--- title: "Kuretake ZIG Mangaka: Flexible Tip, Sizes and Ink" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kuretake-zig-cartoonist-mangaka/" description: "Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka pens explained: the Mangaka Flexible fine (CNMF-010), seven fineliner sizes from 003 to 08, pigment ink, size and origin." category: "Pens" type: "Brush pen" published: 2026-10-23 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 10 products: - name: "Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Flexible, Fine, Black (CNMF-010)" brand: "Kuretake" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Body, cap and end plug: PP; clip: stainless steel; tip: POM; 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: "CNMF-010" gtin: "4901427228311" url: "https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/601" --- # Kuretake ZIG Mangaka: Flexible Tip, Sizes and Ink > The Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka is a Japanese drawing pen for comics and illustration with water-based pigment ink that resists bleeding under alcohol markers. The Mangaka Flexible (CNMF-010) has a springy tip for thick-and-thin lines; the regular Mangaka comes in seven fineliner sizes. Kuretake lists the pens at 140 × 13 mm, made in Japan. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kuretake-zig-cartoonist-mangaka/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-23 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Flexible pen, 140 mm, capped, with a thick-and-thin ink line drawn beside it](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/kuretake-zig-cartoonist-mangaka-16x9.png) *The Mangaka Flexible, 140 mm long (1 mm = 4.4 px).* 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) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Flexible, Fine, Black (CNMF-010) | Kuretake (by Kuretake Co., Ltd. (Japan)) | Japan | Japan | Body, cap and end plug: PP; clip: stainless steel; tip: POM; water-based pigment ink (Kuretake) | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Flexible, Fine, Black (CNMF-010)): Japan. Kuretake's Japanese order site lists 原産国 (country of origin) 日本 (Japan) for the Mangaka Flexible Fine and Medium and for the Mangaka 01; Amazon US's listings also give Japan. Source: https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/601 ### Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Flexible, Fine, Black (CNMF-010) colors - Ink colors (2 standard, 0 special edition): Black (CNMF-010); Sepia (CNMF-065). - Per Kuretake (order site) (https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/list?category_id=168), checked 2026-10-24. Ink colors of the Mangaka Flexible (fine CNMF and medium CNMM) per Kuretake's order site; tints sampled from Kuretake's own 010 black and 065 sepia color chips. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - Kuretake lists the Mangaka Flexible Fine (CNMF-010) at 140 × 13 mm and 10 g, with a POM tip and water-based pigment ink. - Its Japanese list price is ¥200 (about US$1.30) before tax, ¥220 (about US$1.40) with tax. - The fineliner Mangaka comes in sizes 003, 005, 01, 02, 03, 05 and 08; a UK retailer gives 0.18 to 0.65 mm lines. - Kuretake says dried Mangaka ink resists bleeding when you color over it with alcohol-based markers. - Kuretake's Japanese order site lists Japan as the country of origin. ## What is the Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka? **It's a line of disposable drawing pens from Kuretake, the Japanese sumi-ink and brush-pen maker, made for outlining manga, comics and illustrations.** "Mangaka" is Japanese for a comic artist. Kuretake makes two kinds. The regular Mangaka is a fineliner in seven sizes. The Mangaka Flexible has a tip with spring in it, so, Kuretake says, you can draw lines that swell and thin with pressure. ## Mangaka Flexible specs **Kuretake lists the Flexible Fine at 140 × 13 mm and 10 g, with a molded POM tip and water-based pigment ink.** The Medium is the same size with a broader tip. | Spec | Mangaka Flexible Fine | |---|---| | Model | CNMF-010 (JAN 4901427228311) | | Size | 140 × 13 mm (5.5 × 0.5 in), widest point without clip | | Weight | 10 g (0.35 oz) | | Body and cap | PP, with stainless-steel clip | | Tip | POM (acetal) plastic, flexible | | Ink | Water-based pigment | | Colors | Black, sepia | | Japan list price | ¥200 (about US$1.30) before tax | | Made in | Japan | All figures come from Kuretake's Japanese order site. ## What sizes does the regular Mangaka come in? **Seven fineliner sizes, from 003 to 08.** Kuretake gives the size codes; The Journal Shop lists the line widths. | Size | Line width | Colors (Kuretake) | |---|---|---| | 003 | 0.18 mm | Black | | 005 | 0.2 mm | Black | | 01 | 0.25 mm | Black, sepia | | 02 | 0.3 mm | Black, sepia, violet | | 03 | 0.4 mm | Black | | 05 | 0.45 mm | Black, sepia | | 08 | 0.65 mm | Black | ![The seven Mangaka line widths drawn to scale, 0.18 mm for 003 to 0.65 mm for 08, beside a 140 mm pen outline](https://stationerytimes.com/images/kuretake-zig-cartoonist-mangaka-line-widths.svg) *Fineliner widths at 40× scale, with a Flexible pressure stroke below.* Kuretake sells black sets of 3, 5 and 8 pens; the 8-pen set lists at ¥1,600 (about US$10) before tax in Japan. The Journal Shop says its 8-pen set holds the 003, 005, 01, 03, 05 and 08 plus both Flexible tips. ## Which Mangaka should you choose? **Pick the Flexible Fine for lively outlines, the regular sizes for even lines, and sepia when black looks too harsh.