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Quick answer
The OHTO CR01 is a capped aluminum rollerball with OHTO's C-305 ceramic roller refill: a 0.5 mm silicon carbide ball and a patented non-dry design that OHTO says keeps the tip from drying if you forget the cap. OHTO lists it at 142 mm long, 13.3 mm across and 33 g, made in Japan.
On this page10 sections
The matte black CR01 capped at 142 mm, drawn to scale.
Product facts
Product
OHTO CR01 ceramic rollerball pen, 0.5 mm, matte black (CR01-05-MBK)
Aluminum barrel and cap; brass front, cap top and end plug; steel (SK) clip; elastomer grip
Released
October 2022*
Price range
$$$$20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
Matte Blackmatte
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Notes on these facts
Made by OHTO Co., Ltd. (Japan). Made in Japan: OHTO's Japanese product page says MADE IN JAPAN and that OHTO designed and assembled the CR01 at its Yuki factory. Source. Price: example listing. Released: OHTO's Japanese news list (October 21, 2022): on sale from the end of October 2022.
Colors: names per OHTO Japan, checked October 24, 2026. The four matte colors per OHTO Japan, which marks the camouflage black and camouflage khaki colors as discontinued; the gold-parts black and wine per OHTO's English CR01 page. Tints were sampled from OHTO's product photos. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
OHTO's Japanese site lists the CR01 at 142 mm (5.6 in) long, 13.3 mm across (16.8 mm at the clip) and 33 g.
It uses the C-305 refill: a 0.5 mm SiC ceramic ball with OHTO's non-dry mechanism, Japanese patent 5371571.
The matte colors list at ¥1,800 (about US$11) before tax in Japan; OHTO launched the CR01 at the end of October 2022.
C-300 series refills also come in 0.4, 0.7 and 1.0 mm (C-304, C-307, C-310), per OHTO.
OHTO's Japanese page says made in Japan, designed and assembled at its Yuki factory; it sells in our $$$ band ($20–75) in the US.
What is the OHTO CR01?
The CR01 is a capped rollerball in an aluminum body, built around OHTO’s ceramic roller refill. OHTO calls it the first pen of its CR (Ceramic Roller) series, newly designed and assembled at its Yuki factory, and describes its design as the best in OHTO’s history.
OHTO launched it in Japan at the end of October 2022. The CR01 placed 10th in the ballpoint category of Japan’s Bungu-ya-san Taisho 2023, and OHTO added new colors in March 2025.
OHTO CR01 specs
Spec
Value
Maker
OHTO Co., Ltd., Japan
Model
CR01-05
Type
Capped rollerball, water-based ink
Refill
C-305, 0.5 mm SiC ceramic ball, non-dry
Length
142 mm (5.6 in)
Diameter
13.3 mm; 16.8 mm at the clip
Weight
33 g
Materials
Aluminum barrel and cap; brass parts; steel clip; elastomer grip
Colors
Matte black, matte silver, matte wine, matte blue
Japanese list price
¥1,800 (about US$11) before tax
Figures are from OHTO’s Japanese CR01 page. OHTO’s Japanese and English pages swap the JAN codes for matte blue and matte wine, so check the color name when ordering by code.
What makes OHTO’s ceramic refill different?
Two things: a silicon carbide ball and a non-dry design. OHTO says the SiC ball is nearly as hard as diamond, doesn’t rust and has tiny pits on its surface that hold ink, which it credits for a smooth, steady line.
The non-dry part is a patent. Water-based refills need an air hole to replace ink as it is used, and that hole normally lets the tip dry if the pen is left open. OHTO says its C-305 keeps air away from the ink feed, so the tip doesn’t dry out even without the cap; it was patented in Japan as No. 5371571.
OHTO introduced its first ceramic-ball rollerball in 1981 and the C-300 refill in 1990, per its company history. Our OHTO history covers those dates.
Which CR01 color should you choose?
Pick by finish: the four matte colors are the standard range, and OHTO also sells gold-trimmed and gradation versions. OHTO’s matte black, silver, wine and blue list at ¥1,800 (about US$11) before tax; the camouflage colors at ¥2,000 (about US$13) are discontinued.
OHTO added CR01 and CR02 models with gold-colored parts in March 2024, and announced a CR01 Gradation for early November 2026. US shops such as Yoseka Stationery sell some of these as lacquer versions.
Which refill sizes fit the CR01?
OHTO makes the C-300 series in four sizes: C-304 (0.4 mm), C-305 (0.5 mm), C-307 (0.7 mm) and C-310 (1.0 mm). The CR01 ships with the 0.5 mm black C-305.
OHTO says the refills follow ISO 14145, the rollerball refill standard, and many pen fans use them in other pens. In Japan OHTO lists its C-300 replacement refill at ¥300 (about US$1.90) before tax.
How does the CR01 compare with OHTO’s other metal pens?
It’s the heaviest of OHTO’s current metal pens and the only capped one.
The CR01 is a little longer, much thicker and about twice the weight of a GS01.
ZENTO figures come from our ZENTO guide. Choose the CR01 for a classic capped rollerball feel; the uni-ball Vision Elite is the cheaper disposable route.
Where is the OHTO CR01 made?
In Japan. OHTO’s Japanese product page says MADE IN JAPAN and that the CR01 is designed and assembled at its Yuki factory in Ibaraki.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ceramic rollerball?
A water-based ink pen whose writing ball is ceramic instead of metal. OHTO uses silicon carbide (SiC), which it says doesn't rust, resists wear and holds ink in tiny surface pits for a smooth line.
Does the CR01 dry out if left uncapped?
OHTO says no: its C-305 non-dry refill keeps air away from the ink feed, so the tip doesn't dry even if you forget the cap. The design is covered by Japanese patent 5371571.
What refills fit the OHTO CR01?
OHTO's C-305 (0.5 mm) ships in it; OHTO also makes C-304 (0.4 mm), C-307 (0.7 mm) and C-310 (1.0 mm). The refills follow ISO 14145, the standard many rollerball refills use.
What is the difference between the CR01 and CR02?
Both are OHTO ceramic rollerballs on the same refill; OHTO launched the CR02 in November 2023 with a different body. The CR01 is the first of the CR series.
How heavy is the OHTO CR01?
OHTO lists 33 g, mostly from the aluminum and brass body, which makes it a substantial pen in the hand.
Did the CR01 win an award?
OHTO says the CR01 placed 10th in the ballpoint category of Japan's Bungu-ya-san Taisho 2023, a stationery-shop award run by Fusosha.
Is the OHTO CR01 made in the USA?
No. OHTO's Japanese site says made in Japan, designed and assembled at OHTO's Yuki factory.
