Sailor Susutake Ito-Maki Fountain Pen with Cross Emperor Nib

The vintage Sailor Susutake Ito-Maki Fountain Pen is crafted from over 100-year-old smoked bamboo sourced from Kyoto, Japan. Formed through decades of exposure to smoke, the bamboo develops a distinctive dark patina and warm texture, making it one of the most prized materials in traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

The center section of the barrel is meticulously wrapped by hand with fine red, green, and gold cords, creating an elegant and distinctly Japanese aesthetic. A solid gold nameplate engraved with the name of Sailor’s legendary nib craftsman, Nobuyoshi Nagahara, is mounted on the barrel.

This exceptional pen is fitted with a rare vintage engraved Cross Emperor nib, one of the most sought-after specialty nibs developed by Nobuyoshi Nagahara.

The Cross Emperor combines the complex multi-layer construction of the Cross Point nib with an additional Emperor overfeed, designed to support the increased ink flow required for broad, expressive writing. Its unique construction allows for remarkable line variation, producing exceptionally broad, rich strokes at lower writing angles while also enabling finer lines through changes in writing angle and pen orientation.

The combination of century-old Kyoto Susutake bamboo, traditional hand-wrapped Ito-Maki decoration, a solid gold nameplate, and Nobuyoshi Nagahara’s legendary Cross Emperor nib makes this an extraordinary collector’s piece, representing the finest traditions of Japanese craftsmanship and Sailor’s specialty nib heritage.

Important Notes

As Susutake is a natural bamboo material, each fountain pen features unique bamboo nodes, grain patterns, coloration, and surface characteristics. Natural variations, minor marks, uneven textures, and small irregularities are inherent features of the bamboo and should not be considered manufacturing defects.

Due to the age and natural characteristics of the material, slight changes in appearance or fine surface cracks may occur over time as a result of temperature and humidity fluctuations. We recommend keeping the pen away from direct sunlight, excessive moisture, and extreme temperature changes to help preserve its condition.