Japan Trip Journal: Day One (Travel Day)

May 20, 2026

And we’re off! This will be my last dispatch from the U.S. before we land in Japan in approximately 20 hours. I say “approximately” because departure has been delayed out of LAX for two hours, but at least we have some time to catch up and decompress. (This is a three-layover, 25+ hour journey, which I’ve not done in many, many years.)

Joe's Japan Travel Carry 2026 Rickshaw and Roterfaden — My everyday pen case for this trip will be my Rickshaw Fillmore, and my everyday notebook a TGS_25 Roterfaden (we hope to have more this summer).

So here’s where things stand, stationery-wise. I posted earlier that I was considering a two-pen carry. That did not happen, though I did thin out my notebooks a bit and made my bag a bit lighter. You can read more about how I chose my gear for this trip in last week’s post, but future posts will focus more on new discoveries.

Joe's Japan Carry Pen Case Open to show his Japan pens and pencil — I added another fountain pen for the trip - a Pilot Custom Heritage 92 - as well as a few gel pens.

Despite a busy schedule, I plan to do regular trip updates, even if they might not be daily. You can expect store visits, haul posts, and just some general commentary and observations from a place I’ve never visited before. Stay tuned, and also watch the TGS Instagram and YouTube accounts!

Things will remain business as usual in Nashville while I’m gone! Come see TGS in our Nashville showroom, open regular hours this week (Thursday and Friday 1-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm).

Travel Stationery: How to Pack for a Two Week International Trip (!?!)

May 9, 2026

Consider this the first post in my “Japan” series, because in less than two weeks I will be on the road to Japan for a two-week stationery adventure with my friends Lisa Vanness, Matthew Chen, and others. First order of business: what to pack, because - obviously - I don’t want to travel too heavy on the way over there. The goal is for the pen case to be empty going over, and full coming back!

Joe's Japan Guidebooks to Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto — Yes, I know that you can use your phone, but I want to be OFF my phone as much as possible on this trip, and I love being able to mark up a physical map, etc. Therefore: Guidebooks.

Purpose of this Trip: 75% Business, 25% Vacation, 100% Fun

The main event of our trip is nominally the Naniwa Pen Show in Osaka Japan. While we have additional business events and meetings scheduled over the course of two weeks, there will be plenty of time to roam, and I’m looking forward to spending two weeks nearly entirely devoted to stationery while learning more about a country I’ve never visited. For a trip like this I plan on taking a relatively light, flexible setup with a focus on travel journaling.

A two-pen travel carry featuring a Laurett's ballpoint and a Pilot Custom 823 — I’m sticking with my simple carry.

Pens: I’m Still Considering a Two-Pen Carry

Last week I did a “pen case dump” post, and at the end I teased that I would be considering a two-pen carry for this trip. Why only two pens? Because I’m going to be buying more on the trip itself, and the writing I’ll be doing is more travel journaling so I will need reliable workhorse writers that aren’t sensitive to things like temperature and air pressure.

Two travel ballpoints, including a Laurett's Waka Ebonite Ballpoint and a Travel Pocket Pen — I lean heavily on fine-tip ballpoint pens when I travel.

My two daily drivers will be a Laurett’s Waka Ebonite Ballpoint and a Pilot Custom 823. The ballpoint is a great write-anywhere pen, perfect for working on a long 12+ hour plane ride. I consider the Custom 823 an excellent choice for long-haul travel because (1) it holds a ton of ink, meaning that I likely will not have to refill until I have the opportunity to buy more ink at my destination; and (2) the pen incorporates a shut-off valve so it won’t burp ink into the cap due to changes in air pressure. If I add a third pen, it will be some sort of pocket pen that I can carry with me to carry around during the day for quick notes - probably a TRAVELER’S Company Brass Ballpoint or a Schon DSGN Pocket 6 ballpoint.

Two Pen Cases for Travel including Nagasawa Kip Leather and Rickshaw Sinclair — My two favorite pen cases at the moment: A Nagasawa Kip Leather Zippered Case and a Rickshaw Fillmore. Both are coming with me.

