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The best Japanese pens
Are you having trouble with smooth writing? How about switching to a new pen!
Finding a pen that suits your writing style could be like searching for an elusive needle in the Haystack. If you’re a list maker or a letter-writer, the variety of choices could seem overwhelming, even if the search is narrowed down to only 5 or 10.
When you’re signing checks, taking notes, or even writing a love letter, a good pen can ensure that your handwriting appears best and most beautiful (and it may also bring an enjoyable experience when you’re writing). The most effective pen for note-taking doesn’t smudge or smear. They flow quickly and smoothly, making writing a pleasant experience rather than a hassle.
Here is an interesting fact, you don’t have to invest an excessive amount to purchase the perfect pen for your name. To make your life simpler, we’ve put together the list of top pens in all categories.
Best overall
BEMLP Black Gel Ink Japanese Pen
BEMLP Black Gel Ink Japanese Pen
The rollerball pens have an extra-fine point (0.35 millimetres) and black ink to ensure precise writing. The pens are small and delicate, elegant and long-lasting.
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BEMLP Gel Ink Pen has a 0.35 mm Black medium point that allows a smooth drawing and writing experience. It is suitable for business, office, students, executives, and those who often write.
It has a transparent ink pen tube with a unique design and a transparent pen case. It is clear to see ink source and won’t let ink leak out, even if you’ve been using it for a long time.
The liquid ink gel dries quickly, without spills, no smudges, no globs. Free-flowing ink that allows a smooth and clean application.
You can use the pen for multi-purpose: draw, sketch, color or write. The package contains 12 black ink pens. The only problem is that the ink might skip a bit based on the paper’s quality.
Best waterproof pens
Sakura Pigma 30062 Micron Japanese Pen
Sakura Pigma 30062 Micron Japanese Pen
The package is a set of six black ink pens with all different tip sizes from Micron 035 to 08, and they all are waterproof. The set includes: 005 (0.20mm), 01 (0.25mm), 02 (0.30mm), 03 (0.35mm), 05 (0.45mm), 08 (0.50mm).
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This pen is an excellent fineliner that has a beautifully elegant design. They are waterproof, dry fast, have rich pigmentation, and never leak through the paper; they will not fall off when erased and have a smooth matte finish when dry. The only thing I don’t like about them is that they sort of smudge when you apply them over colored pencils.
Best brush pen
Kuretake Fountain Brush Pen
Kuretake Fountain Brush Pen
The Kuretake Brush pen is packaged in a paper box that contains the cap, brush pen and three ink cartridges as the brush tip and ink are re-usable/replaceable.
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Kuretake Fountain Brush Pen (No.13), composed of synthetic hair (super-fine bristles made of nylon), makes brush writing, calligraphy and illustrations very easy due to its excellent elasticity and endurance.
Flexibility in line width makes it simple to draw fine, detailed lines/strokes illustrations. The pens body and cap are made of steel, and the cap design style of the brush pen makes it look like an actual fountain pen.
It is important to note that the Kuretake brush pen doesn’t have waterproof ink; when clear water is used over the ink line, the ink bleeds out.
Best design
GANSSIA Cats Design 0.38mm Japanese Gel Pens
GANSSIA Cats Design 0.38mm Japanese Gel Pens
What makes GANSSIA cat design pens great is that you can refill the pen ink.
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GANSSIA Colorful Cats Design Gel Pen are great for sketching, drawing is smooth and easy to write on; you don’t need to force your hand down as much, easing tension on your wrist, especially if you are a heavy writer. The pen nib is small, and the ink flow is excellent; it doesn’t leak or spill like other thick gel pens.
The pen has three different cat designs; the theme is carried from the cap topper down to the pen’s barrel. Cap is secure and snaps securely on.
However, you may experience that the ink will stop halfway through writing if you keep leaving the cap off ink is so fine that sometimes the ink won’t flow properly. It is best to shake the pen by putting the cap in place and trying again.
Best ballpoint pens
Muji Gel Ink Ball Point Japanese Pen
Muji Gel Ink Ball Point Japanese Pen
The ink dries quickly and does not have any problems with smudging in hand.
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Muji’s Gel Ink Pen in 0.38 millimetres has no issues in the flow or consistency. The ink flows effortlessly without any pressure. The exterior of this pen is simple, sleek, and transparent. The beige and the salmon-colored sticker is striking enough to give it a bit of individuality. The main feature is that the pen doesn’t possess a rubber grip and is therefore not a dust or dirt magnet. The body of the pen is a matte and opaque finish. Caps snap off easily and can fit the back of the pen comfortably.
Muji Gel Ink Pen looks gorgeous and more well-designed; however, the ink transfers onto the opposite side of the page and can’t work when it comes to highlights. However long you allow the ink to dry, using a highlighter could make the letters appear almost unreadable.
