Est. 2026 · Price: FreeEditor-at-large: The Hedgehog

Stationery Times

Best New Japanese Pens of 2026: FriXion Synergy 3 & More

By · Published · 7 min read

Compiled from 10 sources; we haven't tested these products ourselves yet. How we research

Quick answer

The best new Japanese pen of 2026 is the Pilot FriXion Synergy 3, an erasable 3-color pen with a 0.4 mm Synergy Tip that won a Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026 award. Also new: the FriXion Ball Switch, uni-ball One 3, Pilot AIRSTEP pencil, LACONIC Solid Write, Sailor Profit Casual L fountain pen and KOKUYO's ANY LINER highlighter.

On this page11 sections
Seven new Japanese pens and pencils of 2026 standing tip down on one line, each labelled with its pick: FriXion Synergy 3, FriXion Ball Switch, uni-ball One 3, AIRSTEP, Solid Write, Profit Casual L and ANY LINER
Seven 2025–26 launches, lengths drawn to scale from the makers' and JetPens' figures.

Products compared

  1. Black Pilot FriXion Synergy 3 erasable 3-color pen drawn to scale at 145 mm, with an inset of the 0.4 mm Synergy TipNo. 1Pilot FriXion Synergy 3, 0.4 mm erasable 3-color pen$$Read the guide →
  2. Black Pilot FriXion Ball Switch drawn to scale at 145 mm, with an inset of the clip sliding down to select the permanent inkNo. 2Pilot FriXion Ball Switch, 0.5 mm FriXion + 0.7 mm oil-based$$Read the guide →
  3. Brick Red uni-ball One 3 three-color gel pen drawn to scale at 129 mm, with an inset of the tipNo. 3uni-ball One 3, 3-color gel pen$$Read the guide →
  4. Black Pilot AIRSTEP 0.5 mm mechanical pencil drawn to scale at 137.7 mm, with an inset of the press-to-advance tipNo. 4Pilot AIRSTEP 0.5 mm mechanical pencil$$Read the guide →
  5. Black LACONIC Solid Write 0.5 mm mechanical pencil drawn to scale at 149 mm, with an inset of its hexagonal anti-roll ringNo. 5LACONIC Solid Write 0.5 mm mechanical pencil$$$Read the guide →
  6. Capped Sailor Profit Casual L Gold Trim fountain pen in Clear Black drawn to scale at 141 mm, with an inset of the gold-IP steel nibNo. 6Sailor Profit Casual L Gold Trim fountain pen (11-0820); 1911 Casual L in the US$$$$Read the guide →
  7. KOKUYO Campus ANY LINER twin highlighter in Smoky Blue drawn to scale at 135 mm capped, with an inset of the 4 mm chisel tipNo. 7KOKUYO Campus ANY LINER twin highlighter$Read the guide →
ProductBrand originMade inPrice range
Pilot FriXion Synergy 3, 0.4 mm erasable 3-color pen (LTFS3-14)PilotJapanNot stated*Price range: $$$5–20 per pen
Pilot FriXion Ball Switch, 0.5 mm FriXion + 0.7 mm oil-based (LB31FBS-2)PilotJapanNot stated*Price range: $$$5–20 per pen
uni-ball One 3, 3-color gel pen (UME3-SR)uni-ballJapanNot stated*Price range: $$$5–20 per pen
Pilot AIRSTEP 0.5 mm mechanical pencil (HAS-15)PilotJapanNot stated*Price range: $$$5–20 per pen
LACONIC Solid Write 0.5 mm mechanical pencil (SW-01)LACONICJapanJapan*Price range: $$$$20–75 per pen
Sailor Profit Casual L Gold Trim fountain pen (11-0820); 1911 Casual L in the USSailorJapanNot stated*Price range: $$$$over $75 per pen
