--- title: "Best Calligraphy Pens for Beginners (2027): 6 Picks" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-calligraphy-pens-for-beginners/" description: "The best calligraphy pens for beginners: Pilot Parallel, LAMY joy, Pigma Calligrapher, Tombow Fudenosuke, Pentel Touch Sign Pen and Kuretake Fudegokochi." category: "Pens" type: "Calligraphy pen" published: 2026-10-21 updated: 2026-10-21 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 10 products: - name: "Pilot Parallel Pen, 3.8 mm (US item 90052)" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Plastic barrel and screw-on cap; nib of two special-alloy (steel) plates" released: "1999" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America" mpn: "90052" gtin: "072838900524" url: "https://www.pilot.co.jp/press_release/2020/10/08/post_78.html" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-parallel-pen/" - name: "Sakura Pigma Calligrapher (1, 2 and 3 mm)" brand: "Sakura" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Plastic barrel and cap, flat hard nylon nib, archival water-based pigment ink (Sakura of America); not refillable" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Sakura Color Products Corporation (Osaka); sold in the US by Sakura of America" url: "https://www.sakuraofamerica.com/product/pigmacalligrapher/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-pigma-calligrapher/" - name: "LAMY joy calligraphy fountain pen (1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 mm)" brand: "LAMY" brand_origin: "Germany" made_in: "Germany" material: "High-gloss ASA plastic body and cap, metal clip, polished stainless steel calligraphy nib (per LAMY)" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg (part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.)" model: "LAMY joy" url: "https://www.lamy.com/de-nl/p/lamy-joy-fullhalter" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-joy/" - name: "Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (hard and soft tip)" brand: "Tombow" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Elastomer brush tip, water-based pigment ink (Tombow); recycled plastic barrel (LarryPOST)" released: "2001" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Tombow USA" model: "WS-BH 150 (hard tip), WS-BS 150 (soft tip); in Japan GCD-111 (hard) and GCD-112 (soft)" sku: "62038" url: "https://www.tombowusa.com/products/fudenosuke-brush-pen-2-pack" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-fudenosuke/" - name: "Pentel Touch Sign Pen (SES15C)" brand: "Pentel" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Flexible fiber brush-style tip; water-based dye ink (fluorescent colors: water-based fluorescent pigment ink)" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand" model: "SES15C" mpn: "SES15C-A" gtin: "4902506287052" url: "https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/signpen/fudetouchsignpen/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-touch-sign-pen/" - name: "Kuretake ZIG Fudegokochi brush pen (LS1-10, black)" brand: "Kuretake" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "PP body, cap and end plug, stainless steel clip, POM brush-style tip, water-based pigment ink (Kuretake)" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Kuretake Co., Ltd. (Japan)" model: "LS1-10" gtin: "4901427104288" url: "https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/brush-pen/brush/fudegokochi" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kuretake-zig-fudegokochi/" --- # Best Calligraphy Pens for Beginners (2027): 6 Picks > On published specs, the Pilot Parallel Pen is the best calligraphy pen for beginners learning broad-edge hands: two parallel steel plates give a crisp edge in six widths from 1.5 to 6.0 mm. For brush or modern calligraphy, start with the hard-tip Tombow Fudenosuke; for no ink at all to manage, the Sakura Pigma Calligrapher. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-calligraphy-pens-for-beginners/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-21 - Updated: 2026-10-21 ![Six beginner calligraphy pens standing tip down, each labeled with its pick](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/best-calligraphy-pens-for-beginners-16x9.png) *One pick per style. Drawn in proportion from maker lengths where published.