Today Ron-san asked me to take a break from translating and help him clean some of the fountain pens in the big box I found yesterday. I do not like to wash my own dishes, so you can imagine my grief at having to clean and polish dozens of "gaki gaki" pens. After I got started however, I found, to my complete surprise, that it wasn't as bad as my fright. The work had a hypnotic quality to it. I do not look forward to countless hours of cleaning fountain pens in the future, but I do not dread it as much as I used to.

I made an interesting discovery last night. I was browsing a jewelry store and I came across some platinum rings that were lovely.

I noticed the manufacturer's card next to the pieces and my heart nearly stopped. These were made by the Pilot Fountain Pen company.

I quickly reached for my cell phone and called Ron-san. I told him that I was looking at wedding rings. He said he was faltered, but he was already married. (Ron-san has a sense of humor)

I explained that I was looking at rings made by Pilot. Ron-san hadn't known about these new rings, (I was thrilled to teach him something about Pilot) but he knew that Pilot had entered this market many times in the past. When I saw him latter today, he showed me some maki-e ear rings that were signed by the famous maki-e artist "Koho"

Still I find it interesting that Pilot would do this, but when you think about it, making ornate cap bands for pens is not so different from making ornate rings for fingers.

If I ever get married, I will make my husband buy me a Pilot Ring. I am assuming Pilot will still make these 50 years from now. Tears.

Love, Meg

meg@kamakurapens.com