KOKUYO Campus ANY LINER twin highlighter (WPM1)KOKUYOJapanNot stated*Price range: $under $5 per pen
Notes on these facts
  • Pilot FriXion Synergy 3, 0.4 mm erasable 3-color pen (LTFS3-14): Made by Pilot Corporation (Japan). Country of manufacture not stated: Pilot's Japanese press release and web catalog, JetPens and the Amazon.com import listing we read on October 22, 2026 don't state a country of manufacture. Price: example listing. Released: Japanese launch date in Pilot's press release of November 28, 2025.
  • Pilot FriXion Ball Switch, 0.5 mm FriXion + 0.7 mm oil-based (LB31FBS-2): Made by Pilot Corporation (Japan). Country of manufacture not stated: Pilot's Japanese press release and web catalog, JetPens and the Amazon.com listing we read on October 22, 2026 don't state a country of manufacture. Released: Japanese launch date in Pilot's press release of February 10, 2026.
  • uni-ball One 3, 3-color gel pen (UME3-SR): Made by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.. Country of manufacture not stated: Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product page and press release, JetPens and the Amazon.com listing we read on October 22, 2026 don't state a country of manufacture. Price: example listing. Released: Japanese launch date in Mitsubishi Pencil's press release of March 6, 2026.
  • Pilot AIRSTEP 0.5 mm mechanical pencil (HAS-15): Made by Pilot Corporation (Japan). Country of manufacture not stated: Pilot's Japanese press release and web catalog and the JetPens listing we read on October 22, 2026 don't state a country of manufacture. Price: example listing. Released: Japanese launch date in Pilot's press release of November 11, 2025.
  • LACONIC Solid Write 0.5 mm mechanical pencil (SW-01): Made by LACONIC Co., Ltd. (株式会社LACONIC), Japan. Made in Japan: LACONIC's own store lists 生産国 日本 (country of production: Japan), and its award notices say 製造：日本. Source.
  • Sailor Profit Casual L Gold Trim fountain pen (11-0820); 1911 Casual L in the US: Made by The Sailor Pen Co., Ltd., Kure, Hiroshima, Japan; majority-owned by PLUS Corporation since May 2022. Country of manufacture not stated: Sailor's Japanese product page and Goulet Pens' listing (read October 22, 2026) don't state a country; an Amazon.com import listing calls it made in Japan, which we don't treat as a reliable source. Price: example listing. Released: Japanese launch date on Sailor's product page. Goulet Pens added the 1911 Casual L Demonstrator (11-0823) on September 16, 2026.
  • KOKUYO Campus ANY LINER twin highlighter (WPM1): Made by KOKUYO Co., Ltd.. Country of manufacture not stated: KOKUYO's press release, JetPens and the Amazon.com listing we read on October 22, 2026 don't state a country of manufacture. Released: Japanese launch date in KOKUYO's press release of September 9, 2026; JetPens shows customer reviews from July 2026, so US stock may have arrived earlier.
  • Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

