Sailor Susutake — Naginata Togi Nib by Nobuyoshi Nagahara
The Sailor Susutake is a remarkable fountain pen combining a traditional Japanese natural material with one of the most celebrated nib designs in Sailor’s history.
Susutake: Traditionally Smoked Bamboo
The body is crafted from Susutake (traditionally smoked bamboo), a material that develops its distinctive deep brown tones through prolonged exposure to smoke and natural aging. Each piece of bamboo has its own unique grain, colour, and character — making every pen subtly different and truly one of a kind.
Naginata Togi Nib by Nobuyoshi Nagahara
What makes this particular piece especially significant is its Naginata Togi nib, personally ground by legendary Sailor nib master Nobuyoshi Nagahara.
The Naginata Togi features a distinctive elongated grind designed to create expressive line variation according to writing angle and direction:
Lower writing angle — produces broader, more expressive strokes
Higher writing angle — creates finer, more precise lines
This gives the writer a remarkable degree of control and expression unmatched by conventional nibs.
A Collector’s Piece
Combining the natural beauty and individuality of Susutake bamboo with a Naginata Togi personally ground by Nobuyoshi Nagahara, this fountain pen represents an important era of Sailor craftsmanship and is a particularly desirable piece for collectors of historic Japanese writing instruments.
