Est. 2026 · Price: FreeEditor-at-large: The Hedgehog

Stationery Times

Brand: Nakaya

Nakaya D-17 Portable: 17 mm Urushi Pen, 25 g, 14K Nib

Compiled from 10 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research

Quick answer

The Nakaya D-17 Portable is a made-to-order fountain pen with a thicker barrel than Nakaya's Cigar Portable: 150 mm long, 17 mm across and 25 g per Nakaya, in ebonite finished with urushi lacquer and fitted with a 14K gold Platinum nib. It comes in eight finishes and sits in our $$$$ band (over $75).

On this page11 sections
Nakaya D-17 Portable fountain pen in blue urushi, capped and uncapped, 150 mm long and 17 mm across, with an enlarged gold nib and eight finish dots
The D-17 Portable in Kikyo, capped and uncapped, at the 150 mm and 17 mm Nakaya lists; cap, section and nib proportions are drawn by eye. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Product facts

Product
Nakaya D-17 Portable Fountain Pen
Brand
Nakaya
Brand origin
Japan
Made in
Japan*
Material
Ebonite barrel finished in urushi lacquer, 14K gold nib made by Platinum Pen
Good for
Price range
$$$$over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors

Kikyosingle-color urushi · Blue, named after bellflowers

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Notes on these facts
  • Made by Nakaya Fountain Pen Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). Made in Japan: Nakaya's English site is titled "Japanese handmade fountain pens" and its pages describe urushi craftsmen working in Japan, but its product pages carry no separate country-of-origin line. Source. Price: example listing.
  • Colors: names per Nakaya (English), checked November 2, 2026. Nakaya's D-17 Portable pages list these eight finishes. Tints are representative, sampled by eye from Nakaya's product photos; Nakaya says natural urushi varies a little from pen to pen, and its tame-nuri finishes are translucent, so they change with the light. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
  • How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery.
  • Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

  • Nakaya lists the D-17 Portable at 150 mm (5.9 in) long, 17 mm (0.67 in) across and 25 g (0.9 oz), against 15 mm and 20 g for its Cigar Portable.
  • On November 2, 2026 the four single-color finishes were ¥110,000 (about US$696) and the four tame-nuri finishes ¥120,000 (about US$759).
  • That is ¥20,000 (about US$127) to ¥25,000 (about US$158) above the matching Cigar Portable finishes.
  • Product pages show a 5-month lead time for single-color finishes and 6 months for tame-nuri; production starts after payment.
  • Nakaya says its roll stopper pin is not available for the D-17, and its ballpoint page doesn't list the D-17 by name.

What is the Nakaya D-17 Portable?

It is the thicker sibling of the Cigar Portable: the same 150 mm torpedo shape, with a 17 mm barrel instead of 15 mm. Nakaya says the larger barrel is heavy, fits firmly in the hand and gives a sense of stability.

Nakaya Fountain Pen is a Tokyo maker of urushi-lacquered pens that traces its name to the 1924 firm behind Platinum (see Platinum’s history). We read its English pages on November 2, 2026.

What are the D-17 Portable’s specs?

Nakaya lists 150 mm, 17 mm across and 25 g, in ebonite with an urushi finish. It doesn’t say whether the length is capped or posted.

Spec Value (Nakaya)
Length 150 mm (5.9 in)
Diameter 17 mm (0.67 in)
Weight 25 g (0.9 oz)
Barrel Ebonite, urushi finish
Nib 14K gold by Platinum, tuned to your writing chart
Lead time 5 months (single color), 6 months (tame-nuri)
Roll stopper pin Not available for this model

Nakaya’s pages carry the note “Only the cigar model is available”. We read that as the D-17 coming only in the cigar shape, but Nakaya doesn’t explain it.

How does the D-17 Portable differ from the Cigar Portable?

It is 2 mm thicker, 5 g heavier and ¥20,000 (about US$127) to ¥25,000 (about US$158) dearer. Length and lead time match.

D-17 Portable Cigar Portable
Length 150 mm (5.9 in) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Diameter 17 mm (0.67 in) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Weight 25 g (0.9 oz) 20 g (0.7 oz)
Single-color price ¥110,000 (about US$696) ¥85,000 (about US$538)
Tame-nuri price ¥120,000 (about US$759) ¥100,000 (about US$633)
Roll stopper pin No Yes
Nakaya D-17 Portable at 17 mm across above a Cigar Portable at 15 mm across, both 150 mm long, in blue urushi
Both pens at 1 mm = 5.8 px; the shapes are by eye, the 150 mm, 15 mm and 17 mm are Nakaya's. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Which finishes does the D-17 Portable come in?

Eight, the same two families as the Cigar Portable. Single-color urushi gives Kikyo, Shu, Midori and KuroRoiro; tame-nuri, a translucent layered lacquer, gives Aka-tame, Heki-tame, Kuro-tame and Toki-tame. Nakaya warns that natural urushi varies slightly from the photo.