Best for color option
XSG Premium Color Gel Ink Japanese Pen
XSG Premium Color Gel Ink Japanese Pen
The ink dries quickly and doesn’t smear once dried.
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XSG Premium Gel Ink Pen is a fine tip gel pen with a 0. 5mm tip that creates more smooth lines to give you exceptional performance. The pen has a comfortable grip that helps write smoothly. These color pens are suitable for bullet journals, manga, crafts, graphics, illustration and design. This liner pen can run perfectly on all paper materials such as sketchbooks, calendars and visiting cards.
The set has 12 color pens, including Black, Orange, Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Sakura (Cherry Blossom), Brown, Yellow, and VioletVV. The colors are very vibrant.
Best rollerball pens
Frienda Japanese Rolling Ball Pen
Frienda Japanese Rolling Ball Pen
With a precise tip and black ink, the rollerball is quick-drying, which helps keep your work organized and neat.
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Frienda Liquid Ink Rollerball Pens are suitable to use in classes and offices for marking words and taking notes on important topics. The transparent pen tube for rollerballs has a unique design and transparent pen cases; it is clear to see the ink source of good quality ink that won’t leak, no matter how long you’re using it.
These 0.5-millimeter ballpoint pens have built-in ink output regulators for precision that can guarantee the flow of ink evenly and give you a comfortable, smooth writing experience. The extra-fine point (0.5 millimeters) and black ink ensure precise, small, stylish, delicate writing.
There is one thing that isn’t negative or good; it just feels different. The cap snaps onto the pen just above the point where you hold the pen, while other caps for pens typically snap below the area you hold the pen.
Best multi-color pen
Uni Ballpoint Jetstream 3 Color Pen
Uni Ballpoint Jetstream 3 Color Pen
The pen is multi-color; you can write in three colors compact in one body. You can also refill the three colors of the pen with new cartridges.
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Uni Jetstream is an oil-based ballpoint pen that writes with the same ease as a gel pen. Jetstream 3 is a multi-pen that comes with three shades available in Jetstream ink (black, blue, red). These three colors are contained in the barrel of the pen. You slide your preferred color out and quickly change it with a new slide. The pen has a 0.38mm tip that writes smoothly and a rubber grip to hold easily and comfortably.
We do not like the fact that the point is so precise that it is likely to leave behind pressure lines at the back of the page, particularly in the case of heavy-handed users.
Best for drawing
Art-n-Fly Colored Fine Point Pens Set
Art-n-Fly Colored Fine Point Pens Set
The 12 colors available are vibrant and don’t leak! You can create various effects with zero bleeds using these fine-point pens with colored inks, like trace watercolors, draw lines, or add some bright color to your journal.
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Art-n-Fly 0.3 fine-tip colored pen has vibrant ink that will brighten out your journal or sketchbook. This vibrant ink is non-bleeding Japanese ink that’s water, lightfast, and fade resistant. You can enjoy smooth and skip-free writing or drawings with these fast fine tip archival pens, which leave consistent lines each time, ideal to use for adult coloring books and drawings.
Colors/pigmentation comes differently depending on the type of paper. For example, the color lays smoothly on the Canson draw paper, but there is a tiny smudge, which means you have to give the paint time to dry. On the Pacon marker paper, the color comes smoothly (will streak if you work too quickly) and a slight streak when you run highlighter across it. This means that you have to let the pigment completely dry. On Canson marker paper, the color is smooth, with some smudges when using a highlighter.
Best fountain pen
Asvine Matte Black Forest Fountain Pen
Asvine Matte Black Forest Fountain Pen
The barrel’s smooth surface helps users maintain grip and control throughout each stroke.
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Asvine Forest Fountain Pen comes with an exclusive, streamlined ultra-fine nib made of stainless steel that gives you an unbeatable writing experience.
The pen has an attractive and stylish design, in which the ink converter is protected by a chrome barrel. You will experience an authentic fountain pen experience by using an inner converter, which needs an ink bottle to refill. The barrel and tip will last if they are correctly maintained.
Asvine Fountain pen’s barrel is available in various colors: blue, black, dark blue, yellow, purple, and pink. There are also options regarding the nib style; you can choose between fine, extra-fine, or bent nibs.
What to look for in a good Japanese pen
If you’re looking through the plethora of fantastic pen models available all over the world and you’re contemplating, “How to choose a good one? ” don’t go elsewhere. We have made it easier for you!
In this thorough guide, we will talk about the types of pens and what factors to consider when buying them.
Types of pens
The different kinds of pens give different outcomes. Certain inks dry quickly while others soak ink into the papers. Sometimes, a sharp, bright edge could be what you want; however, in other instances, it’s better to allow the ink to fade into the background to create the perfect stroke. The way you use the pen is a huge factor about the kind you prefer. Read on for more details about the most commonly used pen types, as well as the most effective ways to use each.