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pilot Parallel Pen, 3.8 mm (US item 90052) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Japan | Plastic barrel and screw-on cap; nib of two special-alloy (steel) plates | 1999 | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Sakura Pigma Calligrapher (1, 2 and 3 mm) | Sakura (by Sakura Color Products Corporation (Osaka); sold in the US by Sakura of America) | Japan | Not stated | Plastic barrel and cap, flat hard nylon nib, archival water-based pigment ink (Sakura of America); not refillable | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | LAMY joy calligraphy fountain pen (1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 mm) | LAMY (by C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg (part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.)) | Germany | Germany | High-gloss ASA plastic body and cap, metal clip, polished stainless steel calligraphy nib (per LAMY) | – | $$$: $20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (hard and soft tip) | Tombow (by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Tombow USA) | Japan | Japan | Elastomer brush tip, water-based pigment ink (Tombow); recycled plastic barrel (LarryPOST) | 2001 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Pentel Touch Sign Pen (SES15C) | Pentel (by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand) | Japan | Japan | Flexible fiber brush-style tip; water-based dye ink (fluorescent colors: water-based fluorescent pigment ink) | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Kuretake ZIG Fudegokochi brush pen (LS1-10, black) | Kuretake (by Kuretake Co., Ltd. (Japan)) | Japan | Japan | PP body, cap and end plug, stainless steel clip, POM brush-style tip, water-based pigment ink (Kuretake) | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Pilot Parallel Pen, 3.8 mm (US item 90052)): Japan. Per Goldspot's listing ("Made in Japan"). Pilot's Japanese press release and US pages don't state it. A search-result summary of a Swiss listing for the European FP3-38-SS gave China; we couldn't confirm that on the page itself, so origin may vary by market. Source: https://goldspot.com/products/pilot-parallel-beginner-calligraphy-1-5mm-nib-red-cap-fountain-pen - Made in (Sakura Pigma Calligrapher (1, 2 and 3 mm)): Not stated. Sakura of America's product page and the Amazon US listing don't state a country of manufacture, and Sakura's Japanese Pigma page doesn't list the Calligrapher, so we found no maker statement (checked October 23, 2026). Check the pen or package. - Made in (LAMY joy calligraphy fountain pen (1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 mm)): Germany. LAMY's own India storefront lists the country of origin as Germany and names C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Grenzhöfer Weg 32, Heidelberg, as the manufacturer (read October 23, 2026). A Digitec listing gives China and Germany, which we treat as unclear. Source: https://www.lamy.com/en-in/p/lamy-joy-fountain-pen - Made in (Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (hard and soft tip)): Japan. LarryPOST (Australia) lists the navy-body black hard tip as made in Japan. Tombow's Japanese, US and European pages don't state a country, and we found no origin for the soft tip (WS-BS 150), so check the pack. Source: https://www.larrypost.com.au/apps/aeo/ai/md/default/products/tombow-fudenosuke-brush-pen-hard-tip-black.md - Made in (Pentel Touch Sign Pen (SES15C)): Japan. Pentel of America's 2023–2024 product guide gives the origin of the SES15C as Japan, and its 2022 catalog says the same for the 12 pastel colors. Japanese retailer Sundrug lists 原産国 (country of origin) 日本 (Japan) for the sky blue pen, SES15C-S. Pentel's Japanese page doesn't state a country. Source: https://pentel.mywestamerica.com/2023ProductGuide/86/ - Made in (Kuretake ZIG Fudegokochi brush pen (LS1-10, black)): Japan. Kuretake's Japanese order site lists 原産国 (country of origin) 日本 (Japan) for the black Fudegokochi, LS1-10 (read October 23, 2026). Source: https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/1488 ## Key takeaways - Pilot Japan sells the Parallel Pen in six widths, 1.5, 2.4, 3.0, 3.8, 4.5 and 6.0 mm, at ¥1,320 (about US$8.40); it has been on sale since 1999. - The LAMY joy is a 178 mm, 17 g fountain pen with a steel calligraphy nib in 1.1, 1.5 or 1.9 mm, priced at €22.90 (about US$26) in Germany. - Sakura's Pigma Calligrapher has a hard nylon chisel in 1, 2 or 3 mm and waterproof, fade-resistant pigment ink, with nothing to refill. - Tombow says the Fudenosuke hard tip writes at about 250 g, ordinary ballpoint pressure, which is why most brush-lettering courses start with it. - Kuretake lists its Fudegokochi brush-style pen at 138 mm and 11 g, with pigment ink good for 300 to 400 m of writing. ## What is the best calligraphy pen for beginners? **The Pilot Parallel Pen is the best first pen for broad-edge calligraphy, and the Tombow Fudenosuke is the best first pen for brush calligraphy; four more picks cover other styles and budgets.