2021 was the year when people went back to in-store events, Sailor kicked into high gear, Pilot woke up, glass pens became unobtainable, and a North American ink brand challenged Tono & Lims.

Kohei Kubo is over 90 years old and still makes his own nibs, in his workshop in Tokyo. He’s behind some of the most extreme nibs ever made, and also taught Tohma how to make nibs.

I tested Sanzen Paper’s soon-to-be-released Tomoe River successor, using extra broad and calligraphy nibs, with chromo-shading and sheening inks, and compared it to both “old” and “new” Tomoe River.