  • Six of the seven picks went on sale in Japan between October 4, 2025 and September 16, 2026; LACONIC gives no launch date for the Solid Write, which won a Good Design Award on October 16, 2025.
  • Pilot launched the FriXion Synergy 3 at ¥1,100 (about US$7) and the FriXion Ball Switch at ¥880 (about US$5.60); the Ball Switch adds a permanent oil-based black to three erasable inks.
  • The uni-ball One 3 is 129 mm long and 15 g, 10 mm shorter than the single-color uni-ball One, per JetPens.
  • The LACONIC Solid Write won the Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026 grand prize; it is a 149 mm, 23 g clipless metal pencil at ¥3,960 (about US$25).
  • Price bands run from $ for the ANY LINER to $$$$ for the Sailor Profit Casual L, sold in the US as the 1911 Casual L.

What are the best new Japanese pens of 2026?

The Pilot FriXion Synergy 3 leads a strong year: an erasable 3-color pen with a 0.4 mm metal tip, launched December 19, 2025. Every pick below launched or won its first award in Japan between October 2025 and September 2026, and most are already at US importers. It’s #1 because it’s the first FriXion multi pen with Pilot’s fine 0.4 mm Synergy Tip, and it won the function award at the Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026.

  • Best overall: Pilot FriXion Synergy 3. Why it’s here: the first FriXion multi pen with Pilot’s 0.4 mm Synergy Tip, for finer erasable notes than the Ball Switch, and a 2026 Bungu-ya-san Taishō winner; 145 mm, 13 g.
  • Erasable plus permanent: Pilot FriXion Ball Switch. Why it’s here: the only new pen with both erasable and permanent ink: three FriXion colors on slide levers and an oil-based black under the clip.
  • Three-color gel: uni-ball One 3. Why it’s here: the year’s pigment-gel multi pen, the uni-ball One’s dark ink in black, red and blue in a short twist body, for notes that shouldn’t erase.
  • Everyday pencil: Pilot AIRSTEP. Why it’s here: a new feeding idea for everyday use: press the worn tip on the paper and it feeds fresh lead, per Pilot.
  • Premium pencil: LACONIC Solid Write. Why it’s here: the Taishō 2026 grand prize winner, a clipless rubber-coated metal pencil with a hexagonal anti-roll ring, for a gift.
  • Fountain pen: Sailor Profit Casual L. Why it’s here: the only new fountain pen here, a full-size Sailor with a hand-finished steel nib in gold-colored IP, sold in the US as the 1911 Casual L.
  • Highlighter: KOKUYO Campus ANY LINER. Why it’s here: the cheapest pick, a twin highlighter whose ink KOKUYO says shows through less on thin paper.

How did we choose these picks?

We compiled these picks from published sources, not hands-on testing: makers’ Japanese releases and specs, 2026 award results, JetPens and Goulet listings for US availability, and price band. Each pick had to launch or win its first award in Japan between October 2025 and September 2026; we kept the most notable new pen of each type.

How do the new pens compare?

Four are everyday $$ pens and pencils; the Solid Write and Casual L are gift-level, and the ANY LINER is the cheapest.

Pick Type On sale in Japan Japan price Size, weight Band
FriXion Synergy 3 Erasable 3-color gel, 0.4 mm Dec 19, 2025 ¥1,100 (about US$7) 145 mm (5.7 in), 13 g $$
FriXion Ball Switch 3 erasable + 1 permanent Mar 5, 2026 ¥880 (about US$5.60) 145 mm (5.7 in), 15.2 g $$
uni-ball One 3 3-color gel, 0.38 / 0.5 mm Mar 18, 2026 ¥1,430 (about US$9.10) 129 mm (5.1 in), 15 g $$
Pilot AIRSTEP 0.5 mm mechanical pencil Nov 28, 2025 ¥495 (about US$3.10) 137.7 mm (5.4 in), 11.6 g $$
LACONIC Solid Write 0.5 mm metal pencil Not published (Good Design Award, Oct 16, 2025) ¥3,960 (about US$25) 149 mm (5.9 in), 23 g $$$
Sailor Profit Casual L Fountain pen, steel nib Oct 4, 2025 ¥13,200 (about US$84) 141 mm (5.6 in) capped, 19.8 g $$$$
KOKUYO ANY LINER Twin highlighter Sep 16, 2026 ¥100 (about US$0.60) before tax 135 mm (5.3 in) capped, 8 g $

Dates and prices are from the makers’ Japanese releases and pages (with tax unless noted); sizes from the makers and JetPens.

Japanese launch dates of seven new pens: Sailor Profit Casual L October 4, 2025; Pilot AIRSTEP November 28, 2025; FriXion Synergy 3 December 19, 2025; FriXion Ball Switch March 5, 2026; uni-ball One 3 March 18, 2026; KOKUYO ANY LINER September 16, 2026; LACONIC Solid Write, launch date not published, Good Design Award October 16, 2025
A year of launches, from Sailor's October 2025 Casual L to KOKUYO's September 2026 ANY LINER.

FriXion Synergy 3 or FriXion Ball Switch?

Pick the Synergy 3 for fine erasable notes; pick the Ball Switch if you also need ink that won’t erase. The Synergy 3’s 0.4 mm metal tip writes a finer, more precise line, and it is the first FriXion multi-pen with that tip.

The Ball Switch is cheaper and adds a permanent oil-based black, selected by pushing the clip, for signing forms. FriXion ink fades with heat, so neither erasable ink belongs on a check.

Which new pencil should you buy?

The AIRSTEP for school and work, the Solid Write as a gift. Pilot says the AIRSTEP lets you write a whole click’s worth of lead, then press the tip on the paper to expose more, and a resin cushion spring limits how far the lead sinks.