Pen Case(s): Maximizing Capacity and Protection

My everyday pen case is going to be a Rickshaw Fillmore or Sinclair, both of which are relatively lightweight, durable, and pack well in a backpack. For transporting any purchases back home (especially loose pens purchased at a pen show) I’m likely going to bring one or more larger cases such as a Galen Leather Magnum Opus or my 10-pen Nagasawa Kip Leather Zippered Case. Probably both.

Tom Bihn Synapse 25 Bottom pocket with notebooks — Yes, that bottom pocket can hold at least two A5 or A5 slim notebooks. It can probably hold more, but I’m trying to limit weight, and notebooks are the first to go.

Notebooks: Balancing Fun with Necessity

The hardest part of any trip, for me at least, is narrowing down the notebooks. Right now I’m planning to bring two Roterfadens: an A5 to hold my planner, and my TGS25 A5 Slim to serve as my travel journal. The TGS25 will probably be on me at all times for journaling, stamp collecting, and other writing on the go. I struggle with whether to take a 6-ring binder - I usually use these for work notes. Though I hope I don’t need to do any day-job related work while I’m traveling, I may add a smaller Bible or Mini-6 binder.

Lochby Field Binder A6 in Charcoal, shown with a pen and hand for scale — Lochby recently added “A6” and “A7” Field Binders to their lineup. I may test drive one of the smaller formats on this trip.

New Travel Bag: Versatility and The Tom Bihn Synapse 25

I don’t write much about bags, but expect a full post-trip gear recap that prominently features this latest addition, the Tom Bihn Synapse 25. I purchased this bag because I needed something more compact than my 31L North Face Surge, with more exterior pockets and better organization. I didn’t want to go all the way down to a true day pack, because I fully expect to be carting around a lot of purchases at various times and I plan to bring my Rickshaw Banzai Bag as a smaller option. But the main selling point of the Synapse 25? That bottom front pocket fits as many as three A5 notebooks! I’ve been able to fit a Roterfaden A5, a Roterfaden TGS_25 A5 Slim, and another hardcover A5 notebook (though it’s very unlikely I’ll be walking around with three notebooks at once).

Stationery carry in the side pockets of the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 — This backpack has five relatively large exterior pockets, including seemingly bottomless side pockets with integrated pen slots.

Keep Track of Me While I’m in Japan!

I’ll be posting more updates on this trip as the departure day approaches. Lisa and I plan to document the trip on our respective social media accounts, as well as the On The Paper Trail accounts, so be sure to follow those to keep tabs on us! In my absence, I have a team of friends and employees who will be minding the shop here in Nashville, so the store will remain fully open while I’m away. Also, the comments are open for recommendations on stores and shops to visit in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and anywhere else nearby!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

On The Paper Trail Episode 3: We Visit Pilot USA Headquarters

On the Paper Trail Episode 3: We Visit Pilot Pens USA!

February 11, 2026

Joe and Lisa take a trip to visit Pilot USA headquarters and come back with a lot to report! In this third episode of On the Paper Trail, we not only discuss our Pilot Tour, but take on three questions from the "12 Pen Person" questions challenge, answer reader questions about appraising and selling pens, and talk about the upcoming California Pen Show and a live recording at the San Francisco Stationery Fest!

Show Notes and Links:

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast. We have submitted to additional services such as iHeartRadio, Pocketcasts, Audible, and others, and you should see On The Paper Trail appear as an option once their review process is complete.

I Didn't Know There Was a Pen Show Last Weekend! Pen Shows and Stationery Fests vs. Trade Shows

February 5, 2026

I had a couple of people write in to ask which pen show I was attending over the past few days in New York City, and the answer is that there wasn’t one! Sunday through Tuesday I attended both NY Now and Shoppe Object, which are two “to-the-trade” shows, meaning that they are open only to retailers, distributors, and sometimes to the press. I initially attended NYNow years ago as “press”, when I was running T.G.S. primarily as a stationery enthusiast website, reviewing products, and keeping track of all the new product releases. Now that I have both brick-and-mortar and online retail operations, I can attend as a buyer.

Leuchtturm1917 Master Size Notebooks — Yes, those are Leuchtturm1917 “Master” Size Notebooks in multiple colors!

What’s the Main Difference Between a Pen Show and a Trade Show? No Buying on Site.

