Japanese Lamy

Mitsubishi Pencil Co (::1::, ::2::) has just announced the acquisition of Lamy, the German pen company based in Heidelberg.

The announcement of the acquisition.

Surprising as this might be, there are very good reasons behind this movement:

The first of them is strongly related to the very low birth rate and population decrease in Japan. One of the obvious side effects of those is the shrinkage of the domestic market, and in this case that of stationery products.

Buying Lamy, Mitsubishi Pencil Co. gains access to new markets and to an extensive distribution network.

Lamy Safari Kanji, from 2022. Now, more Japanese than ever.

A second argument deals with the lack of high end products in the Mitsubishi Pencil catalog. And with this action, the Japanese company aims at gaining some presence in a more lucrative sector of the stationery market.

The price paid to the Lamy family has not been disclosed.

Lotus Saral Titanium – Pilot Black (Thai)

Bruno Taut
February 29th, 2024
etiquetas: Lamy , Mitsubishi Pencil, mercado

Kanreki

The Japanese word “kanreki” refers to the celebration of the 60th birthday. For the occasion, the birthday guy wears a red outfit composed by a cap and a vest –the “chanchanko”— typically used by babies to represent the rebirth and the beginning of a new life.

In the world of fountain pens, though, “kanreki” primarily refers to the Sailor Kanreki, In the Winter of 2007-08, Sailor marketed a Professional Gear pen in several hues of red to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Kawaguchi Akihiro, the Pen Doctor. Mr. Kawaguchi, in fact, participated in the design of this pen.

And years later, in 2023, the rival company Pilot celebrated another kanreki—that of the Capless model, originally released in 1963.

Again, a red pen –only one tone of red— with black trim and black nib. This time, though, it was a limited edition of 2023 numbered units.

It is quite obvious the cultural appeal of the term kanreki, and despite its very local nature —or maybe because of it!— both Sailor and Pilot have used it for their products. Should we wait for a Platinum Kanreki as well?

Kanreki.

Anyway, now in 2024 we have two pens from two different brands with the same model name. Confusing? Maybe, but you should never underestimate the inabilities of Japanese companies to name their products.

Pilot pocket Sterling Silver – Pilot Black

Bruno Taut
February 2024
Etiquetas: Pilot, Sailor, Capless, mercado