Eboya Kyouka Swirl Latte Blue Medium Fountain Pen
The Eboya Kyouka Swirl Latte Blue Medium Fountain Pen is handcrafted in Tokyo from marbled ebonite in a finish that is difficult to find outside Japan. Its lighter blue colouring is softened by cream and pale milky swirls, with natural variations that make every pen visually individual. The clipless Kyouka form, Medium proportions and 14K gold Bock No. 6 nib create a practical writing instrument with a distinctive material presence.
Ideal for writers and collectors who appreciate Japanese craftsmanship, unusual ebonite and comfortable everyday dimensions. Ebonite feels naturally warm in the hand, while the 15 mm body provides a substantial grip without reaching the larger proportions of Eboya’s L-size pens.
Concept and Design
The wording Swirl Latte Blue is best understood as a descriptive name for this particular finish. Swirl refers to the flowing movement of the marbling, Latte suggests the soft cream and milky tones running through the material, and Blue identifies its predominant colour. As Eboya has not published a formal explanation of this exact finish name, these terms should not be treated as a technical colour formula.
The blue has a relatively light and clear appearance, accompanied by broad pale ribbons and irregular cloudy areas. Depending on the section of ebonite used and the direction in which it was turned, the pattern may appear more open in some places and more concentrated in others. This changing distribution is a natural consequence of marbled ebonite rather than a printed or repeated surface design.
Kyouka takes its name from the Japanese expression Kyoukasuigetsu (鏡花水月), associated with a flower reflected in a mirror and the moon reflected on water. Eboya uses the idea to evoke something beautiful and special that remains beyond physical reach. The model follows a traditional Onoto-type silhouette and is made without a clip, preserving a clean outline and allowing the ebonite pattern to remain uninterrupted.
The Kyouka’s characteristic textured detailing introduces a tactile contrast to the polished ebonite. Each body is shaped and finished by hand, so small differences in the position, width and direction of the blue and cream areas are expected. No two examples should be assumed to have an identical pattern.
Writing and Filling System
The pen is fitted with a 14K gold Bock No. 6 narrow-type nib. Eboya normally offers the Kyouka M with Fine, Medium Fine, Medium and Broad writing points, subject to the nib widths available for this individual pen. The word Medium in the product name identifies the physical M size of the fountain pen, not its nib width.
Its international-standard cartridge and converter system allows the writer to use suitable cartridges or fill from bottled fountain pen ink. This familiar format makes cleaning and changing colours straightforward. Compatibility can vary between manufacturers even when products are described as international standard, so the supplied converter is the recommended option for bottled ink.
Package Contents
This Inktraveler presentation includes:
• Eboya Kyouka Swirl Latte Blue Medium Fountain Pen
• International-standard converter supplied by Inktraveler
• Complimentary bottle of fountain pen ink supplied by Inktraveler
• Paulownia wood presentation box supplied in place of the usual cardboard packaging
(Photographs are for reference only. Screen settings and lighting may affect the perceived colour, and the distribution of the marbling varies naturally from one ebonite body to another.)
Technical Specifications
• Brand: Eboya
• Model: Kyouka
• Finish: Swirl Latte Blue
• Size: Medium or M size
• Body and cap material: marbled ebonite
• Colour: lighter blue with cream and pale milky marbling
• Closed length: 142 mm
• Barrel diameter: 15 mm
• Cap diameter: 15 mm
• Nib: 14K gold Bock No. 6 narrow type
• Nib widths: Fine, Medium Fine, Medium or Broad, subject to availability
• Filling system: international-standard cartridge or converter
• Construction: clipless
• Manufacture: handcrafted and finished in Tokyo, Japan
Care and Maintenance
Ebonite naturally changes in colour and lustre over time. To preserve its appearance, keep the pen away from direct sunlight and humidity, store it in a dark, dry place and wipe the surface periodically with a soft cloth. When changing inks, or before leaving the pen unused for an extended period, remove the cartridge or converter and flush the writing system thoroughly with clean water.
Eboya specifically advises against using pigment inks in its fountain pens. When carrying the pen while it contains ink, keep the nib pointing upwards whenever practical to reduce the possibility of leakage caused by movement or vibration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Swirl Latte Blue mean?
It is a descriptive finish name: Swirl refers to the flowing marbling, Latte to its creamy and milky tones, and Blue to the dominant lighter blue colour. No formal explanation of this exact wording has been published by Eboya.
Is this finish easy to find outside Japan?
No. This particular Swirl Latte Blue finish is difficult to find outside Japan. It should be described as an uncommon finish, but not as a numbered limited edition unless supporting manufacturer documentation becomes available.
Will every pen have the same marbling?
No. The blue and pale areas form naturally variable patterns within the ebonite, so the position and intensity of the swirls differ on every finished pen.
Does Medium refer to the nib?
No. Medium identifies the physical M size of the pen. The nib width is selected separately from the available Fine, Medium Fine, Medium or Broad options.
Does the fountain pen have a clip?
No. The Kyouka is intentionally clipless, maintaining the continuous outline of its traditional design and leaving more of the marbled ebonite visible.
Which filling system does it use?
It accepts compatible international-standard cartridges and converters. The converter included by Inktraveler allows the pen to be filled directly from a bottle of fountain pen ink.
Eboya History and Philosophy
Eboya is the writing-instrument brand operated by Nikko Ebonite Manufacturing, a Tokyo company whose history dates to 1952. Nikko succeeded in developing coloured and marbled ebonite in 2008, then opened the Eboya online shop and began its fountain pen business in 2009. The company describes itself as Japan’s only manufacturer dedicated to producing ebonite.
Ebonite is made principally from natural rubber and sulphur through vulcanisation under carefully controlled heat and pressure. Creating marbled material adds the further challenge of anticipating how pigments and the natural brown tone of ebonite will change during curing. The result is a material whose warmth, hand-polished lustre and individual pattern remain central to Eboya’s approach.
“A lighter blue in motion, shaped for the quiet pleasure of writing.”
