You are unable to ignore “Montblanc” if were on the way to loving fountain pens. Though they are just a part of the Richemont group in Switzerland now, “Montblanc” was originally built as a fountain pen brand in 1906 Germany. Nobody can ignore the absolute brand as long as they are going on the road of fountain pens.

On the other hand, in Osaka, there’s a fountain pen shop “Ono Fountain Pen” built and produced by Ono Taenobu who had worked as a nib-adapt artisan for 33 years since he entered the Osaka branch of Dia Industrial Corporation, the then official agency of “Montblanc,” in 1976. He opened the shop after retiring. I interviewed with him about the shop, a symbol of his second life, and the nib adapting.



Ono Taenobu: I had prepared in order to open my own shop far when I was employed. What I am doing is the same as that time. Basically, I face my customers one on one, and grasp what fountain pen can suit the customer and how I should adapt the nib for him. This is just a clinic of fountain pens.


Each man has his peculiarity on writing. Ono speedily observes and analyzes for adjusting at the shop.

Ono: It is easy to understand the way right. I have the visitor to write the name and address. They tend to write the first line without the peculiarity for strain. It is not kept forever, however. The way gets to show at the second or third line. I judge by the observation.

Each man has his own way, like one loves soft writability and another likes had. So experience works a lot because when I was a salaried worker artisan, I had adapted nibs hundreds times.



You can find high-quality fountainpens like “”Montblanc“ and “Delta” Though it is natural they reduce some in price in most pen stores, Ono does not at all. He puts stress on a different point.

Ono: I sell all in the regular price. Instead, as long as I am on active service, I will look after the fountain pens I have sold at my shop

They used to sell pens after adaptation in old time although almost not so now. Customers feel unsatisfied with the inquiries therefore, because they just get the stereotyped receptions of call center system or pointless answers from the stores when there is something wrong on their pens. About the means for solving problems, customers long to talk with technical experts. That service is very important since you can hand over your fountain pens to your children if you used carefully. So I will do my job.



He said “Ono Fountain Pen” was often visited by a lot of customers who took over old pens from the parents or grandparents. The shop is on the line that extends to Ono's past, and also far different.

Ono: I have many friends around agencies or so. When I started this shop, there were several ones who helped me on facilities. “I heard you were going to open your store and so I’ll give this to you!” said they. So I suppose I hardly did something at the beginning. I believe it is very important to work and get along with others seriously.

Starting this shop made me know again, that I love my job very much. We should have extra jobs like submitting reports to bosses when are employed. Furthermore, the company got so degenerated for the M&A, which made me perfectly unhappy for the last 3 years. However, I am so very happy now that I can do my loving job every day. I am not painful at all even when I am too busy to have holidays. You know, I prefer this job to the stationary itself.