Wancher Sekai Kaba Zaiku Fountain Pen | Yamazakura: Sakura rain

Wancher Sekai Kaba Zaiku | Yamazakura: Sakura ame is crafted from wild cherry bark grown in Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture—one of Japan's snowiest regions. The raw bark, hardened over years by frost, wind, rain, and snow, is transformed into the smooth, glossy surface of the pen. Each piece retains its own unique natural pattern, making it one of a kind.

Kaba Zaiku is a traditional Japanese craft dating back about 200 years. It is typically used to decorate larger surfaces, such as tea caddies, trays, and boxes. In this model, Wancher, together with the experienced artisans at Yatsuyanagi Co. Ltd., has applied this demanding technique to the slender form of a fountain pen.

Kaba Zaiku Craftsmanship

The process involves four key stages: Kaba-kezuri, the scraping and preparation of the bark; Nikawanuri, bonding with natural nikawa glue; Dobari, which involves fitting the material using heat; and Shi-age, the final polishing. Over time, the finish acquires an increasingly deep luster, allowing the pen to mature along with its owner.

Nature that can regenerate

Wild cherry bark can regrow in about five years, and the nikawa glue used in the process is a material of natural origin. Each pen supports the preservation of the traditional skills of Kakunodate artisans and helps pass the art of Kaba Zaiku on to future generations.

Product features

• Handcrafted using the traditional Kaba Zaiku technique
• Natural Yamazakura wild cherry bark from Kakunodate
• Sakura ame variant with deep cherry-amber tones
• Unique pattern on every piece
• German JoWo #6 nib, Fine (F) point
• Finish that develops an increasingly stronger luster over time
• Cartridge or converter filling system

Dimensions and weight

• Closed pen length: 139.5 mm
• Cap length: 64.5 mm
• Barrel length without section and nib: 79.8 mm
• Section length: 23.5 mm
• Nib length: 23.5 mm
• Barrel diameter: 13.2–10.5 mm
• Weight with cap: 22 g
• Weight without cap: 11 g

Package contents

• Traditional Japanese wooden box
• Converter
• Ink cartridge
• Instructional materials

Technical specifications

• Brand: Wancher
• Collection: Sekai Kaba Zaiku
• Model: Yamazakura: Sakura ame
• Material and decoration: natural wood, wild cherry bark
• Nib: German JoWo #6 nib
• Nib size: F
• Filling system: international standard cartridge / converter
• Country of origin: Japan

Notes regarding natural material

• The pattern and character of the bark vary between individual pieces, so the pen received may look slightly different than in the photos.
• A fine seam may be visible on the surface where the edges of the natural bark meet after wrapping the barrel. This is a characteristic of the material and the traditional process, not a crack or defect.
• The name Kaba Zaiku can be misleading: the technique uses wild cherry bark, not birch. One explanation suggests that "kaba" is an archaic term for mountain or wild cherry.

Responsible party: Escribo, ul. Plebiscytowa 17, 40-035 Katowice, Poland | info@escribo.pl