Dear loyal readers and valued customers:

Well I am back in Okinawa. I returned back to Yokosuka and studied for awhile. I tried to find a job, but the economy is sour and the copeitition for comercial photographers is rather intnese.

Since the economy has been stagnant for the last two years and the dollar's value has fallen, we have not been actively selling pens like we have in the past. The interest in pens is still there, but it is just harder to break even these days. At least that is what Ron-san says. I, on the other hand think that where there is a will there is a way.

Kamakura Pens's very own Ron Dutcher publishes The Pens that Made Lincoln. The content started out here on the Presidential Pens pages, but the book includes several years more research and stories about Lincoln and his pens. The illustrated book is availble now at Amazon.com To learn more click here

George Kovalenko publishes his book. My good friend George has spent about a decade into researching, compiling and writing his book is titled "Fountain Pen Patents 1911 to the 50s: An Index Of The Later Pensmiths" If you are a serious pen collector then you are going ot want this book. To learn more, click here

Ron Dutcher of Kamakura Pens publishes in the next issue of the Pennant.
Our article is about a very rare pen, the 1920's Waterman motled hard rubber Wacom Stylus. You wil have to check out the article.

If you do not already know, the Pennant is the publication for the Pen Collectors of America, of which We are proud members. If you are not already a member, please check it out.

Sailor releases its 95th Aniversary fountain pen, named the Realo. In Japanese the name is pronounced "Ree Ah Row" and sounds much better than the English name.   The pen is based on Sailor's popular 1911 line (known as the Profit line in Japan)

Sailor is releasing 500 pieces of this limited edition fountain pen set. As we understand it, they will only be available to the Japanese market. What I find most attractive about the set is the custom fountain pen carrying pouch. It is very similar to antique Japanese kimono pouches, that the first Japanese fountain pen users attached to their obi sashes back in the 1920's. Unlike most Sailor pens, this pen is a true piston filler, quite similar to Montblanc pens.

Kamakura Pens consults for Universal Studios

Over the last several Weeks Kamakura Pens has been consulting with the Univeral Studios Props department about fountain pens used by the Japanese during the Taisho era (early 1920's) We can't say much about the project, but it is very exciting.

Pilot Releases the new Legaransu89 (I assume that this name is a Japanese katakana for a French translation of "The Elegance" in any case, the name sounds much better in Japanese than it does in English)

The pen comes in Red, Blue, Black and Brown with 14k Rhodium nibs and chrome trim. The price in Japan is about $150.

Earthquake Rocks Wajima On Sunday, Mar 25 a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake rocked Japan, killing one person and injuring at least 162 others as homes were reduced to rubble and roads destroyed. As many fountain pen collectors know, Wajima is the center of the modern maki-e pen world.

Over the weekend I contacted the artist who made the General Grant and Mikaeri Bijin Kamakura pens. He and his family are fine and well. Their home and studio suffered no serious dammage, but he is worried about his suppliers. There will likely be a lull in Limited Edition Maki-e fountain pens this year.