Musashino Vidro Glass Pen

The glass pen – known in Japanese as "Garasu Pen" – was born in Japan during the Meiji era. Since it is not widely known outside Japan, allow us to share a little of its history.

In Japan, there is a tradition called Fūrin: small glass wind chimes hung under the eaves of houses to enjoy the sound of the wind. The glass pen was invented by Sasaki Sadajirō, a Fūrin craftsman from Tokyo. By carving fine grooves into a glass rod, he harnessed capillary action to draw ink upward – solving the problem of poor ink capacity that had long been a drawback of metal dip pens.

Depending on the individual pen, a single dip of ink can write around 500 characters or more – roughly enough for a postcard. And since the nib can be rinsed clean with water in seconds, switching between ink colors is effortless. This makes the glass pen a beloved tool for anyone who loves exploring different inks.

While ballpoint pens are popular for their ease and convenience, a growing number of people are drawn to the ritual of the glass pen: dipping the nib into ink, rinsing it clean, and listening to the gentle scratch on paper. It feels like a meditative pause – a quiet moment of calm in the day.

The Musashino Vidro glass pen features small glass beads inside the hollow barrel, which produce a soft, pleasant sound as the pen moves across the page. It comes in a dedicated wooden box, making it a perfect gift.

One of the great joys of the glass pen is its versatility: in addition to standard fountain pen inks, it can also be used with glitter inks – which tend to clog fountain pens. The only rule: rinse the nib with water immediately after use.