Eboya Kobue Hanabi Fountain Pen

Eboya Kobue Hanabi Fountain Pen

The Eboya Kobue Hanabi Fountain Pen combines the warm feel of Japanese ebonite with one of the brand’s most distinctive finishes. Small blue, green, yellow, red and orange particles appear across the dark Hanabi components like flashes of fireworks against the night sky. The blue-grey section introduces a calm contrast that makes the colour even more noticeable.

Hanabi is rarely encountered outside Japan and expands Eboya’s traditional colour spectrum with a more contemporary interpretation. The arrangement of its particles varies from one piece to another, a natural characteristic of the material that gives every fountain pen its own identity.

Hanabi: fireworks captured in ebonite

The Japanese word hanabi (花火) means fireworks and can be translated literally as “fire flowers”. The name precisely describes this ebonite: tiny points of colour emerge from an almost black surface like scattered lights during a night-time celebration.

The finish retains the depth, natural warmth and pleasant touch associated with ebonite while introducing a less conventional colour combination to Eboya’s range. Polishing brings out the material’s lustre and allows the coloured particles to appear with different intensity as the light changes.

Kobue, a compact and original silhouette

Kobue, a name meaning “wooden flute”, was introduced by Eboya in 2020. Its clipless design is distinguished by a 15 mm body diameter and a very short cap measuring less than 3 cm. The fountain pen is 129 mm long when closed, creating a compact format that still feels substantial in the hand.

The cap can be placed on the back of the barrel while writing. This increases the pen’s length and allows the writer to choose the most comfortable configuration without interrupting the continuity of its silhouette.

Gold nib and international filling system

The Eboya Kobue Hanabi is fitted with a 14K gold nib. Its filling system accepts standard international cartridges and converters, making it easy to alternate between the convenience of cartridges and the wide choice of bottled inks.

Eboya recommends compatible Pelikan or Rotring converters. Proprietary converters made by Montblanc, Waterman and Caran d’Ache are not compatible with its fountain pens.

Presentation contents

The presentation contains the essentials needed to begin using and safely storing the fountain pen:

• Eboya Kobue Hanabi Fountain Pen
• Standard international converter
• One ink cartridge
• Paulownia wood case specially prepared for Inktraveler
• Warranty

The photographs show the available piece. Natural variations in the pattern and distribution of the coloured particles are part of the identity of Hanabi ebonite.

Technical specifications

• Brand: Eboya, by Nikko Ebonite Manufacturing
• Model: Kobue
• Finish: Hanabi
• Colour combination: dark ebonite with multicoloured particles and a blue-grey section
• Main material: Japanese ebonite
• Closed length: 129 mm
• Barrel diameter: 15 mm
• Cap: less than 3 cm, designed to fit onto the back of the barrel
• Nib: 14K gold
• Filling system: standard international cartridge or converter
• Design: clipless
• Made in Tokyo, Japan

Caring for ebonite

Avoid exposing the pen to direct sunlight, high temperatures or intense humidity for extended periods. When it is not in use, keep it clean and dry inside its case. A soft, clean and dry cloth is sufficient for maintaining the finish; abrasive products and solvents should not be used.

Before storing the fountain pen for a long period, remove the cartridge or converter and rinse the section with room-temperature water. Allow every part to dry completely before reassembly and avoid pigment inks. Small differences in tone and in the distribution of colour should not be regarded as defects.

Frequently asked questions

What does Hanabi mean?

Hanabi is the Japanese word for fireworks. On this fountain pen, the name refers to the multicoloured particles standing out against the dark ebonite.

Can the cap be placed on the back of the pen?

Yes. The Kobue’s short cap can be placed on the back of the barrel to increase the pen’s length while writing.

Which filling system does it use?

It accepts standard international cartridges and converters. One compatible converter and one ink cartridge are included in the presentation.

Do all pieces have the same pattern?

No. The position, size and intensity of the coloured particles can vary slightly, giving each Eboya Kobue Hanabi an individual pattern.

The history and philosophy of Eboya

Eboya is the writing instrument brand of Nikko Ebonite Manufacturing, a Japanese company founded in 1952 and recognised as the country’s last manufacturer specialising in ebonite production. For decades, the company supplied this material to writing instrument makers and developed expertise spanning the mixing and vulcanisation of rubber through to final machining and polishing.

In 2009, the company began offering its own fountain pens under the Eboya name. Bringing material production and pen making together allows each stage to remain connected to the same tradition. In the Kobue Hanabi, that experience is expressed through an original form and a colour that brings a contemporary dimension to classic Japanese ebonite.

“Every line holds the moment when the night lights up like a summer sky.”