Though I had heard of them, I didn't actually see a Nagasawa until probably '83. I sure remember that first sighting though - I was (to borrow Brian B's wonderful phrase) completely desocked.
I got to hold raw Nagasawa track dropouts, front and rear in my hand. I also got to make numerous track frames with Sampson dropouts - a very similar Japanese cast plug-in track drop that was intrinsically better - just as strong but lighter, more adjustable in angle, better finish. The Sampson just didn't have the mojo though! I could spend an hour grinding, shaping and polishing them and have something pretty special but they couldn't match the style of the Nagasawa. I don't want to focus too much on the dropouts though, a Nagasawa is equally evolved everywhere you look. I got to use lots of Ohtsuya lugs too - I know Richard has used a ton of those too - very fine indeed but just short of perfect, unlike the Eisho lugs on the Nagasawa. Well, I actually like the Ohtsuya seat lug better but the Eisho headlugs pretty much define simple elegance for me.
Others may thin the lugs more, or shape them more with skills borrowed from blacksmiths and jewelers, and I love all that s**t too, but Nagasawa impresses me with the apparent effortlessness of it. If it was really all that easy then others would make them that nice - he just makes it look easy.
Mark Bulgier
Seattle, Wa
USA