Carps Against the Waterfall

A vision of courage and ascent, Carps Against the Waterfall captures one of Japan’s most revered symbols — the carps that swim upstream, defying the current and rising toward transformation. In ancient lore, the carp that conquers the waterfall becomes a dragon — a metaphor for perseverance, ambition, and the triumph of spirit. The carps, sculpted in taka-maki-e, are dusted with gold and silver powders, layered in translucent urushi, and burnished to a living brilliance. Around them, waves and cascading water shimmer in relief, adorned with Hirame gold, platinum, and delicate raden shell, capturing the gleam of sunlight upon falling water.

The nib section flows with a gradation of gold, polished to mirror the luminous rise of the current, while the clip glimmers with shell inlay, evoking the flash of scales in motion.