** The Flexible Medium draws heavier strokes from the same 140 mm body. For comics, a common kit is a fine size (003 or 005) for hatching and texture, a 01 to 03 for figures, and the 08 for panel borders. Kuretake makes the 01 in black and sepia and the 02 also in violet, for softer line art under color. Kuretake lists the Mangaka 01 at 11 g and the Flexible at 10 g, both with the same polypropylene body, cap and steel clip. All the pens list at ¥200 (about US$1.30) before tax in Japan, so it costs little to try several. ## Can you color over Mangaka ink with markers? **Yes: Kuretake says the dried ink resists bleeding when you color over it with water-based or alcohol-based markers.** So you can ink first and color with markers such as the [Copic Sketch](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/copic-sketch/) afterwards. Let the ink dry fully first. How long that takes depends on the paper; test on a scrap. ## How does the Mangaka compare with other drawing pens? **The Mangaka is a cheaper, Japanese alternative to the Pigma Micron and Copic Multiliner, and its Flexible version adds pressure-sensitive line width in the same pen.** | | Mangaka | [Sakura Pigma Micron](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-pigma-micron/) | [Copic Multiliner](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/copic-multiliner/) | |---|---|---|---| | Ink | Water-based pigment | Water-based pigment | Pigment, alcohol-resistant | | Sizes | 003–08, plus Flexible | 003–12 | 0.03–1.0 mm | | Flexible tip | Yes (Flexible) | Brush version | Brush version | | Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | For a real brush with bristles, see the [Copic Gasenfude](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/copic-gasenfude/) or Kuretake's own [ZIG Clean Color Real Brush](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kuretake-zig-clean-color-real-brush/). Our [best fineliners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-fineliners/) roundup covers more line pens. ## How much does the Mangaka cost? **Single pens are in our $ band (under $5).** On October 23, 2026, Amazon's Mangaka Flexible Fine showed 4.6 stars from 470 ratings, 50+ bought in the past month and a 501st-place rank in Drawing Pens. ## Where is the Mangaka made? **In Japan: Kuretake's Japanese order site lists 原産国 (country of origin) 日本 for the Mangaka Flexible and the Mangaka 01.** Kuretake is based in Nara, Japan. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between Mangaka and Mangaka Flexible? The regular Mangaka has a firm fineliner tip that draws one line width per size; the Mangaka Flexible has a springy tip that draws thicker lines as you press harder. Both use the same pigment ink and body. ### Is the Mangaka Flexible a brush pen? It works like a small, firm brush pen, but the tip is a molded POM plastic point, not bristles. Kuretake sells it in Fine and Medium. ### Can you use Copic markers over Mangaka pens? Yes. Kuretake says the dried ink resists bleeding when you color over it with water-based or alcohol-based markers. ### What colors do Mangaka pens come in? Black and sepia in most sizes; the 02 also comes in violet. The Mangaka Flexible comes in black and sepia. ### What size Mangaka pen should I buy? Start with a 01 or 03 for outlines and a Flexible Fine for expressive lines; add the 003 or 005 for hatching and the 08 for bold borders. ### Is the Mangaka refillable? No. Kuretake sells it as a single-use marker; the 8-pen black set gathers most sizes in one box. ### Is Kuretake ZIG Mangaka made in Japan? Yes. Kuretake's Japanese order site lists Japan as the country of origin, and Kuretake is based in Nara. ## Sources - [Kuretake order site: ZIG Cartoonist MANGAKA FLEXIBLE FINE, BLACK (CNMF-010; JAN 4901427228311; ¥200 / ¥220; 140 × 13 mm; 10 g; materials; pigment ink; origin Japan)](https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/601) - [Kuretake order site: ZIG Cartoonist MANGAKA FLEXIBLE MEDIUM, BLACK (CNMM-010; JAN 4901427228335)](https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/603) - [Kuretake order site: MANGAKA FLEXIBLE product list (fine and medium, black and sepia)](https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/list?category_id=168) - [Kuretake order site: ZIG Cartoonist MANGAKA 01, BLACK (CNM-01-010; JAN 4901427223446; 140 × 13 mm; 11 g; origin Japan)](https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/1956) - [Kuretake order site: MANGAKA (線描きペン) product list (sizes 003 to 08, colors, sets of 3, 5 and 8)](https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/list?category_id=169) - [Kuretake: ZIG Cartoonist MANGAKA special page (resists bleeding under water- and alcohol-based markers)](https://www.kuretake.co.jp/special/brush-pen/pen/mangaka/index.html) - [The Journal Shop: Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Black Assortment Set of 8 (line widths 0.18 to 0.65 mm)](https://www.thejournalshop.com/products/kuretake-zig-cartoonist-mangaka-set-black) - [Amazon US: Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Flexible, Fine Black (CNMF-010; ratings and rank read October 23, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007X476T4) - [Amazon US: Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Flexible, Medium Black (CNMM-010; country of origin Japan)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007X477CA) - [Kuretake order site: MANGAKA FLEXIBLE FINE SEPIA (CNMF-065)](https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/602)