Kakimori Aluminium Fountain Pen — Matte Black Body with Swappable F/M German Nib, Made in Japan

A Pen Built to Disappear Into the Hand

Where Kakimori's Frost pen makes a visual statement out of translucency, the Aluminium Fountain Pen goes the opposite direction: a quiet, matte black cylinder with no clip-mounted flash and no colour play, designed to fit into daily use without asking for attention. Its straight, linear silhouette and airtight aluminium body are built for exactly one job — reliable, everyday writing — and the pen does that job with a precision that comes from pairing Japanese body engineering with a German-made nib.

What Makes the Aluminium Pen Different

The body is machined from aluminium and finished with a fine, textured matte surface that resists fingerprints and stays comfortable to hold through long writing sessions — light enough not to fatigue the hand, substantial enough to feel like a considered object rather than a disposable one. The grip section is shaped without hard edges or asymmetry, which means the pen can be held at different distances from the nib and at different angles without ever feeling awkward — a small detail that matters more than it sounds for anyone who writes for extended periods or shifts grip style depending on the task. The cap snaps securely into place rather than threading on, and a simple, sturdy clip is built in for portability; note that the pen is designed for optimal balance with the cap removed rather than posted, so it's built to be used cap-off.

The nib itself is a German-made Schmidt #5, prized for its minimal catch and consistent ink flow — reviewers describe it as pleasantly springy with good line variation, which makes the Aluminium Pen a favourite not just for daily writing but for anyone who likes to sketch or vary pressure with a fountain pen nib rather than sticking to a single, unchanging line.

Design & Craftsmanship

The pen measures 133mm in length with a 10mm body diameter and weighs approximately 16g — light in the hand without feeling insubstantial. The body is engineered in Japan for an airtight seal that helps keep the nib from drying out between uses, while the nib and converter are made in Germany for reliable, even ink flow. A discreet Kakimori logo sits on the end cap — the pen's only real branding, in keeping with its understated design language.

Compatibility & Care

The Aluminium Fountain Pen includes a plastic converter for bottled ink and also accepts standard international short cartridges, so it's ready to use straight out of the box with whichever refill method you prefer. Daily use is recommended to keep the nib from drying out between writing sessions. If travelling by air, fill the pen with ink after arrival rather than before departure to avoid leakage from altitude pressure changes. Write with gentle pressure rather than pushing down hard — the nib is precision-tuned and responds best to a light touch. The nib unit is user-replaceable, so a worn or damaged nib can be swapped without retiring the pen.

About Kakimori

Kakimori is a stationery brand and shop rooted in Kuramae, Tokyo, tracing back to a family stationery business founded in 1961. Reopened in 2010 by third-generation owner Takuma Hirose as a shop dedicated entirely to the pleasure of handwriting, Kakimori has built a small, considered catalogue of pens, nibs, custom inks, and order-made notebooks — objects designed, in the brand's own words, to bring stillness and pleasure to ordinary, everyday writing.

Product Specifications

Available at Shosai — Ottawa–Gatineau

Shosai (shosai.ca) is a fine stationery boutique serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region. We carry a curated selection of Kakimori fountain pens and nibs alongside premium fountain pen inks and papers from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

• 📍 In-store pickup: Gatineau, QC — J9J 0K6
• 🛵 Local delivery: Available in the Ottawa–Gatineau area
• 🚚 Ships Canada-wide and to the US
• 🇫🇷 Bilingual service — English and French

Whether it's your first fountain pen or an everyday workhorse to sit alongside a larger collection, the Kakimori Aluminium Fountain Pen is built to be used, refilled, and carried without a second thought.