Think of these shows as exhibitions - manufacturers and distributors bring samples of their goods, including their latest releases, for retailers to see and handle in person before ordering. Why is this important? Because many brands have large minimum order requirements and there’s a lot of risk involved if you have to order 50 units of something without ever having seen it in person. Traditional trade shows minimize that risk. It can also be quite helpful to have direct access to sales representatives and be able to ask questions in person, especially as some tend to be nonresponsive to e-mail and telephone inquiries by smaller shops as they nearly always focus most of their service and attention on larger internet retailers. While you can place orders at trade shows, there is no purchasing on site. Products are delivered later.

Notem Undated Planners from Denmark — Notem - a brand from Denmark that makes clothbound undated planners.

I Can’t Talk About Much of What I Saw

Most of what I saw - or at least those things readers would be most interested in - are forthcoming products that will be announced in the coming months. While there were a lot of interesting items on display, both NY Now and Shoppe Object seemed sparse this year, which has been a trend as these sorts of shows get pushed online to wholesale marketplaces like Faire. It’s a double-edged sword: while I appreciate getting to see things in person at trade shows, the shows themselves are expensive to attend, and online marketplaces typically allow you to order smaller quantities and even tester/sample products before committing to larger orders. It remains to be seen whether the traditional trade show will continue to exist in its current format with twice-a-year frequency.

I will likely continue to attend these shows in addition to the normal pen show circuit because over the years I’ve discovered some unique products that I wouldn’t have found anywhere else. For example, brands like Anecdote Goods, the distributors of Toyo Steel and Braun, and even Leuchtturm exhibit at these shows, and the relationships cultivated in person make it easier to expand my offerings. I hope you enjoyed this quick look “behind the curtain”!

Our shop is open normal hours this week! Come see us 1-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday!

Westminster Dog Show 2026 — NYNow had some company in the Javitz Center this year!

Lots of Dogs in Stalls at Westminster — Lot of dogs on site!

San Francisco Pen Show Hotel View — Being able to get outside and walk along the bay near the hotel gave an added boost outside of show hours.

2025 San Francisco Pen Show Recap: Still The Best "Big" Show!

September 3, 2025

We returned this week from the 2025 San Francisco Pen Show, and what an awesome weekend! After having to cancel at the last minute last year due to a family emergency, it was great to be back and to have the opportunity to visit with so many of our readers and customers. Due to the number of international vendors who attend the show, San Francisco is truly an “international” pen show with both vendors and attendees from Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Turkey, and more.

San Francisco Pen Show Inside Ballroom — I snuck in to get a shot of the ballroom as it was being set up on Wednesday night.

While the show is smaller than D.C. in terms of both physical footprint and number of vendors, there are things at this show that you simply won’t find anywhere else. This year’s international attendees included Nagasawa Stationery, Toyooka Craft, Drillog, Atelier Musubi, Stylo Art Karuizawa, Kyuseido, and seY pens, as well as a number of glass pen makers that included Glassophy, Hanabi Glass Studio, Glass Studio Aun, Glass Studio TooS, and more. It’s impossible for me to list and link to everyone here, as there are simply too many, but you can view the entire exhibitor list on the SF Pen Show website.

Nagasawa Bungu Center Ink Presentation — Representatives from Nagasawa Stationery (Nagasawa Bungu Center) presented at the San Francisco Pen Show on the history of their Kobe Inks.

What Makes the San Francisco Pen Show Great: People and Content

Ever since attending my first San Francisco Pen Show in 2021, I’ve enjoyed returning for two things: the people and the content (mainly classes and seminars). This year’s show continued the trend, with excellent workshops and classes of which I attended two. The first was a Thursday night panel that included Naoyuki Takeuchi, the head of Ink Planning and Development at Nagasawa Stationery in Kobe Japan; Daryl Lim of Atelier Musubi; Satoru of seY Pen; and renowned nib artisan Yukio Nagahara, who attended the show with his company The Nib Shaper. The wide-ranging discussion (moderated by my friend Lisa Vanness) included some generalized background about all the different companies represented, but also spanned topics as diverse as the role of stationery in different countries, paper preferences across regions, and personal pen, paper, and ink preferences.

The second seminar was held on Saturday afternoon, and was hosted by Takeuchi-san of Nagasawa and his excellent translator Anastasia, who walked through the history of Nagasawa’s Kobe Ink series and provided in-depth background regarding the development process and stories behind certain colors. I plan to do a separate recap discussing some of the topics from this and other seminars in the coming days, so stay tuned.

