--- title: "OHTO GS02: Ceramic Ball Roller Gel in Aluminum" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ohto-gs02/" description: "OHTO GS02 roller gel pen explained: 138 mm, 22.5 g aluminum and brass body, PG-M05NP 0.5 mm ceramic-ball gel refill, nuance colors, GS01 vs GS02, and origin." category: "Pens" type: "Gel pen" published: 2026-10-22 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 8 products: - name: "OHTO GS02 roller gel pen, 0.5 mm, light amber (GS02-G5-LA)" brand: "OHTO" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Aluminum barrel; brass front, cap top and knock; steel (SK) clip" released: "2023-03" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "OHTO Co., Ltd. (Japan)" model: "GS02-G5" mpn: "GS02-G5-LA" gtin: "4971516031603" url: "https://ohto.co.jp/?product=gs02" --- # OHTO GS02: Ceramic Ball Roller Gel in Aluminum > The OHTO GS02 is an all-metal retractable gel pen with a hexagonal aluminum grip that turns round toward the knock. It writes with the PG-M05NP Ceramic Roller Gel refill: quick-drying 0.5 mm gel ink on a silicon carbide ball in a needle tip. OHTO lists it at 138 mm and 22.5 g, made in Japan. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ohto-gs02/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-22 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Light amber OHTO GS02 roller gel pen drawn to scale at 138 mm, with an inset of its ceramic-ball needle tip](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/ohto-gs02-16x9.png) *The light amber GS02 at 138 mm, drawn to scale.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | OHTO GS02 roller gel pen, 0.5 mm, light amber (GS02-G5-LA) | OHTO (by OHTO Co., Ltd. (Japan)) | Japan | Japan | Aluminum barrel; brass front, cap top and knock; steel (SK) clip | 2023-03 | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (OHTO GS02 roller gel pen, 0.5 mm, light amber (GS02-G5-LA)): Japan. OHTO's Japanese GS02 product page says MADE IN Japan. Source: https://ohto.co.jp/?product=gs02 ### OHTO GS02 roller gel pen, 0.5 mm, light amber (GS02-G5-LA) colors - Body colors (4 standard, 0 special edition): Old green; Light amber; Silver matte; Black. - Per OHTO Japan (https://ohto.co.jp/?product=gs02), checked 2026-10-24. Current colors per OHTO Japan, which marks dusty blue as discontinued; OHTO's English page still lists dusty blue and marks khaki, mint and pearl white as discontinued. English color names per OHTO's English page. Tints were sampled from OHTO's product photos. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - OHTO's Japanese site lists the GS02 at 138 mm (5.4 in) long, 8.8–10.2 mm across (12 mm at the clip) and 22.5 g. - Its PG-M05NP refill has a 0.5 mm SiC ceramic ball in a needle tip, quick-drying gel ink and a metal tube; OHTO says it is G2 size. - OHTO put the GS02 on sale in Japan in mid-March 2023 at ¥1,800 (about US$11) before tax. - OHTO added nuance colors in October 2025: old green, light amber and dusty blue, beside silver matte and black. - OHTO's Japanese page says made in Japan, and it sells in our $$ band ($5–20) in the US. ## What is the OHTO GS02? **The GS02 is OHTO's all-metal roller gel pen: an aluminum barrel with brass parts, a hexagonal grip that becomes round at the knock end, and a ceramic-ball gel refill.** OHTO calls the shape a hybrid and says the center of gravity sits almost in the middle of the pen. OHTO put it on sale in Japan in mid-March 2023, together with the new PG-M05NP refill. In late October 2025 it added softer nuance colors. ## OHTO GS02 specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | OHTO Co., Ltd., Japan | | Model | GS02-G5 | | Type | Retractable gel pen, quick-dry gel ink | | Refill | PG-M05NP Ceramic Roller Gel, 0.5 mm, G2 type | | Ball | SiC (silicon carbide) ceramic, needle tip | | Length | 138 mm (5.4 in) | | Diameter | 8.8–10.2 mm; 12 mm at the clip | | Weight | 22.5 g | | Materials | Aluminum barrel; brass front, cap top and knock; steel clip | | Colors | Black, silver matte, old green, light amber | | Japanese list price | ¥1,800 (about US$11) before tax | All figures are from OHTO's Japanese GS02 page. ## What is the Ceramic Roller Gel refill? **It is OHTO's 2023 gel refill: quick-drying gel ink on a silicon carbide ceramic ball, in a needle tip and a metal tube.** OHTO says the ink is newly developed for faster drying and easier writing, and that the refill is suitable for official documents. OHTO uses SiC balls in its ceramic rollerball refills too; it says they don't rust and hold ink in tiny surface pits. OHTO's English history lists the Ceramic Roller Gel among its 2023 launches. ## How is the GS02 different from the GS01? **The GS02 is heavier, gel-only and uses the newer ceramic-ball refill; the GS01 is the lighter needle-point ballpoint, also sold in a gel version.