Brush Pens

Brush Pens

The More You Explore, the More Variety You’ll Enjoy — Calligraphy Brush Pens

We offer a wide selection of brush pens, including traditional black ink, light ink, vermilion, and many colorful brush pens.
You can also order premium brush pens and “fountain brush pens,” which are especially popular as Father’s Day gifts.
Please take a look at our collection.

A Brush Pen Everyone Should Own

In today’s busy world, it’s not easy to clear a desk, set out ink and an inkstone, slowly grind ink, and write with a brush as in the old days.
The great thing about a brush pen is that you don’t need to grind ink or prepare brushes — you can write immediately with just one pen.
Rather than being seen purely as calligraphy tools, brush pens are also valued for their convenience as everyday stationery.
Modern brush pens are designed with excellent writing comfort, making them easy to use even for those not accustomed to brush writing.

From everyday portable pens to luxurious models for special occasions, boxed sets ideal for gifts, letter-writing pens, and colorful brush pens for illustrations and design — the wide variety makes browsing them fun.

Choosing the Right Brush Pen for Your Purpose

When choosing a brush pen, the most important considerations are: “What thickness or size of characters do you want to write?”, “What tip shape do you prefer?”, and “What color ink do you need?”
For example, if you want to write lines like a felt-tip pen, a stiff “hard tip type” is suitable. If you prefer an authentic calligraphy style, then a “brush type” is best.

Brush pens are useful not only for daily letters but also for ceremonial occasions. In Japan, it has long been customary to use light ink to express grief at funerals, while black or vermilion ink may be used for celebrations depending on the region.
Gold and silver are suitable for New Year’s cards or copying sutras. Be sure to choose your brush pen color according to the occasion.

Types of Brush Pens

Brush pens vary widely in tip shape and ink type.
From simple, easy-to-use styles to those with expressive line variation, there’s a type for every purpose — from ceremonial occasions to business use.

Tip Shapes

Brush pen tips can be broadly categorized into three types.

Hard Tip Type
Very beginner-friendly and one of the most popular types.
Hard-tip brush pens feel like a felt-tip pen, making them reliable for envelopes or name writing. While they struggle with broad strokes, their firm synthetic fiber tips (acrylic or polyester) provide crisp brush-like lines.

Soft Tip Type
Unlike hard tips, soft tips feel like pressing against a sponge.
Closer to a felt pen than a brush, they produce thicker lines, making them suitable for larger characters on envelopes.
Often made of urethane foam, they may take more practice compared to hard tips.

Brush Type
The closest to an authentic calligraphy brush.
They allow natural expression of stroke weight, hooks, and sweeping lines.
Made from synthetic hairs such as nylon or polyester, they differ greatly from felt pens.
Those less experienced with brushes may need more practice, but they allow the most expressive writing.

Ink Types

Brush pens use either dye-based or pigment-based ink, each with its own characteristics.

Dye-Based Ink

Flows smoothly, but tends to bleed and dries slowly compared to pigment ink.

Pigment-Based Ink

Dries quickly and resists bleeding.
Even if a lot of ink is applied, it won’t smudge easily, making it ideal for combining with water-based pens or paints.
Pigment inks are also superior in lightfastness and water resistance.

Cartridge-Type Brush Pens

Some are disposable, but cartridge types can be refilled and used for a long time.
If ink runs dry or lines fade, simply replace the cartridge.
For brush-type pens especially, always cap them after use and store tip-up to prevent ink leakage.

Long-Lasting Cartridge Types

Cartridge brush pens are more durable than disposables.
Most tips are made of synthetic fibers and last for years if handled carefully. Once the tip wears out, it’s time for a replacement.

How to Use a Brush Pen

Brush pens come in extra-fine, fine, medium, semi-bold, and bold sizes.
Hold them upright like a small calligraphy brush for easier writing.
Practice stops, hooks, and sweeps to improve your calligraphy style.
Some pens have a squeezable body to control ink flow, while others use cartridges with preset flow. Find the style that suits you best.

History of Brush Pens

Compared to traditional brushes and ink, brush pens are relatively new, developed in 1972.
They were created in response to declining brush use in Japan, aiming to revive interest by combining brush tips with pen convenience.
“Brush Pen” was originally a registered trademark of Sailor Fountain Pen but has since become a common term.

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