The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967

Re:The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967 by blackeyeblitzar on Monday March 03, 2025 @02:51PM (#43245912)

It’s interesting seeing all the innovative writing products in Japan - feels like a totally different culture. I have to say though, in the age of phones and laptops, it’s hard to make time to write things physically. It also just seems more painful (like for the hands). Still, I appreciate the design and thought that goes into Japanese pencils and pens.

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Re:The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967 by JadeNB on Monday March 03, 2025 @04:04PM (#43246679)

> It also just seems more painful (like for the hands).

If you're anything like me, that's the experience of writing with cheap pens and pencils, but finding the right grip for you can make writing a totally different experience. I don't write huge amounts on paper any more these days, so maybe my hand would start cramping up if I wrote pages, but I can easily take hours worth of notes without any trouble when using nice pens.

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Re:The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967 by WillAdams on Monday March 03, 2025 @05:24PM (#43247601)

Have you tried a good-quality, light-weight fountain pen?

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Re:The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967 by blackeyeblitzar on Monday March 03, 2025 @07:06PM (#43248448)

I tried a plastic body light one a long time back but haven’t returned to it. I think in part because I found the roller ball point pens to be smoother writing and less ‘scratchy’. But maybe I am not using it properly or didn’t get the right model.

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Re:The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967 by capnahab on Tuesday March 04, 2025 @12:04AM (#43250553)

I have found the Pilot Kakuno (about ¥1000, so inexpensive) - just IMO, - pilot ink is very easy flowing, the nibs are great for my writing style, pull off cap not screw, so much easier and readier to use, easy to clean. I work in the UK health service which is not a good place for stationery lovers.

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Re:The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967 by dbtc on Tuesday March 04, 2025 @12:43AM (#43250780)

A well-tuned fountain pen should write with only the weight of the pen, and then it can take time to learn to relax the hand and shoulder.

I can type for longer without pain than I can write with a ballpoint or a pencil, but a fountain pen exceeds them both.

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Re:The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967 by blackeyeblitzar on Wednesday March 05, 2025 @09:57PM (#43275892)

Maybe I just have bad technique. I feel like I can’t relax the hand but have to actively use it. Longer writing is definitely painful.

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Re:The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967 by dbtc on Wednesday March 12, 2025 @02:55PM (#43346512)

Relaxing isn't easy by any means, at least for me, it takes a lot of practice.

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