** The Parallel is #1 for broad edge because its two plates give a crisp edge without dipping, in the widest range here (1.5 to 6.0 mm); the Fudenosuke's firm tip keeps brush letters even while you learn. - **Best overall, broad edge:** [Pilot Parallel Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-parallel-pen/). *Why it's here:* two parallel alloy plates replace a dip nib, in six widths from 1.5 to 6.0 mm in Japan, over three times the LAMY joy's widest 1.9 mm; Pilot says the edge also draws hairlines. - **Simplest, no ink to manage:** [Sakura Pigma Calligrapher](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-pigma-calligrapher/). *Why it's here:* the only broad-edge pick with no ink to fill, a disposable hard nylon chisel in 1, 2 or 3 mm; Sakura suggests 1 mm for envelopes, 2 mm for place cards and 3 mm for titles. - **Fountain pen with an italic nib:** [LAMY joy](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-joy/). *Why it's here:* the only pick with a conventional steel nib, an italic in 1.1, 1.5 or 1.9 mm, which suits everyday italic handwriting more than display letters. - **Best brush pen to start:** [Tombow Fudenosuke](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-fudenosuke/), hard tip. *Why it's here:* firm tips bend less than soft brushes, and Tombow says this one writes at about 250 g, ordinary pen pressure, so letters stay even while you learn. - **Small brush script:** [Pentel Touch Sign Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-touch-sign-pen/). *Why it's here:* the next step after the Fudenosuke for smaller writing, with a brush-style tip retailers give as 0.35 to 2.0 mm, for lettering in a planner. - **Japanese brush writing:** Kuretake Fudegokochi. *Why it's here:* the only pick made for Japanese brush writing, which Kuretake calls easy for addresses and gift envelopes: 138 mm, 11 g, pigment ink, made in Japan. ![Broad-edge nib widths of the Pilot Parallel, LAMY joy and Sakura Pigma Calligrapher drawn to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/best-calligraphy-pens-for-beginners-widths.svg) *Every broad-edge width among the picks, drawn to scale.* ## How did we choose these picks? **We compiled these picks from published sources, not hands-on testing: makers' specs and claims (Pilot, LAMY and Kuretake on their home sites), retailer widths, US availability and price band.** We started from the style you want to learn, broad edge or brush, then chose the pen with the clearest published case for an easy start. ## How do the six calligraphy pens compare? **Three are broad-edge pens for traditional hands and three are brush pens for modern script.** | Pen | Tip | Widths | Ink | Refillable | Length | Made in | Band | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pilot Parallel | Two parallel plates | 1.5–6.0 mm | Pilot cartridges, 12 colors | Yes | 171 mm (6.7 in) | Japan | $$ | | Sakura Pigma Calligrapher | Hard nylon chisel | 1, 2, 3 mm | Pigment, 6 colors | No | Not published | Not stated | $ | | LAMY joy | Steel italic nib | 1.1, 1.5, 1.9 mm | LAMY T10 or Z28 | Yes | 178 mm (7.0 in) | Germany | $$$ | | Tombow Fudenosuke | Elastomer brush, hard or soft | Not published | Water-based pigment | No | 134 mm (5.3 in), soft tip | Japan | $ | | Pentel Touch Sign Pen | Flexible fiber brush tip | 0.35–2.0 mm | Water-based dye | No | Not published | Japan | $ | | Kuretake Fudegokochi | POM brush-style tip | Not published | Water-based pigment | No | 138 mm (5.4 in) | Japan | $ | Lengths come from Pilot Japan, LAMY Germany, JetPens (Fudenosuke) and Kuretake. ## Broad-edge or brush: which calligraphy should you learn first? **Learn the style you want to write; the tool follows from it.** Broad-edge pens like the Parallel, joy and Pigma Calligrapher make thick and thin strokes from the angle of a flat nib, which is how italic, gothic and roundhand work. Brush pens make thick strokes from pressure instead, which is the basis of modern brush lettering. Our [best brush pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-brush-pens/) roundup compares more of them, including softer tips to move to later. ## Why do beginners start with the Pilot Parallel? **It behaves like a dip pen without the dip.** Pilot Japan says its two-plate "parallel plate mechanism" gives sharper strokes than ordinary calligraphy pens, and the alloy plates resist rust. The pen is 171 mm long and weighs 10.7 g, per Pilot's catalog, and comes with a black and a red cartridge, a cleaning pipette and a paper-dust cleaner. Pilot's 2020 Japanese release lists ¥250 (about US$1.60) before tax for a pack of cartridges in any of 12 colors. The pipette is for flushing the nib with water, the same basic routine as in our [how to clean a fountain pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/how-to-clean-a-fountain-pen/) guide. If you'd rather try a real dip pen for drawing and everyday lettering, the [Kakimori Stainless Steel Nib](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kakimori-stainless-steel-nib/) fits many standard holders and writes a sentence or two per dip, per Goulet. ## Is the LAMY joy a good calligraphy fountain pen? **Yes, for small italic writing and journaling rather than big display letters.