Yotubisi

We became aware of the beauty of this marque by accident. Visiting a pen shop in Japan we were offered four for sale and purchased them all. Supposedly, Yotubisi was based in Osaka and started making decorated pens before World War II. The seemed to specialize in everything except traditional makie. We have not seen any pens from them that we could conclusively state was before the war. All are mid-to-late 1950s.

Yotobisi did not make nibs and it appears they only decorated barrels and caps. All of their pens bear the four diamond symbol, used by the great samurai general Takeda Shingen. It appears on all of their cap bands and most clips. Of the many pens we have seen, only one had Yotubishi written on the nib.

It is beleived the same firm now manufactures silk for kimonos. At one time they may have been more diversified and sold pens. The beauty of both is incredible.