When we first introduced you to the history of Platinum fountain pens, we couldn't fit all the valuable information about each model of this Japanese brand into one post. Now we want to tell you about one of Platinum's most extraordinary fountain pen series – the Izumo.

Their name comes from the city of Izumo, located in Shimane Prefecture, where Platinum Pen Co. co-founder Syunichi Nakata was born. The word "Izumo" in Japanese means rising clouds, symbolizing growth, development, and creativity. According to Japanese legends, Izumo was once a year a place where the gods gathered to debate Japanese affairs. Therefore, it is a place of immense significance to the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun, where impressive nature serves as a backdrop for rich Japanese mythology.

Izumo fountain pens have been crafted since 2010 using the finest materials, such as ebonite, ironwood, and resin, and refined using the oldest lacquering techniques in the history of Far Eastern art. Their final appearance is overseen by artisans specializing in handcrafting, drawing on the era when samurai walked among Japanese temples. Each Izumo pen can be a family treasure, passed down from generation to generation, its patina adding character and revealing its inner beauty for future owners to admire.

The first Izumo Urushi pens took their name from Urushi varnish, formerly used to decorate temple elements and samurai armor. It is applied by hand in a lengthy process called Byakudan-Nuri. The black varnish is initially strained through special paper to trap any impurities. Then, the first layer is rubbed onto the ebonite from which the quill will be crafted. The quill is then placed in a moisturizing bath that hardens the varnish. It is then coated with a transparent varnish, after which any surface imperfections are removed with a special knife. The entire process is repeated three times. After removing the final imperfections, the quill is polished with charcoal and wax, then rubbed and polished with titanium-infused oil. The last two processes are also repeated three times. Byakudan-Nuri lasts from several to a dozen weeks and causes the mirror-like varnish to gleam over time, revealing the increasingly beautiful hues imparted by the craftsman. No two Izumo pens are identical.

The colors emerging from the creases in the Urushi lacquer correspond to the names of the three Izumo Urushi pens. The Izumo Tamenuri Akatame Urushi is a red (Akatame) pen. This color will become increasingly visible over time in areas such as the edges of the cap and barrel.

Izumo Tamenuri Biwatame Urushi will reveal a beautiful amber-brown color over time, while Izumo Tamenuri Soratame Urushi will reveal a Soratame green as the varnish fades. All three shades are created by applying successive layers of varnish, and the exact proportions are a closely guarded secret of Japanese artisans.

In the case of Izumo Tagayasan pens, the fountain pens are crafted from a black, extremely hard ironwood, difficult to work with and prized for its durability. Tagayasan literally means "that which is as hard as a sword of steel."

Before becoming the body and cap of an Izumo pen, the ironwood is dried for 20 days to obtain a product that will not undergo any changes after processing. It is then cut to the pen's shape, sandblasted, polished, and further processed by hand. Izumo Tagayasan pens are available in two versions – matte and glossy, coated with transparent varnish. Both are exceptionally lightweight and durable.

But the series of these extraordinary pens doesn't end there. They are a true work of art, reflecting Japanese culture, art, and nature. These pens, also made of ebonite, are enhanced with precious materials applied between successive layers of Urushi varnish.

The Izumo Aizu Raden Maki-e Aurora is a fountain pen crafted using the Aizu Maki-e technique, one of the oldest lacquering techniques, originating from the city of Aizu. Gold dust is brushed between successive layers of black Urushi lacquer. Additionally, perfectly cut pieces of mother-of-pearl are embedded in the lacquer, resembling, as the name suggests, the Northern Lights.

Izumo Kaga Maki-e Urokomon – crafted using the Hira Maki-e technique, which involves hand-rubbing gold and silver dust into several layers of Urushi lacquer. To create the richer Urokomon pattern, from which this extraordinary pen takes its name, perfectly cut pieces of mother-of-pearl were embedded in the lacquer.

The Izumo Kaga Maki-e Hama no Matsu fountain pen is also crafted using the Hira Maki-e technique. The patterns created by rubbing gold and silver dust reflect the beauty of Japan's black pine-covered coastline, lapped by ocean waves. Similar to the Izumo Kaga Maki-e Takisansui, whose patterns create a shimmering image of a waterfall cascading into a valley.

The Izumo Yakumonuri Yakumo Byakudan is a fountain pen particularly associated with the name Izumo – the motif of floating clouds visible on the ceiling of the Izumo Shrine was achieved through a lengthy process of applying precious metals. The ebonite was first covered with a thin slice of gold, then, by sprinkling it with selected gold and silver dust, clouds were painted across the entire surface of the fountain pen. Next, the fountain pen was coated with multiple layers of Urushi varnish, tinted red, green, and orange. This was then followed by layers of transparent Sukiurushi varnish. This process takes several weeks.

Also unique is the Izumo Shikkoku Chikuringunkozu pen, depicting a tiger in a bamboo forest. Only 600 of this extraordinary resin pen were ever produced. The image of a tiger walking among bamboo trees was created using the sumikoage taka maki-e technique. This involves applying charcoal dust (shoen) in several layers. This creates a 3D effect, visible when the pen is illuminated.

The newest member of the Izumo family, Bamboo Weaving, is made of POM resin coated with hand-woven bamboo, sealed with Urushi varnish. The bamboo is first subjected to the Torafudake process—soaking in a solution containing special bacteria that gives it the coveted and prized tiger-stripe pattern. This process has been known since the Edo period and is prized in Japanese art. Several weeks of drying and curing make the bamboo durable, and its stripes, protected by Urushi varnish, adhere tightly to each other. Each feather is braided with 36 strips of bamboo, each 2 mm wide and 0.2 mm thick. The Izumo Bamboo Weaving Yokoajiro Torafu Urushi is a braided feather with a "tiger" pattern. The Bamboo Weaving Gozame Benikabairo Urushi model is colored red-brown (Benikabairo), while the Izumo Bamboo Weaving Gozame Ankokushoku Urushi model is colored Ankokushoku black.

Each Platinum Izumo fountain pen features an 18-karat iridescent gold nib. Each is packaged in a traditional kimono case and housed in a Paulownia wood box. The pens are equipped with a converter, and their handmade caps prevent the pen from drying out thanks to Platinum's patented "slip & seal" system. All these elements make Izumo fountain pens not only small works of art, but above all, long-lasting companions.

Photos are from platinum-pen.co.jp