Japan

Japanese writing instrument makers are best known for their mass market ball pens etc and their fountain pens are less well known to the public. But Japan has a number of quality fountain pen manufacturers which have been established for more than 100 years. The best known are Sailor, since 1911, Pilot, 1918 and Platinum, 1919.

Some Japanese designs are novel, such as the Pilot Capless, but many others mimic the cigar shaped designs of European brands like Mont Blanc.