Ballpoint pens
The most popular ballpoint pens and their thick oil-based ink differentiate them from other pen types. The ink flows over the ballpoint, a metallic ball located at the end of the pen. Most commonly made of steel, brass, or tungsten carbide, the ball keeps the ink from spilling from the pen when not being used. It’s the most commonly used pen-type because it’s less costly, cleaner, and more user-friendly as compared to other types of pens.
Inks made from oil resist drying more than inks based on water, and it’s less likely to absorb and discolor into the feather or paper. Ink made from oil lasts much longer than water-based inks; that’s why ballpoint pens can be put away and forgotten yet still perform very well when picked up. The issue with oil-based ink is that it’s more likely to create blots that eventually smudge.
Rollerball pens
The shape of a rollerball pen is similar to the ballpoint pen but with ink released from the pen’s tip via the ball. Rollerballs use lesser pressure than ballpoint pens to release ink, meaning less fatigue to the user.
The tips of rollerballs are typically sharp, tiny points. The main difference between ballpoint and rollerball pens is that rollerball pens utilize liquid ink based on water. The water-based inks absorb easily into the paper more than oil-based inks, creating a clear line. The line’s intensity depends on whether the color is dye or pigment.
Inks that contain pigment, even water-based ones, have a bed of pigment that doesn’t absorb in the papers as deeply as dyes inks. This is why rollerballs using pigment inks can create nearly identical lines to those drawn by the ballpoint pen.
The benefit of having this type of pen is liquid ink, as they don’t have the same amount of blots and smudges as you would with the ballpoint pen. The drawback of using a rollerball pen is that the ink will fade with time. The pens dry out more quickly, and sometimes before you’ve even had an opportunity to use all the ink.
Fountain pens
The fountain pen features a pointed metallic nib attached via an ink cartridge or internal reservoir/converter. The internal reservoirs and converters models require ink bottles to refill the pen. Pens that have cartridges for ink are more convenient to refill. However, the cost of ink is higher over the long term.
Factors to consider
The most important factors to consider when choosing the best pen are how you would like it to feel in your hands and how you’d like the pen strokes to appear. Certain pens come with a larger barrel and are made out of chrome, making them heavier in hand, and some pens are light and slim. The style you prefer will determine which pen type is suitable for you when shopping but think about the other features too.
Smoothness
The smoothness of the stroke is determined by the ease with which ink flows off the pen. Water-based inks produce a more smooth stroke than thicker oil-based inks. Other characteristics of an ink-like permanent or acid-free may impact its thickness and consequently the smoothness.
Smoothness is also associated with the method of applying ink on paper. Fountain pens can create an exceptionally smooth stroke; however, knowing the right amount of pressure to apply and maintaining the pen’s movement at a constant speed is a learned skill. Liquid-ink rollerball pens typically have a smoother stroke due to their tiny tips and water-based ink. Gel pens come in an equal second, as they’re similar in appearance but produce thicker ink which often smudges or skips.
Smudging
Smudges can occur when the ink is released too quickly or when you are slowing your stroke and ink continues to flow and leaves a blot onto the surface. Smudges are more prevalent when using a pen equipped with oil-based ink since these inks can take more time to dry, which means there is enough time for your hand or arm to be buried on wet ink.
Design
Pens used in everyday life don’t need to be expensive or extravagant. They have to be able to write consistently. The other side of the spectrum of design is fountain pens. They are still popular due to their elegant, professional look. A fountain pen made of stainless steel with a gold-colored tip makes impressive impressions in an environment that is professional.
Many pens feature design elements that allow you to write more comfortably, like smooth-grip surfaces or grip pads with rubber grips at the tip of the pen. If you write frequently, this feature can aid in maintaining control when your hand becomes exhausted. They’re also an excellent option for those struggling with hand power.
Bleed-through
Ghosting or bleeding is when ink is absorbed into the paper and becomes visible on the opposite side. It is more prevalent for water-based liquid ink since the inks soak quickly into the paper. If bleeding through is a problem that makes you insane, choose a ballpoint pen with oil-based ink.
FAQ
How do you refill fountain pens?
It depends on the kind of fountain pen that you have. Fountain pens can be equipped with cartridges, piston converters, or an ink bladder. Ink bladders and converters need to be filled again with bottled ink. Cartridges are self-contained and may be recycled after being empty. When using this kind, you can just put in an additional cartridge.
If the fountain pen is equipped with an adapter, you need to remove the barrel and place the tip inside an ink bottle. The converter is then turned counterclockwise so that air escapes and then draw ink onto the converter.
To refill the fountain pen using the bladder, place the nib inside the ink bottle and then deflate the bladder. As you slowly deflate your bladder, it draws out ink to fill the pen.
Final verdict
A pen is an everyday tool used by people belonging to different professions. The best pick depends on your requirement, writing style, and comfort. You can find an option available for any need, whether writing, drawing, sketching, taking notes, etc.
