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Hyoutan Namazu”, “Gourd and Catfish”, is a famous Japanese saying, which means “slippery” or “elusive”. The saying originates from the old paintings of the Zen riddle, which depicted a man trying to catch a Catfish by using a Gourd.

The Gourd is a symbol of good fortune and has been used widely as a charm and an amulet of good luck. For example, it is believed to be able to ward off evil spirits because of its elusiveness. The Japanese word for six gourds, Mubyou, sounds the same as the word “disease-free”. For children, the gourd symbolizes a wish to be granted because it has many seeds. It is also a symbol of business prosperity with its intertwining vines. In addition, the gourd has the meaning of “infinity”, as the shape is similar to the sign of “∞”, so it is said to bring unlimited positive results.

In Japan, the Catfish is well known as a likable character. It is commonly believed that Catfish can predict earthquakes and that they are the originators of earthquakes.

Only 200 limited edition pens have been produced worldwide. The body of the Yukari Royale size pen has been decorated by the skilled artisan Seiki employing refined Maki-e techniques. These include several kinds of height by using the Togidashi Take (Burnished-Raised) Maki-e technique, and the Taka Maki-e (high relief) technique. The relief of the Catfish on body is the highest and the Gourd on the center on the cap is created with platinum powder. The veins of the leaves are decorated by the Kakiwari technique in which black lacquer is left over and by the Bokashi (shading off) technique.

A precision 18-karat gold nib with rhodium accent and a superior piston converter ensures first-class writing quality and long-lasting performance. A special ink bottle designed specifically for this collectible pen completes the majestic presentation.

The pens are presented in a unique gift box with the shape of a Gourd.

The 2008 Limited Edition “Hyoutan Namazu” fountain pen from Namiki is truly a masterpiece that will be embraced by fine pen collectors worldwide.