Kakimori is a Japanese stationery and lifestyle company that started out in 1961, supplying commercial offices with stationery. Then, in 2010, they opened their first storefront in Kuramae, Tokyo. 3 years after opening the store, they stopped the commercial office supply business and shifted focus to making the products we love and know now.
Many of Kakimori's company beliefs are rooted in the idea of intentionality and usefulness, so at their storefront you will find services such as ink customization where they mix a custom color for you, swatching it until it's the perfect shade, and notebook customization, where you are able to pick the cover, paper refills, and get it bound. Their product selection includes nib holders, pen rests, pigment inks, fountain pens, rollerball and ballpoint pens, and more. However, since the release of their dip pen collection in 2021, their nib holders and nibs have become a popular staple. Every nib is carefully ideated, and thoughtfully handcrafted with locally sourced artists and materials.
Their nib lineup currently includes the metal nib collection (brass, copper, and stainless steel), the glass nib, and the pen nib.
We did a simple nib log that tested line variation (holding the pen at 90º, 45º, and around 15º) and ink retention, using Kakimori's pigment ink 09 Mukuri.
All of these nibs would be a great addition to any dip pen fan's collection! The three metal nibs performed similarly in terms of line variation and ink retention, and the difference between the three lied primarily in the feel as you're writing. The brass was the softest with a slight feedback, whereas the stainless steel felt the hardest and had quite a large amount of feedback, bordering on scratching. The glass nib was surprisingly smooth and offered more line variation than expected, and had the longest ink retention of all the nibs. The pen nib produced a consistent line and had the lowest ink retention, as expected.
Which nib should I get?
Metal nibs offer the widest line variation, so it's great for artists who like an expressive line or ink swatching.
The glass nib has the longest ink retention, beautiful feedback, and some line variation, so we recommend them for letter writing, general dip pen experience, and ink swatching.
The pen nib has a very consistent stroke but not a very long ink retention, so we recommend it for quick jotting or ink swatching.
