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Quick answer
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.
On this page11 sections
The Mangaka Flexible, 140 mm long (1 mm = 4.4 px).
Product facts
Product
Kuretake ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Flexible, Fine, Black (CNMF-010)
Body, cap and end plug: PP; clip: stainless steel; tip: POM; water-based pigment ink (Kuretake)
Price range
$under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Ink colors
BlackCNMF-010
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Notes on these facts
Made by Kuretake Co., Ltd. (Japan). Made in 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. Price: example listing.
Colors: names per Kuretake (order site), checked October 24, 2026. 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. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
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
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
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 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.
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.
