New Arrivals: New Pilot Releases, Additional 912 Nib Sizes, and Restocks on Favorites!

Our selection of Pilot pens continues to grow, from the new Custom 845 Prussian Blue to the Pilot Kakuno, which has become one of our top sellers in-store. We recently received a large restock of fountain pens, highlights of which include new nib options for the Custom 912 as well as the Kakuno Madoromi, Explorer, and more. We also have more Iroshizuku ink in all bottle sizes and cartridges, including many of the more popular colors that have been sold out. Keep checking back as new pens and inks arrive on a near-weekly basis!

The Pilot Metropolitan/MR offers a medium italic (calligraphy) nib that many enjoy because it’s an easy way to add line definition to your writing.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Pilot fountain pens and ink. You can come see these and more in-person this week in our Nashville Shop, when we are open 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10-5pm on Saturday.

Sunday Reading for May 31, 2026

1. 9 Years in the Rabbit Hole (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Happy penversary to Kimberly! I like this exercise of going back and re-inking the pens that first got you into the hobby.

2. In Memoriam: Platinum Curidas, 2020-2026 (via Pen Addict). I’m honestly surprised the Curidas actually held on this long. It was a decent attempt, but the design never caught on with mainstream fountain pen users.

3. Michael Schur & Joe Posnanski - Big Fan! (via Figboot on Pens). Not necessarily all pen-related, but this was a cool interview for David to get to do.

4. Did I Get Lucky? Gentleman Stationer Mystery Boxes! (via dwrdnet). I always have fun putting these together and watching people react to the unboxing. I will do more of these in the future.

5. I Bought Every Blackwing Pencil So You Don’t Have To (via dwrdnet). I guess the pencil box was successful…. :)

6. Baran’s Pen Sleeves (via UK Fountain Pens). I’ve not seen these before - I love fabric pen sleeves and rolls, especially from small makers with a story behind them.

7. Read on Expiration (via Dime Novel Raven). What will happen to all those journals?

8. My Top 3 3D-Printed Fountain Pens (via SBRE Brown). 3D-printing is never something that’s grabbed me, but you’re starting to see it more and more in the pen space.

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Read more about my visit to the Kakimori Inkstand!

In Case You Missed It…

I’m back from Japan! In the coming week or so I’ll be publishing my trip recaps and sharing my experiences and, of course, all the fun stuff I brought back. I’ve published two recap installments so far, including a pictorial of my trip to Itoya and other shops, as well as a recap of a trip to Kakimori’s Tokyo location that included the custom notebook and custom ink experiences.

OnionBrand A5 leather notebook cover in Olde Walnut.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

There were lot’s of fun arrivals this week, including the new TWSBI ECO Fluorite Purple + Bronze which sold out in under 8 hours and per TWSBI likely won’t be restocked for a month or so. We’ve also restocked on OnionBrand A5 leather notebook covers in a couple of different finishes, including Olde Walnut and Tanner’s Claret, the reddish-brown hue that was so popular in San Francisco. Finally, we have the new Pilot Custom 845 Urushi in Prussian Blue, and it’s a stunner, as well as additional MD Products Dot Grid A5 notebooks, among other items. Be sure to check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for a full list of new arrivals and restocks!

Our Nashville showroom is open regular hours (Thursday and Friday 1-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm). Come see these and more in person!

Caran d'Ache

Pilot

Midori and MD Products

Uni

How YOu Can Support us further: Visit Us on Patreon

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and special promotions, consider supporting us via Patreon. In addition to exclusive content, Discord access, and online meetups, Patreon supporters have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail” which have not been publicly released.

Japan Trip Journal: A Visit to Kakimori, Including Custom Notebooks and the InkStand!

I’ve been waiting to post about one highlight of my trip to Tokyo: our visit to the Kakimori store, which included making our own custom notebooks and mixing a custom Kakimori ink at the “Inkstand” ink bar. While most people in the United States know Kakimori for their signature conical metal dip nibs, they actually offer a wide range of products, including an extensive paper and ink selection, high-end office supplies under the “Object Index” line, and a curated selection of products outside of their own brand.

