, and a very fine nib Preppy in an elastic holder on the cover of a sketchbook. I'll look forward to looking through your videos and learning how much I don't know! 😁

Wow 🖋🎁💛 I'm excited and scared; Thank you for another fabulous video, though more warnings, or some kind of "be responsible," or "hotline" number flashing along the bottom of the video is missing. 😂🤣

Thank you

You had me at caterpillar poop. I’m lying because you always grab my attention right away. I’m just fascinated by all of it-secret ingredients included!

The pens are nice but I love the tea pot and...is that lapis? So beautiful.

Brilliant info' 🙂 I got my clear Pilot Custom 823 'WA' nib from Tokyo Pen Shop Quill to the UK. Superb service and very good help via emails. Highly recommended from me. 👍🏻🙂

Beautiful

Thanks for the info- really liked the Dandelion special edition- had to see if they still had any - but- alas, no😉🐛

Well aren’t you just a troublemaker! The only thing keeping me from buying some of these pens was not knowing how to do it. So there goes my restraint. You and Jacob must be getting a kickback for encouraging us silly westerners to spend more money. Just kidding 🥰. Thanks for all the great information.

Mam do videos on hakase pens and inks your views are highly valued I have already ordered 2pens&2ink bottles before it arrives I would like to have your precious and valuable advice thanks god bless

Thank you for penabling me :)

I'm not into pens... Not yet. But I consider myself very curious because I like to learn and try out new things. My question is: apart from style is there a difference between Japanese pens and others? I mean in the practical sense, do they feel better or perform better or a certain way? Like with knives, they do have s different style but the steel is different, and that makes a difference in sharpness.

Great video as always! Any tips for finding Vintage Japanese pens???

If you get a chance, could you tell me where to get a pilot custom 823 in soft medium nib? (Preferably in clear, but not important). I tried to locate it with the links you have, but couldn’t find it. They only have fa, wa, fine, medium, broad. Thanks for cool vid

i really wanted the kyo no oto special edition pen but unfortunately i didn't find out about it until it was too late

I love love my pilots, they're my ride or die pens but now I can get other japense pens!

I want to buy this fountain pen .Please advise how I can buy the same .

Are there any particular places you'd recommend for interesting Custom 823 colours. The US has very boring colours. What's your go to site to compare prices in Japan to the US?

Omoshiroi! :)

You're the best.

@inkyrocks can you list a few physical stores in Tokyo that carry the pilot custom 823 clear demonstrator?

never heard mercari pronounced like that before lol. my main issue trying to buy store exclusives is figuring out what to type in using japanese characters instead of english, since nothing comes up at all with english search terms on buyee for what i'm looking for.

what about customs? If I ship to India?

Oh dear, we're all in trouble now. 💸😂 I'm a little surprised you didn't mention Pensachi. Do neither of you use them?

Oh my xD

I have a question about a product. Please teply

This was extremely helpful information but devastating for my wallet.

I need the Pilot 845 urushi in vermillion

How to Get Pens from Japan: Step One, secure monbukagusho scholarship from Japanese Government. Step Two, Go to your nearest Japanese Consulate for landing permission. Step Three, On a Saturday go to Yamakataya in Tenmonkan and visit the 3-1/2 floor. Step Four, Buy Japanese pens till your pockets are empty.

Step one, open browser. Step two, navigate to ebay. Step three, buy pen. See that was easy!

Lady, FGS, your tone of voice.

😇🩵🙏🙌

how to buy a japanese pen 1. get a japanese girlfriend or spouse 2. ask her to get one for you 😁

海外の人は大変なのか、、、

One advice : Don't do it. Unless you want to pay taxes, have no warranty and don't be able to have your pen repaired. I sold all my Pilot pens because of their awful repair service. Never again!

My wallet would like to thumbs down this, the rhodium trim Pilot 743 is now one click away, lol

The Japanese pronunciation is mostly very wrong.

Thanks for putting me to sleep. Geez, speak up and pick up the tempo.

Great video! Although Fudefan, aka little old lady looking for a deal, just increased his competition :o Thanks as always for sharing such great information with the community. I appreciate you both!

White Rabbit Express have always been great for me! This is really useful, thank you! : )