Page 363 - Tabela Iberex

B The Pen of the Year 2019 is inspired by the Japanese
U samurai (bushi) and their matchless martial arts MIYAMOTO MUSASHI
skills, their swords made from the most precious
S materials and their silently gliding movements, the (1584–1645), who the Japanese
H aesthetics of which are so similar to the writing consider to be the greatest
process.
I swordsman of all time and a
perfect samurai, is said to have
been impetuously furious. He
wrote The Book of Five Rings
− Always giving it their all with abundant (Gorin no Sho), which serves as a
O vigour and loyalty is what defi nes the spirit source of worldly wisdoms to this
Y of the samurai. Designed to fit his body day. Earth, water, fire, wind and

void – based on the five Zen
O and crafted with extreme precision, the rings, Miyamoto Musashi de-

armour (ō-yoroi) oƒered the warrior the
R greatest possible freedom in handling his scribes strategies for the perfect
samurai in 1643. The decisive
O weapons. The painted black metal shaft of factor is not his technique, but
the Black Edition resembles the beautifully
I decorated armour made from individual his inner attitude characterised
metal plates. by relaxation, openness and
wisdom of the heart.

N In the words of Miyamoto Musashi: “In every-
I thing you do, it comes down to the right time and
the right rhythm” . Learning flowing sequences of

T motion to perfection was part of his swordsman-
Ô ship school. With outstanding craftsmanship, an
even, wave-like pattern is lasered onto the end
cap of the Black Edition, reminiscent of the
smoothness and harmony of water. Because as
Musashi said: there is rhythm in everything,
even the intangible.

K The traditional process employed by Japanese
A forges to make their long swords (katanas) sharp
and robust was very complex. The blades were
T formed from tamahagane steel, while the sword’s
A sheath and handle were made of untreated
magnolia wood. The handle and sheath were
N covered with prized stingray leather. The produc-
A tion, materials and the look and feel of the Pen of
the Year are inspired by these masterpieces.

The shaft, made of stained Magnolia wood, is
painted, sanded and polished multiple times. The
design of the hand-forged handle is reminiscent of
the mysterious beauty of the stingray leather the
samurai used to cover their swords’ handles.
Tamahagane is the name of the hard steel that they
used to forge their blades. As an elegant detail on
the cap of the Black Edition, the tamahagane steel
inlay made by a Japanese master of the art of
forgery represents perfection and tradition.

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