✦ Official Gift of the 2016 G7 Summit ✦

Traditional Japanese Craftsmanship

A mint, uninked Ichō (Ginkgo) pen; the exact pen chosen as the official gift by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the heads of state at the 2016 Ise-Shima G7 Summit.

Inlaid with 24K pure gold by the Mitsusuke workshop using the Higo Zogan technique, designated a Traditional Japanese Craft by the government since 2003. Fewer than 15 master craftsmen in the world still master this centuries-old technique.

New Old Stock (NOS): Brand new, never inked, carefully stored

Complete original packaging with black lacquered box, Converter-800A converter, certificate of authenticity, Platinum documentation

The Art of Higo Zogan: 400 Years of Excellence

The Higo Zogan technique (肥後象嵌) originated in the early Edo period (17th century) with Hayashi Matashichi, a swordsmith in the service of Lord Katō Kiyomasa. Perfected under the patronage of the refined Hosokawa clan, this technique traditionally adorned the sword hilts (tsuba) and other weapons of samurai.

The process involves engraving a nunome texture (布目 = "woven fabric") onto an iron base. This texture consists of lines crossing in four directions, achieving an extraordinary fineness of 16 lines per square millimeter. Sheets of 24K pure gold are then hammered into this microscopic grid. The finish requires controlled rust neutralized by boiling in tea—the tannin transforms the color into its characteristic deep black without any paint or lacquer.

Mitsusuke Workshop: 4 Generations Since 1874

The inlays on this pen are the exclusive work of Mitsusuke, a workshop founded in 1874 (Meiji era) whose family had been blacksmiths since the Edo period. The current owner, Ōsumi Yūji, represents the fourth generation of master craftsmen.

The workshop holds the status of Certified Traditional Craftsman, a government recognition requiring a minimum of 12 years of experience and reassessed every 5 years. Their creations have been presented to the Emperor of Japan and serve as official gifts from Kumamoto Prefecture.

Nib: 14K Gold, Fine (F) cut — Platinum in-house crafted, hand-tested

Material: Black AS Resin

Finish: Vertical Hairline (ヘアライン加工) — satin brushed matte, unique among the #3776 models

Finish: Gold plated

Cap ring: 24K pure gold Higo Zogan inlay, Ichō (銀杏 - Ginkgo) motif

Closed length: 145 mm

Maximum diameter: 14.8 mm

Weight: 19.2 g

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

The Higo Zogan offers exceptional value compared to maki-e alternatives. entry-level (Namiki Nippon Art €550-700) while offering excellent craftsmanship comparable to pieces in higher categories.