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All of the covers and papers in the sorter - the first step in the custom notebook process.

The Kakimori Custom Notebook Experience

Kakimori offers customers the ability to build their own spiral notebook, choosing from a diverse selection of covers, bindings, papers, and closures. While you can customize your notebook online via the Kakimori website, the experience is best enjoyed in-store, where you can make an appointment and hand-select everything in person.

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You can choose up to four packs of paper per notebook, an add dividers if you wish.

Kakimori notebooks come in two sizes: B5 and B6, with a spiral binding. I built one in each size, mainly because I couldn’t narrow my cover choices and wanted a leather cover and a fabric cover. Paper was a bit easier, because the choices are somewhat more limited (OK Fools, Neue Grey, Bank Paper, and Conqueror Laid) and you can select up to four papers per notebook. Once you’ve selected your cover and paper, you can add things like bindings, elastics, snap closures, and dividers.

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If you’re unsure, you can test each of the papers on offer!

The total cost for the two notebooks came to around $68. While not inexpensive, you’re paying for the experience as well as the physical product, and if you visit the Kakimori store again they will even refill the cover with fresh pages! So if, like me, you opted for the leather cover you can continue to enjoy it as it ages. (Note to self: plan to go back for a notebook refill.)

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I chose two notebooks: a B5 with burgundy leather and black trim, and a lighter canvas B6.

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I love Neue Gray paper (right). For both notebooks I chose a combination of this one, OK Fools, and Conqueror Laid. All of the papers on offer are fountain pen friendly.

The Kakimori Inkstand Experience: Mixing a Custom Kakimori Ink

While I love notebooks, I might have had more fun mixing my own custom Kakimori ink at the Kakimori “Inkstand.” Available by appointment only, the “Inkstand” experience gives you an hour to mix your own Kakimori ink from the 14 available colors in the Inkstand line of pigment inks. You will have a 15-minute orientation, followed by 45 minutes to mix and test inks to achieve your desired color. My goal was a dark green, and I spent most of the time experimenting with various combinations of yellow, black, and cactus green. I ended up very close to what I originally had in my head! Note that Kakimori inks are pigment inks, which require that you clean your fountain pen a bit more frequently to avoid clogging, since they are formulated from particles of pigment suspended in dye. The upside is the permanence and vibrant colors, as well as the ability to mix colors among others in the same line.

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I made a mess very quickly. Not pictured: me spilling a bottle.

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A close up of my various experiments!

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And, the final result!

Takeaways and Where to Find Kakimori in the U.S.

If you’re ever in Tokyo, I highly recommend a visit to Kakimori because it was easily one of the highlights of my trip. Even if you don’t want to mix your own ink or create your own notebook, they have an extensive lineup of standard products. We have worked with Kakimori for years and regularly stock their dip nibs, fountain pens, pigment inks, and the “Object Index” line. It can sometimes take a while to get Kakimori products into the store since they need to be imported - and most are small-batch and made in small quantities - but we intend to continue carrying them for the foreseeable future!

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While I didn’t end up using shimmer, I did mix a bit of Kakimori’s “Pearlescent” additive to see what my color would look like. I dropped a bit too much in. :)

In addition to our physical store, the Gentleman Stationer is supported by online purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. For more Japan store visits, haul posts, and just some general commentary and observations from a place I’ve never visited before, be sure to follow the TGS Instagram and YouTube accounts!

Weekly Drops: Pilot Custom 845 in Prussian Blue, OnionBrand A5, and More Traveler's Notebooks!