The LACONIC Solid Write has no clip; a hexagonal metal ring near the grip stops it rolling. It weighs 23 g, twice the AIRSTEP, and LACONIC says it is made in Japan.

Which new pen suits fountain pen users?

The Sailor Profit Casual L. Sailor hand-finishes its stainless-steel nib like its gold nibs and coats it in gold-colored IP, and says it writes like a gold nib; that is the maker’s claim.

It is the same size as the Sailor 1911L, per Goulet Pens, and takes Sailor cartridges or the included converter. For fountain pens in general, see our best Japanese pens.

What else launched this year?

Two more Japanese pens are worth a look. Pilot’s Juice+ puts the Juice Up’s 0.4 mm Synergy Tip in a plainer body at ¥165 (about US$1.00) and won the ballpoint award at the Taishō 2026.

Mitsubishi Pencil’s uni-ball &knot is a capped Jetstream pen on a ring carabiner, launched on June 17, 2026 at ¥3,630 (about US$23).

Where can you buy them in the US?

JetPens stocks most of them, Goulet sells the 1911 Casual L, and the Solid Write is an import. On October 22, 2026, JetPens listed the Synergy 3 in all five body colors and ten Ball Switch versions, and the uni-ball One 3 had 126 ratings on its Amazon.com gift listing.

The Solid Write’s Amazon.com import listing had 56 ratings that day. LACONIC also ships abroad through the ZenMarket proxy.

Frequently asked questions

What won the Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026?

The LACONIC Solid Write mechanical pencil took the grand prize. Shop staff also gave the FriXion Synergy 3 the function award and named the Sailor Profit Casual L the fountain-pen winner.

Can you buy these new Japanese pens in the US?

Mostly, yes. JetPens sells the FriXion Synergy 3, FriXion Ball Switch, uni-ball One 3, AIRSTEP and ANY LINER, Goulet sells the 1911 Casual L, and the LACONIC Solid Write is available through Japan-import sellers on Amazon.com.

Is there an erasable pen with permanent ink too?

Yes, the Pilot FriXion Ball Switch: three erasable FriXion colors on slide levers, plus an oil-based black that Pilot says resists rubbing, water and alcohol, selected by pushing the clip down.

What is the newest uni-ball pen?

Among the pens here, the uni-ball One 3, launched in Japan on March 18, 2026. Mitsubishi Pencil also released the &knot carabiner Jetstream pen on June 17, 2026.

Which new Japanese pencil is best for students?

The Pilot AIRSTEP: a 0.5 mm pencil at ¥495 (about US$3.10) in Japan that keeps feeding lead when you press the worn tip on the paper, so you click less.

Does the ANY LINER really bleed less?

KOKUYO says its hollow micro-particle ink shows through less on thin notebook paper and doesn't spread at the end of a stroke. That's the maker's claim; we haven't tested it yet.

Are these pens made in Japan?

LACONIC says the Solid Write is made in Japan. Pilot, Mitsubishi Pencil, Sailor and KOKUYO don't state a country on the product pages we read for the others.

Sources (10)

  1. Pilot Japan press release: FriXion Synergy 3 (on sale December 19, 2025, ¥1,100)
  2. Pilot Japan press release: FriXion Ball Switch (on sale March 5, 2026, ¥880)
  3. Pilot Japan press release: AIRSTEP (on sale November 28, 2025, ¥495)
  4. Mitsubishi Pencil press release: uni-ball One 3 (on sale March 18, 2026)
  5. LACONIC GENERAL STORE: Solid Write SW-01 (¥3,960; 149 × 9 mm, 23 g, made in Japan)
  6. LACONIC news: Solid Write wins the Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026 grand prize (February 20, 2026)
  7. Sailor (Japanese): Profit Casual L Gold Trim 11-0820 (¥13,200, October 4, 2025)
  8. KOKUYO via PR TIMES: Campus ANY LINER (on sale September 16, 2026)
  9. JetPens: Uni-ball One 3 Color Gel Multi Pen, 0.5 mm, Brick Red (12.9 cm, 15 g)
  10. Goulet Pens: Sailor 1911 Casual L Fountain Pen, Demonstrator

Plain-text version for AI agents: best-new-japanese-pens-2026.md · Spotted an error? See how we check facts.