** ![OHTO GS02 at 138 mm and 22.5 g compared with the GS01-G5 at 136.4 mm and 19 g, drawn to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/ohto-gs02-vs-gs01.svg) *Nearly the same size; the GS02 is 3.5 g heavier.* | | GS02 | [GS01](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ohto-gs01/) gel (GS01-G5) | |---|---|---| | Refill | PG-M05NP, ceramic ball | PG-105NP Flash Dry | | Length | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 136.4 mm (5.4 in) | | Weight | 22.5 g | 19 g | | Japanese list price | ¥1,800 (about US$11) | ¥1,000 (about US$6.30) | Both take G2-size refills, so you can swap refills between them. The [OHTO Rays](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ohto-rays/) is the cheaper way to try OHTO's Flash Dry gel. ## Which GS02 color should you choose? **Choose by finish: OHTO sells black and silver matte as the core colors, plus the softer nuance colors added in October 2025.** OHTO's Japanese page lists old green and light amber as current, and dusty blue as discontinued. The English page also lists khaki, mint and pearl white as discontinued, so US shops may still have them while stock lasts. Yoseka Stationery describes the white as a glossy iridescent finish and the other colors as semi-matte. ## Can you put other refills in the GS02? **Yes. OHTO says the PG-M05NP is the international G2 type, the same size as a Parker refill.** That means Parker-style ballpoint, gel and hybrid refills fit, as do OHTO's own PS-107NP ballpoint and PG-105NP Flash Dry gel refills. The reverse also works: the PG-M05NP can go into other G2 pens, such as the [Parker Jotter](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/parker-jotter/). In Japan OHTO changed the PG-M05NP's packaging in May 2026, citing a shortage of materials. ## How does the GS02 compare with other metal gel pens? **It's one of the few all-metal gel pens with a ceramic ball, at a lower price than most metal pens.** Most gel pens, like the [Pilot G2](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-g2/) and [Zebra Sarasa Grand](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-sarasa-grand/), use metal balls; the Sarasa Grand is the closest metal-bodied rival. Our [best gel pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-gel-pens/) roundup covers the wider field. ## Where is the OHTO GS02 made? **In Japan: OHTO's Japanese product page says MADE IN Japan.** OHTO's history and factory are covered in our [OHTO history](https://stationerytimes.com/stories/ohto-history/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between the OHTO GS01 and GS02? The GS02 is heavier (22.5 g against 17.3 g), is gel-only and uses the newer PG-M05NP Ceramic Roller Gel refill. Its hexagonal end is at the grip; the GS01's hexagon sits at the top. ### What refill does the GS02 use? OHTO's PG-M05NP Ceramic Roller Gel, 0.5 mm, with a silicon carbide ball and a needle tip. OHTO says it is the international G2 type, so other G2 refills fit. ### Is the GS02 ink document-proof? OHTO's Japanese page says the PG-M05NP refill is suitable for official documents. It doesn't name a test standard on that page. ### What colors does the OHTO GS02 come in? OHTO lists black, silver matte, old green and light amber; dusty blue is listed as discontinued in Japan, and earlier khaki, mint and pearl white were dropped. ### Why is the GS02 balanced well? OHTO says the pen's center of gravity sits almost in the middle, so it rests easily in the hand; the hexagonal grip keeps it from rolling. ### Is the OHTO GS02 made in the USA? No. OHTO's Japanese product page says made in Japan. ## Sources - [OHTO Japan: ローラーゲル GS02 (MADE IN Japan, 138 mm, 10.2–8.8 mm, 22.5 g, ¥1,800, JAN codes, PG-M05NP)](https://ohto.co.jp/?product=gs02) - [OHTO Japan: home page news list (GS02 and PG-M05NP on sale mid-March 2023; April 2023 shipping pause; nuance colors October 2025)](https://ohto.co.jp/) - [OHTO (English): GS02 (key features, colors, discontinued colors)](https://ohto.co.jp/global/products/gs/gs02/) - [OHTO (English): Ceramic Roller Gel PG-M05NP](https://ohto.co.jp/global/products/refill/gs-refill/ceramic-roller-gel-pg-m05np/) - [OHTO (English): Our history (2023: Ceramic Roller Gel)](https://ohto.co.jp/global/about-us/our-history/) - [OHTO Japan: ローラーゲル GS01-G5 (136.4 mm, 19 g, PG-105NP)](https://ohto.co.jp/?product=gs01g) - [Cult Pens: OHTO GS02 Retractable Roller Gel Pen](https://cultpens.com/products/ohto-gs02-retractable-roller-gel-pen) - [Yoseka Stationery: OHTO Horizon Roller Gel Ink Pen GS02 0.5 mm](https://yosekastationery.com/products/ohto-horizon-roller-gel-ink-pen-gs02-0-5mm)