Eboya is a Tokyo-based pen maker that has been around since 2009. Their specialty is pens made of ebonite, polished on traditional rokuro lathes. Eboya’s parent company is Nikko Ebonite, the only producer of ebonite in Japan. Eboya has seven pen fountain pen models, including the Onoto-inspired Kyouka, the bamboo-like Ricchiku, and the torpedo-shaped Houga. Each model is available in several types of marbled ebonite, in small, medium, and large sizes, with an appropriately-sized 14K Bock nib in F, FM, M, or B.

In early March, a group of pen enthusiasts got together in Tokyo and spent hours discussing and obsessing over writing instruments. Here are a few pens spotted at this event. Iwase Seisakusho Kinsei (謹製) pens with Kubo Kohei (久保幸平) nibs: Smaller model with three-slit music nib: Flat top model, with Waterman Edson nib: Pelikan pens with raden decorations by Iwase Seisakusho: Pilot 80th anniversary Shijin (四神): Pilot Super Ultra 500:

Storied stationery retailer and bookstore Maruzen is celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. To commemorate this occasion, Maruzen produced three limited edition pens: A Sailor KOP in micarta (Voyage), a yellow Pilot based on Custom 912 (Lemon), and the subject of this post: Athena the Pen. The name, Athena, may be familiar to fountain pen enthusiasts. Maruzen has a popular series of inks carrying this label, including the sought-after Eternal Blue, and even more exotic ones sold only once a year, at their annual pen fair.