Namiki Maki-e fountain pens encompass the ultimate fusion of skill and spirit inherited from our predecessors, and also the roots of PILOT. Over many years to the present day, they are the top brand in Maki-e fountain pens conveying Japanese traditional culture, and are highly regarded around the world. The first pages of the Namiki story are written about Ryosuke Namiki and Masao Wada, who stared out as merchant marine engineers. In 1918, their first gold nib made in japan was mounted onto a body of ebonite. Starting in 1925, inspired by the lacquer used to protect precious objects, they began working with lacquer artisans, later united within the Kokkokai Group. The modernity of their pens was then enhanced by craft tradition: Maki-e, a lacquer technique passed on between generations of virtuoso artisans.