Roterfaden Binders at the End of the Show! — Everyone who’s visited T.G.S. at the larger pen shows know that we’re somewhat selective in what we bring to shows, given the already diverse selection available across more than a hundred tables. As with the D.C. Pen Show, this year we only brought Roterfaden, the German clip-based binder system, and as you can see, we went from 16 to 4 Taschenbegleiters by midday Saturday!

Business Recap: So Long to All Those Roterfadens!

Everyone always asks me “how was your show?”, so let me say this: it was fabulous. Not only did we do well business-wise (taking some of the stress out of an otherwise expensive trip) but I love meeting readers and customers in person and hearing about how much they’re enjoying their stationery, especially when they stop by to tell me how they’re actually using it out there in the real world. While I only had five TGS_25 Roterfadens available at the show, at least twice that number of people came by to tell me how much they were enjoying theirs that they had bought online. (Some even wanted pictures, which was a new experience for me, as all my friends know I’m camera-shy :).)

The Galen Leather Dentist/Architect Nib — The Galen Leather “Dentist” Nib, which is a fine architect that’s super-smooth.

We had teamed up with Vanness Pens at their table in the Oak Room (at the back of the entrance hallway), and were joined by Ana Reinert of the Well-Appointed Desk and Galen Leather, who brought not just their latest “Havana Brown” release, but also their exclusive fountain pens and custom nibs ground by Meltem (“Amphorastale” on Instagram). I had a few minutes on Saturday - or maybe it was Sunday, it’s all a blur - to test out their custom nib grinds and found them excellent. The next time you order one of the Galen Leonardos or another JoWo-compatible pen, consider adding a specialty nib. My favorite was the fine italic.

My San Francisco Pen Show Haul, Plus things I did not buy because infinite money is not really a thing

As I mentioned above, those looking for high-end glass and dip pens did not come away from San Francisco disappointed. Unless you waited too long, that is. The San Francisco Pen Show is notorious for product selling out on Friday morning, since weekend pass-holders queue-up early to get access to the most in-demand products. This time around it was mainly glass pens, and I heard that people arrived at 5 a.m. to get in line. Despite not being able to be part of the initial rush since I was behind the table, I still managed to pick up a couple of fun pieces on Saturday: a glass pen from Glass Studio Aun with a broad nib, and a Drillog 2.0 with a .5mm tip size. You can read my original (somewhat critical) review of the Kickstarter Drillog here, but I have to say that this new version delivers on the original vision and more. It’s super smooth, and since there are additional channels cut into the nib, it delivers sustained ink flow. Drillog also switched to titanium, which has improved performance. I plan to post a full follow-up on this one.

Studio Aun Glass Pen alongside a Drillog — My glass pen from Studio Aun (left) alongside my Drillog. I chose the short nib.

Schon DSGN Monoc Evo — Schon DSGN has released a new pen: the Monoc EVO, which is a piston-filler fountain pen with an integrated nib.

Pilot Custom 74 Special Edition — This year’s special release from Pilot will arrive in October. This Custom 74 will be available in four special nib sizes, including Soft Fine, Soft Fine-Medium, Soft Medium, and Double Broad.

The Drillog Table at the San Francisco Pen Show — The Drillog setup at the San Francisco Pen Show. Customize to your heart’s content.

This Retro 51 Display from Marty Henderson — Marty brought all the Retro 51s!

Tiny Pelikan alongside the new Liliput Kolibri — A tiny Pelikan fountain pen (M300?) alongside a Kaweco Liliput Kolibri.

That’s a Wrap for 2025 Pen Shows: On to Pelikan Hub, Fountain Pen Day, and In-Store Events!

My goal was to bring T.G.S. to three or four pen shows in 2025, and I did four, so check that annual performance goal off the list! In addition to San Francisco and D.C., we attended Arkansas and Atlanta back in the Spring, and already are planning adventures for 2026 and beyond. We’re now entering the fall season, which will include the annual Pelikan Hub, Fountain Pen Day, and even a few special events we are planning to host in our own space. Stay tuned and I hope to see you soon in Nashville!

We are back to a normal in-store schedule, so come see us from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturdays. Please check this page here for information on our store location and up-to-date information on hours, etc.