This week’s new arrivals include our first Urushi lacquer fountain pen, the Pilot Custom 845 in the newly released Prussian Blue finish! We also have additional nib sizes of the Pilot Custom 912, including FM (fine medium) and SFM (soft fine medium), which might be my two favorite nib sizes in the Pilot lineup. Last but not least on the pen side, the new Paul Smith + Caran d’Ache collaboration has arrived, with two new 849 ballpoint pens that pair satin black and raw metal finishes with a more subtle take on Paul Smith’s signature stripes.

On the notebook side, we have additional stock of the OnionBrand A5 leather covers, as well as a small shipment of standard size Traveler’s notebooks in Brown, Camel, and Olive.

Come see these and more in-store during normal hours this week, from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-5pm on Saturday.

1. Pilot Custom 845 Urushi Fountain Pen. The Custom 845 Urushi in Prussian Blue is the latest addition to Pilot’s North American “Custom” lineup. We have a limited shipment with more on the way. I love to see an option other than red and black.

2. Caran d’Ache x Paul Smith 5th Edition Ballpoint. The fifth rendition of the Paul Smith 849 ballpoint is here, with two finishes: satin black and raw silver. These pens offer a more subtle take on Paul Smith’s signature stripes.

3. TRAVELER’S Company Standard TRAVELER’S Notebooks. Yes, we have a small shipment of TRAVELER’S standard size notebooks currently in stock. These have been in high demand and sold out for some time, though we are restocking as we can.

4. OnionBrand A5 Leather Notebook Covers. These handmade leather notebook covers use a cord-based binding system and are made by a local artisan in our hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. We have Tanner’s Claret and Olde Walnut finishes currently available.

5. MD Product Dot Grid A5 Notebooks. As MD Product completes its rebrand, more notebook sizes and rulings are becoming available. The A5 notebook is now available in dot grid once again (formerly the Midori Notebook Journal).

6. Pilot Custom 912 Fountain Pens. The Pilot Custom 912 series features a classic flat-top silhouette with a sword clip, and the best part is that you can choose from Pilot’s many specialty nib sizes. We recently received my personal favorite FM (fine medium) and SFM (soft fine medium) nibs, in addition to the Waverly and PO nibs.

7. Pilot Kakuno Madoromi Restock. Kakunos have been selling like crazy in-store and online, mainly because people have been discovering how great these pens are for beginners and experienced users alike. The Madoromi (“Drowsy series”) limited edition is once again available.

8. Pilot Kakuno Standard Restock. The standard Kakuno (clear finishes) are also once again available, in addition to the Madoromi editions.

9. Life Airmail Stationery Pads. While we do not have the matching envelopes at this time, we do have stock of the Life Airmail onionskin writing pads.

10. Life Noble Note Paper. We received a shipment of Life Noble Note notebooks, including now in B6. We also continue to have stock of the Life 6-ring binder refills.

OnionBrand A5 Notebook Cover in “Olde Walnut” finish.

New Arrivals: TWSBI ECO Fluorite Purple + Bronze, and New OnionBrand A5 Leather Notebook Covers!

The new TWSBI ECO Fluorite Purple + Bronze is finally here and available for pre-order! This latest TWSBI release features a swirled purple, pink and white acrylic paired with TWSBI’s bronze trim, and is available in all nib sizes. Per TWSBI’s release schedule, pens are currently in-stock and orders will begin shipping Friday, May 29. Due to high demand and relatively small initial retailer allocations, if you are looking to pick up a pen in-store, we recommend placing an online order and selecting “in-store pickup” at checkout, as we cannot guarantee there will be pens available when the Nashville store opens on Thursday. As a reminder, please do not come to pick up your order until you have received an e-mail letting you know that it’s available.

We also have a small batch of the OnionBrand A5 leather notebook covers in the “Olde Walnut” finish. These cord-based notebook covers sold out very quickly last week, and more are in-progress. For those unfamiliar with the brand, OnionBrand is a local maker in the Nashville area, whose goods I have featured in-store but now has enough of a production setup that I can offer them for sale online. Stay tuned as additional colors and models come online.

We are open this week in the Nashville store regular hours, 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-5pm Saturday. Please come by and see us!