Eboya Houga Tanshin True Heart Medium Fountain Pen
The Eboya Houga Tanshin True Heart Medium is a distinctive handcrafted fountain pen made in Tokyo by Eboya, Japan’s last specialist ebonite manufacturer. Houga (萌芽) means “sprout”, “germination” or “to emerge”. The name reflects Eboya’s wish that its pens should encourage new ideas and unexpected discoveries. This Medium body is ideal for writers seeking a generously proportioned Japanese fountain pen with comfortable balance and individual character.
Concept and design
Houga follows the traditional torpedo or cigar-shaped fountain pen silhouette. Its clipless construction, clean lines and balanced proportions express a restrained approach to Japanese design. The body is turned from marbled ebonite laid over a black ebonite base. Ebonite, one of the earliest polymers, is produced by vulcanizing natural rubber with sulfur and takes its name from ebony because of its durability and polished luster. The Eboya Made in Tokyo engraving confirms the pen’s origin and handcrafted production.
Tanshin True Heart finish
Tanshin is the name Eboya gives to its red marbled ebonite and is translated as “True Heart”. Rich red areas emerge through the dark base, creating a finish associated with energy, sincerity and depth. Every body is individually prepared, turned and polished, so the flow of color differs from one pen to another. These variations are an essential characteristic of the material and ensure that every Houga has its own appearance.
Writing performance and filling system
The Medium-sized body is fitted with a narrow-profile 14K gold Bock #6 nib, designed to provide smooth, controlled and responsive writing. Fine, Medium Fine, Medium and Broad nib sizes are available; “Medium” in the product name refers to the size of the pen body rather than the line width. Its international cartridge/converter filling system provides the convenience of standard cartridges together with access to bottled inks. Eboya particularly recommends compatible Pelikan cartridges and converters.
Package contents
• Eboya Houga Tanshin True Heart Medium Fountain Pen with 14K gold nib
• International converter
• Standard ink cartridge
• Paulownia wood box (Inktraveler replaces the original packaging with this premium wooden case)
• Complimentary ink bottle
• Warranty
Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or humidity and store the pen in a dark, dry place. Occasional cleaning with a soft cloth is enough to preserve its finish. Gradual changes in color or gloss are natural characteristics of ebonite.
Photographs are for reference and may differ slightly from the final product. The marbled pattern is unique to every pen.
Technical specifications
- Body material: natural marbled ebonite
- Color: Tanshin True Heart red over a dark base
- Design: clipless cigar or torpedo shape
- Nib: narrow-profile 14K gold Bock #6
- Available nib sizes: Fine, Medium Fine, Medium and Broad
- Filling system: international cartridge or converter
- Closed length: 142 mm
- Barrel diameter: 15 mm
- Cap diameter: 15 mm
- Approximate weight: 24 g
- Made in Tokyo, Japan
Brand history and philosophy
Eboya is the fountain pen brand of Nikko Ebonite Manufacturing, established in Tokyo in 1952 and recognized as Japan’s last specialist ebonite manufacturer. After decades of supplying the writing industry, the company introduced its own fountain pen collection in 2009. Its Color Marble Ebonite was developed after old colored samples were rediscovered in the factory, inspiring years of research into pigment behavior during vulcanization. Houga carries that experimental spirit forward: every written line becomes the beginning of something new.
"A true heart and a new idea always meet in the first written line."
