Platinum - Fountain pen

PLATINUM #3776 Century
HIGO ZOGAN Ichō (Ginkgo)

✦ Official Gift of the G7 Summit 2016 ✦

Traditional Japanese Craftsmanship

New, never inked specimen of the Ichō (Ginkgo) model; the exact pen chosen as the official gift to heads of state by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Ise-Shima 2016 G7 Summit.

Pure 24K gold inlay performed by the Mitsusuke workshop using the Higo Zogan technique, designated Traditional Craft by the Japanese government since 2003. Fewer than 15 master artisans remain worldwide who master this centuries-old technique.

New Old Stock (NOS): brand new, never inked, stored with care
Complete with black lacquered box, Converter-800A converter, certificate of authenticity, Platinum documentation

Higo Zogan Art: 400 Years of Excellence
The Higo Zogan technique (肥後象嵌) began in the early Edo period (17th century) with Hayashi Matashichi, a gunsmith in the service of Lord Katō Kiyomasa. perfected under the patronage of the refined Hosokawa clan, this technique traditionally adorned sword guards (tsuba) and samurai war gear.

The process involves engraving on an iron base a nunome texture (布目 = “woven fabric”) made of intersecting lines in four directions, achieving an extraordinary fineness of 16 lines per square millimeter. Sheets of pure 24K gold are then hammered into this microscopic grid. The finish requires a controlled rust neutralized by boiling in tea — the tannin turns the color to the deep black characteristic without any painting or lacquer.

The Mitsusuke Atelier: 4 Generations Since 1874
The inlays on this pen are the exclusive work of 光助 (Mitsusuke), a workshop founded in 1874 (Meiji era) whose family were smiths since the Edo era. The current representative, Ōsumi Yūji, is the 4th generation of master artisans.

The atelier holds the status of 伝統工芸士 (Certified Traditional Artisan), a government recognition requiring a minimum of 12 years of experience and reevaluated every 5 years. Their creations have been presented to the Emperor of Japan and serve as official gifts from Kumamoto Prefecture.

Nib: 14K gold, size F (Fine) — internal Platinum fabrication, hand-tested
Material: Black AS resin
Finish: Hairline vertical (ヘアライン加工) — matte brushed satin, unique among the #3776
Fittings: Gold-plated
Cap band: Inlayed with pure 24K gold Higo Zogan, Ichō (Ginkgo) motif (銀杏 - Ginkgo)

Closed length: 145 mm
Maximum diameter: 14.8 mm
Weight: 19.2 g

The first Higo Zogan collaborations with Platinum date back to 1969. The current series was relaunched for the brand’s 90th anniversary in 2008, then commemorated during the 40th anniversary of the partnership in 2010.

Higo Zogan offers an exceptional value proposition compared with entry-level maki-e alternatives (Namiki Nippon Art €550-700) while delivering craftsmanship of excellence comparable to pieces in higher tiers.