Fountain pens were introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, with domestic pen production beginning in 1911 with the founding of the Sailor Pen Co. in Hiroshima.
Many pens manufactured in Japan were produced using maki-e, a lacquering technique believed to have been developed close to 1,200 years ago during the Heian Period.
The Comet Fountain Pen Co. was founded in the 1930s but moved instead into manufacturing general office supplies by the 1960s.
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- “Comet” fountain pen advertising postcard, 1939. Captioned: “We are very pleased to have your continued support and sympathy. We are looking forward to seeing you at our company’s booth on the 18th of March, and we hope that you will give us your best regards …”
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- “Comet” fountain pen advertising postcard, 1940. Captioned: “In view of the critical time of the Great East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami [the Shakotan earthquake occurred on August 2, 1940, off the coast of Hokkaido], we would like to ask for your continued support and guidance as we pursue our research with the conviction that we are in line with national policy.”
See also:
Pilot Fountain Pen and Pilot Ink advertising postcard, c. 1930.
Fukuju Life Insurance Co. New Year’s advertising postcard, Nagoya, 1930.
“Dear Sir,
“You will be happy to hear our company is prospering. Thank you for your continued patronage. In light of the critical wartime situation, we will continue to devote ourselves to developing our business in the belief we must adhere to national policy. We would appreciate your continued guidance.
“We are in the process of establishing a new branch [in addition to our Ikebukuro location], and we ask for your kind understanding and cooperation.”
Sincerely yours,
Comet Fountain Pen Store
Katsuyama Seisakusho
4-465 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo