Manu Propria Pens - New Pen Design - "IKIGAI"

[manupropria]

Ikigai is a new pen concept that allows to play with different lacquers, the cap and barrel end-piece in jet-black "Shôen" lacquer, the section and barrel in any desired urushi lacquer. The gold accents are "Maki-e" gold lacquer

"IKIGAI" is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being." The word "ikigai" is usually used to indicate the source of value in one's life or the things that make one's life worthwhile. The word translated to English roughly means "thing that you live for" or "the reason for which you wake up in the morning." Each individual's ikigai is personal to them and specific to their lives, values and beliefs. It reflects the inner self of an individual and expresses that faithfully, while simultaneously creating a mental state in which the individual feels at ease. Activities that allow one to feel ikigai are never forced on an individual; they are often spontaneous, and always undertaken willingly, giving the individual satisfaction and a sense of meaning to life.

Merry Christmas

Martin

 

[leehljp]

Beautiful pens and well done. I think most people here would love to be able to just get close to making pens as well as you do!

The personal side (ikigai, kojin-individuality) of Japanese is something that they rarely displayed or talked about, although they did on occasion to my wife and myself. As one co-worker said of us as we were preparing to leave: "Both of you were 'insiders' to the Japanese you worked with." (We never took the relationships for granted.)

Japanese were/are "Yappari, Nihonjin" . . . "WE Japanese . . . to isshoni (together) - the placement of the group over and above individuality at all times was foundational. LOML and I were walking with a couple of Japanese into a neighborhood once and noticed a small school. We asked what kind of school it was. Our Japanese friends said in kind of a low tone - it is for Japanese students that don't fit in very well with others, it is for 'tensai' students (geniuses). The phrase "The nail that sticks up, gets hammered down" - describes their attitude towards those outside of the norm. This kind of individuality was greatly looked down upon. "Nesshin" - or 'enthusiastic' is another word that had strong negative connotations because it referred to strong individuality over and above the "group".

BUT, there were times when the kojin-teki side came out and ikigai discussions took place. As one couple said to us once: "We like coming to your hose. It is like an oasis in the desert. We can be ourselves here."

It is great when the individuality comes out and then, later, discussions around their "ikigai" takes place. It is like "discovery" of something new or fresh!

 

[manupropria]

Thaank you for sharing your thoughts Hank Lee.
Japan is such a different world, isn't it

 

[Jim15]

That's a beautiful pen.

 

[magpens]

Gorgeous pen !!!

Thanks for showing, Martin !!!

And thanks for the introduction to the ikigai concept - very interesting !!