10 Best Tried and True Japanese Gel Pens in 2022 (Lettering Artist-Reviewed)

Pentel's EnerGel is part of the brand's EnerGel series and is actually the pen that started it all. This product was developed with smoothness in mind, featuring an ink that dries quickly and has a vivid color.

The grip of this pen goes all the way to the tip and is integrated into the body in a way that allows for an ergonomic grip. The barrel is round and smooth, so even those that like to hold pens way down low will have no issues. The wavy, anti-slip finish of the grip is not too firm and has a comfortable feel.

Writing is very smooth, probably due to the piped tip that minimizes friction on paper. It was also great that the nib didn’t shake when pressure was applied.

The ink barely smudged and dried quickly, which also helped it earn high scores. The black color is dark, crisp, and clear, making it an ideal pen for a wide range of situations, from business to everyday use.

Pentel's EnerGel Infree is part of the Energizer series that has a simple design with a clear barrel. 5 new colors were released in February 2021 for a total of 10 colors available.

Although it has a rubber grip, the smooth, thin material has a nice feel. The wavy finish of the grip also supports writing by allowing your fingers to grip the pen well.

The nib has a piped tip that minimizes friction with paper for smooth writing. Even when applying very light pressure when writing, the ink didn't smear. At just 0.45 ounces, the pen is also incredibly lightweight, meaning your hand won't get cramped or tired after writing for extended periods.

Furthermore, the ink dried quickly and rarely smudged. The black is also crisp and vivid on paper, making it easy to use. We recommend this pen to those who want to keep their notebooks and journals neat and tidy.

Pentel's EnerGel-S is the basic model of the EnerGel series, which was developed with the concept of creating pens that are easy to use and quick to dry. It still maintains the same features as other advanced models in the series, but at a more affordable price.

The lineup's signature wavy grip fits nicely in the hand and enhances the grip. It is slightly lighter than other pens from their series, making it easy to write. However, we felt that the lighter weight of the body required a little more pressure when writing.

Writing is smooth and the tapered piped tip felt light on paper while transferring plenty of ink to paper without smudging, making it great for fine writing. The ink also dries very quickly, making this pen perfect for quickly jotting down notes or journaling.

Pentel's EnerGel Cap Type is a pen from the EnerGel series with a cap but still offers the same writing feel and smudge resistance as the other EnerGel series. The nib has a piped tip that works well for fine writing.

The wavy grip easily fits your fingers and prevents slipping. However, the length of the grip is slightly too short, making it difficult to adjust your hand position, losing points in the grip test.

The piped tip reduces friction between the pen and the paper, offering a smooth feel but with a comfortable resistance that helps feel like you're actually writing with a pen. Since the pen has a cap, the nib also felt tight and secure, with minimal shaking when writing.

The lines barely smudged even when we were writing fast, and the ink dried very quickly, making it great for writing in journals or for jotting down quick notes. If you're looking for a gel pen with a cap, this should be a very strong contender.

Zebra's Sarasa Clip uses water-resistant water-based ink with excellent smudge resistance and crisp, rich color. The product is available in 20 different colors, with limited edition colors regularly released as well.

The rubber used for the grip had a great stickiness to it, working well to prevent slippage. Another plus in terms of the fit was how the thicker barrel allowed the pen to fit naturally in the hand.

This pen felt incredibly smooth, with hardly any friction felt when writing on paper. The pen releases a lot of ink, allowing you to write thick lines with just a small amount of pressure. The color of the ink is also vibrant and sharp, making this pen great for those who want a pen that has a smooth feel and great visibility.

Mitsubishi Pencil's Uni-ball Signo RT1 claims to reduce frictional resistance by minimizing edges on the nib tip. The wide rubber grip of this pen goes all the way to the tip, making it great to hold.

The pen has a straight, uniform shape with no bumps between the grip and body, making the pen fit nicely in your hand. The wide rubber grip is easy to hold and allows you to hold the pen in your preferred position, whether it be near the tip or more towards the middle of the pen.

Writing felt smooth and flowy, but the ink struggled to come out when too much pressure was applied, but as long as you don't apply excessive pressure, this shouldn't be a problem. Finally, while the ink was neither too dark nor too light, we liked how it dries quickly.

Zebra's Sarasa Dry is a product that features ink with a new formula to enhance its quick-drying properties. This product has the same smooth writing experience found in other products in the Sarasa lineup but has faster-drying ink.

The wide rubber grip and sticky feel of the grip material felt secure in the hand. However, while the thickness of the pen made it easy to hold, the pen has a long clip that tended to hit the side of the hand, which some might find annoying.

The pen was light and delicate with little to no friction felt when putting the pen to paper. It transfers ink well and has a vibrant color, making it easy to read even when written by someone who doesn't apply that much pressure when writing. This pen didn't smudge or trail off when jotting down notes quickly, making it a great pen for business use or for students who need to take lots of notes.

Muji's Smooth Writing Gel Pen Knock Type is a gel pen with a translucent design. The grip of this pen goes all the way to the nib.

While the smooth texture of the entire body was comfortable to hold, we also felt that the smooth grip was slippery and needs some improvement. However, the lightweight body and the slim shape of the barrel is great for carrying around.

Although the pen overall felt smooth to write with, it occasionally felt a little rough. However, even when quickly scribbling down notes, it produced neat lines and was easy to read. The simple design also makes it easy to use in a wide range of situations. The color is vibrant and dries quickly.

Mitsubishi Pencil's Uni Ball Signo 307 uses a new material to achieve smooth writing that does not smear even when you write quickly. The manufacturer claims that the viscosity of the ink changes when writing, making it difficult for the ink to bleed out.

The grainy finish of the rubber grip provides an excellent non-slip grip that firmly clings to your fingers. The clip was designed to be in a position where it does not touch the hand when the pen is held, but the unique feel of the grip might not be to everyone's liking.

Writing with the pen felt light and required little pressure. In addition, the thick grip made it easy to control the pen. Although the lines rarely smeared and the color was vivid, we unfortunately felt that the ink transferred unevenly onto paper.

Pilot's Juice pens contain plenty of ingredients that prevent the nib from drying out to maintain smooth writing. It is available in many colors, including pastel, metallic, and fluorescent colors, which can be handy when writing on black paper and photographs.

The wide and sticky rubber grip allows for those with an unconventional grip to be able to hold the pen where it is most comfortable for them. On the other hand, the barrel is a bit narrow, so if you have large hands or write with a lot of pressure you may find it difficult to hold the pen.

Writing feels a little hard and heavy, and we felt a lot of friction. However, the ink transfer is excellent, and there is no smudging on paper. The ink is also vivid and comes in a wide variety of colors, making it a great choice for sketches.