Family List price (November 2, 2026) Lead time
Single-color urushi ¥110,000 (about US$696) 5 months
Tame-nuri ¥120,000 (about US$759) 6 months

Who is the D-17 Portable for?

It suits someone who wants a heavier, wider desk-style grip in a 150 mm pen.

  • Office and signing: Nakaya describes the 17 mm barrel as heavy and stable in the hand, and offers an Extra Broad nib it calls suited to signatures.

Skip it if you want the lighter 20 g Cigar Portable, a roll stopper pin or a ballpoint unit, which Nakaya doesn’t offer for this model.

What can’t you add to a D-17?

Nakaya says a roll stopper pin isn’t available for the D-17. Its ballpoint page lists the Portable, Piccolo, Decapod and Tsumugi models and doesn’t name the D-17, so ask before assuming a conversion. Nakaya’s order tool also says a clip, roll stopper or ballpoint nib can’t be chosen for some barrels, and the D-17 pages don’t mention a clip.

The nib is not limited: all nine sizes from Ultra Extra Fine (0.18 to 0.24 mm) to Extra Broad (0.66 to 0.86 mm) are listed, and a Music nib (0.9 to 1.0 mm) is by request for an extra fee. For how nib widths compare across makers see our nib size guide.

How do you order and care for it?

It follows the same order flow as the Cigar Portable. You choose model and nib, fill in a writing chart, confirm by email, then pay by card, wire or PayPal before Nakaya starts building; Nakaya will tune the nib for free after purchase if you pay the shipping. Care advice is in our Cigar Portable guide and our collector pen care guide.

Where is the D-17 Portable made, and what does it cost?

Nakaya calls its pens Japanese handmade fountain pens, and prices are in yen. On November 2, 2026 the list prices were ¥110,000 (about US$696) and ¥120,000 (about US$759), in our $$$$ band (over $75).

Shipping to the US was ¥15,000 (about US$95) by DHL and other countries ¥8,000 (about US$51) by EMS, with customs duties paid by the buyer.

Frequently asked questions

What does D-17 mean on a Nakaya pen?

Nakaya doesn't explain the name. The 17 matches the 17 mm barrel diameter it lists, against 15 mm on the Cigar models.

Does the D-17 come in other lengths?

Yes. Nakaya also lists a D-17 Long at 170 mm, 17 mm across and 30 g, at the same two price levels as the Portable on November 2, 2026.

Is the D-17 the same pen as the Ryogiri?

No. Nakaya sells the Ryogiri as a web-exclusive model inspired by the logs of a log cabin. Its pages list the same 150 mm, 17 mm and 25 g, but Nakaya's photos show a faceted barrel with a pointed end instead of the D-17's rounded cigar shape.

Can you add a roll stopper pin to a D-17?

No. Nakaya says the roll stopper pin option is not available for the D-17, the Dorsal Fin or the Ryogiri, and that the Cigar models can take one.

How heavy is the D-17 Portable?

25 g per Nakaya, which is 5 g more than the Cigar Portable and 5 g less than the 30 g D-17 Long. Nakaya calls the 17 mm barrel heavy and says it fits firmly in the hand.

What does the note "only the cigar model is available" mean?

It appears on Nakaya's D-17 pages. We read it as the D-17 being sold only in the cigar shape, but Nakaya doesn't spell it out.

Does the D-17 Portable come with a converter or cartridges?

Nakaya's FAQ says the converter or cartridge insertion area is outside the cap by design, so both fit. The pages we read don't say which one is in the box.

Can you return a D-17 Portable?

Not after payment, because each pen is made to order. Nakaya says returns are generally not accepted, but it handles initial defects reported within one week of delivery.

Sources (10)

  1. Nakaya (English): D-17 Portable Kikyo, spec table, price, lead time and product number (read November 2, 2026)
  2. Nakaya (English): D-17 Portable Shu, 17 mm barrel text and product number (read November 2, 2026)
  3. Nakaya (English): D-17 Portable Kuro-tame, tame-nuri price and lead time (read November 2, 2026)
  4. Nakaya (English): D-17 Long Kuro-tame, length and weight (read November 2, 2026)
  5. Nakaya (English): Ryogiri Kuro-tame, the web-exclusive 17 mm model (read November 2, 2026)
  6. Nakaya (English): Cigar Portable Kikyo, for the 15 mm comparison (read November 2, 2026)
  7. Nakaya (English): Custom Fountain Pen Orders, model, length and diameter options (read November 2, 2026)
  8. Nakaya (English): Roll stopper pins and Ballpoint pens (read November 2, 2026)
  9. Nakaya (English): Pen Nibs, 14K nibs by Platinum and nine sizes (read November 2, 2026)
  10. Nakaya (English): FAQ and the commercial transactions notice, returns, converters and shipping (read November 2, 2026)

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