Nebotek (II)

Before Eboya, there was Nebotek.

Nebotek was the pen brand that Nikko Ebonite created in 2009 to market pens made from its own ebonite, following a sharp decline in sales of the raw material.

Nebotek catalog in 2012-13.

The operation was led by lathe master Kanesaki Noritoshi, who had learned his trade from Momose Yasuaki and Kubo Kohei. Production was based on the use of the traditional Japanese lathe, or rokuro, to shape the company's in-house ebonite. The nibs and feeds were supplied by Bock.

One of the rokuro at Nikko Ebonite (2016).

Between 2009 and 2014, the pens were branded as Nebotek, while the online shop selling ebonite products was called Eboya. In essence, however, the pens were anonymous: the only identifying mark was the Bock logo on the nib, which pointed to Germany rather than to their Japanese maker.

This changed in January 2014, when Nikko Ebonite discontinued the Nebotek name and adopted Eboya for its pens. The company also began engraving the brand name on the barrel, together with the motto “MADE IN TOKYO.”

The pen on display today is, in fact, an anonymous Nebotek: a model Hôga in size M, fitted with a 14-karat gold Bock nib and an ebonite feed. Its filling system is the traditional Japanese eyedropper, a design invented by Onoto.

Nebotek Hôga M, Japanese eyedropper.

This detail adds to the pen’s charm. Under Mr. Kanesaki’s direction, three filling systems were available for Nebotek and Eboya pens: cartridge-converter, button filler, and Japanese eyedropper (inki-dome shiki in Japanese). This changed after he left Nikko Ebonite, following the company’s decision to introduce computerized lathes into pen production in 2016. As a result, only the efficient, clean and boring cartridge-converter system survived in Eboya’s fountain-pen lineup.

All these details make this pen —this inki-dome Nebotek— particularly special.

Its dimensions are as follows:
Length closed: 144 mm
Length, open: 136 mm
Length, posted: 175 mm
Diameter: 15.0 mm
Weight, dry: 21.1 g
Ink deposit: 3.0 ml

Ohashido Kagero – Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-budo

Bruno Taut
September 25th, 2026
etiquetas: Nebotek, Bock, Kanesaki Noritoshi, Eboya