Matsuzawa Urushi Studio, founded in 2009 by Takuo Matsuzawa, is a new collective in the world of urushi lacquer art. He became enchanted with urushi while working as a local official promoting its production in Iwate Prefecture. Urushi is a natural sap with a history and culture spanning 9,000 years in Japan.
The urushi produced at Matsuzawa Urushi Studio has been adopted by Swiss brand Caran d'Ache for their limited edition fountain pens. It was first used in a commemorative pen for Pasternak, who wrote Doctor Zhivago. Since then, Caran d'Ache has continued to use our urushi in their pens, including the annual zodiac series released every January.
We not only sell raw materials but also apply urushi to various industrial products. However, we've taken an interest in fountain pens as well. Respected expert Matsuda Gonroku, renowned in Japan for his urushi mastery, likely used urushi from Iwate Prefecture where I live. This might also be true for Namiki pens he influenced.
Moving forward, we aspire to craft captivating fountain pens one after another.
Our handmade, meticulously crafted fountain pens aren't mass-produced. We believe these unique creations will surely bring satisfaction to all.
If you would like to see examples of previous work, please contact us using the contact form below.