** Its widest nib is 1.9 mm, less than a third of the Parallel's 6.0 mm, so it suits everyday italic handwriting. LAMY says the joy's grip and overall design come from the [LAMY safari](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-safari/). The safari takes push-on steel nibs, including 1.1 and 1.5 mm italics sold separately, so a safari owner can try italic writing without a new pen. Our [fountain pen nib sizes](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/fountain-pen-nib-sizes-explained/) guide lists LAMY's italic widths next to stubs from other makers. ## Which brush pen is easiest for brush calligraphy? **A firm tip: the Fudenosuke hard tip first, then the Touch Sign Pen for smaller writing.** Firm tips bend less, so stroke width changes slowly with pressure, which is easier to control. The Kuretake Fudegokochi suits Japanese-style writing such as addresses on envelopes. Kuretake says its brush-style tip is easy for people who find a real brush pen hard. ## Where are these pens made? **Five of the six are listed as made in Japan or Germany; the Pigma Calligrapher's origin isn't stated.** Pilot, Tombow, Pentel and Kuretake are Japanese makers, and LAMY's India storefront lists Germany for the joy. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which Pilot Parallel size should a beginner buy? Pilot doesn't name one. A 3.8 mm or 2.4 mm pen is big enough to show the thick and thin strokes of a broad-edge hand clearly; US four-pen sets include 1.5, 2.4, 3.8 and 6.0 mm, so you can try them all. ### Is a brush pen or a chisel pen better for learning calligraphy? It depends on the style. Chisel (broad-edge) pens such as the Pilot Parallel teach italic, gothic and roundhand; brush pens such as the Tombow Fudenosuke teach modern brush script, where pressure makes thick downstrokes. ### Can you use any fountain pen for calligraphy? Not with an ordinary round nib, which writes a uniform line. You need an italic or stub nib, such as the LAMY joy's 1.1 to 1.9 mm steel calligraphy nibs; LAMY also sells 1.1 and 1.5 mm italic nibs for the safari. ### What ink does the Pilot Parallel use? Pilot's own Parallel Pen cartridges, sold in 12 colors in Japan at ¥250 (about US$1.60) a pack before tax. The pen comes with a black and a red cartridge, a cleaning pipette and a paper-dust cleaner. ### Is the Sakura Pigma Calligrapher waterproof? Sakura of America says its archival Pigma pigment ink is waterproof and fade-resistant on most papers, in six colors. It isn't refillable. ### Are calligraphy pens good for left-handers? LAMY says the joy suits left-handers, and brush pens such as the Fudenosuke don't depend on a fixed nib angle. With chisel nibs, many left-handers turn the page or write from below the line. ### What paper should beginners use for calligraphy practice? Smooth, heavier paper that doesn't feather. Sakura suggests breaking a new Pigma Calligrapher in on smooth paper and writing with a few sheets underneath as a cushion. ## Sources - [パイロット プレスリリース: 『パラレルペン』発売 (Pilot Japan, October 8, 2020: on sale since 1999; six widths 1.5 to 6.0 mm; 171 mm × 13.3 mm; 12 cartridge colors; cleaning pipette included)](https://www.pilot.co.jp/press_release/2020/10/08/post_78.html) - [PILOTウェブカタログ: パラレルペン P-FPN-120R-15 (JAN 4902505612053, ¥1,320 with tax, 10.7 g, resin barrel and cap)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000394) - [Goldspot: Pilot Parallel 4-piece assorted set (1.5, 2.4, 3.8, 6.0 mm; made in Japan)](https://goldspot.com/products/pilot-parallel-4-piece-assorted-set) - [LAMY joy Füllhalter (LAMY Germany: 12 × 12 × 178 mm, 17 g, nibs 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 mm, suitable for left-handers, €22.90)](https://www.lamy.com/de-de/p/lamy-joy-fullhalter) - [LAMY India: LAMY joy fountain pen (country of origin Germany)](https://www.lamy.com/en-in/p/lamy-joy-fountain-pen) - [Sakura of America: Pigma Calligrapher (1, 2 and 3 mm hard nylon nibs, six pigment colors, waterproof and fade-resistant, not refillable)](https://www.sakuraofamerica.com/product/pigmacalligrapher/) - [筆之助 (Tombow Japan product page, "Fudenosuke": elastomer tip, water- and light-resistant pigment ink)](https://www.tombow.com/products/fudenosuke/) - [筆touch サインペン (Pentel Japan product page, "Fude Touch Sign Pen": SES15C)](https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/signpen/fudetouchsignpen/) - [呉竹 BtoBオンライン注文サイト: 筆ごこち 黒 LS1-10 (Kuretake: 138 × 11 mm, 11 g, ¥242 with tax, POM tip, water-based pigment ink, 300–400 m, made in Japan)](https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/1488) - [筆ごこち (Kuretake Japan product page)](https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/brush-pen/brush/fudegokochi)