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Stationery Times

Brand: Pilot

Pilot FriXion Waai: 8 Muted Ink Colors, 0.5 mm Erasable

Compiled from 3 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research

Quick answer

The Pilot FriXion Waai is an erasable ballpoint that Pilot launched in Japan on November 2, 2023, aimed at university students. It has a 0.5 mm ball, a rounded off-white body 142.3 mm long and 9.7 g, and eight muted ink colors. Pilot says the ink turns clear at about 65 °C.

On this page11 sections
Pilot FriXion Waai ballpoint drawn to scale at 142.3 mm with an off-white sheath and a row of its eight ink colors
The Waai at Pilot Japan's 142.3 mm (1 mm = 6 px) with its eight ink colors; the tints are representative. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Product facts

Product
Pilot FriXion Waai ballpoint pen 0.5 mm (LFW-15)
Brand
Pilot
Brand origin
Japan
Made in
Not stated*
Material
Resin sheath with rubber (Pilot Japan)
Good for
Released
November 2023
Price range
$under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Ink colors

Black

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Notes on these facts
  • Made by Pilot Corporation (Japan). Country of manufacture not stated: Pilot Japan's web catalog and press release give size, weight, price and refill codes but no country of manufacture, and Yoseka's page doesn't state one either. Source. Price: example listing.
  • Colors: names per Pilot Japan press release, checked November 2, 2026. The eight ink color names are Pilot Japan's, in English as Yoseka spells them. We have no color chips, so each swatch is a representative tint picked to match the name, not sampled from a photo. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
  • How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery.
  • 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

  • Pilot Japan lists the Waai ballpoint at 142.3 mm (5.6 in) long, 10.5 mm across and 9.7 g, with a 0.5 mm ball and a 0.25 mm writing width.
  • There are 8 inks: black plus seven new colors that Pilot says are muted trend shades, such as Velvet Red, Turquoise and Sand Beige.
  • Pilot launched the Waai on November 2, 2023 at ¥253 (about US$1.60) with tax; its catalog now lists ¥275 (about US$1.70).
  • The refill is LFBKRF12EF for the seven colors and LFBKRF30EF for black, per Pilot's catalog.
  • Pilot says FriXion ink turns colorless at 60 °C or above, so a hot car or sunny window can erase writing.

What is the Pilot FriXion Waai?

It is an erasable ballpoint in Pilot’s FriXion line with a new rounded body and a set of muted ink colors. Pilot’s October 10, 2023 press release says it is aimed mainly at university students, as a study partner for people who suddenly take classes on a laptop and want tidy paper notes.

The name comes from the Japanese cheer “waai”. Pilot says the concept is a new FriXion that gives small joys to ordinary days. Pilot told the press that more than 4.1 billion FriXion pens had sold worldwide by the end of 2022.

Pilot FriXion Waai specs

Spec Value
Maker Pilot Corporation, Japan
Model LFW-15 (black LFW-15-B)
Ball 0.5 mm; 0.25 mm writing width
Mechanism Clip-slide knock
Length 142.3 mm (5.6 in)
Largest diameter 10.5 mm (0.41 in)
Weight 9.7 g (0.34 oz)
Ink FriXion ink, water-based gel
Eraser Elastomer rubber on the pen
Japanese list price ¥275 (about US$1.70) with tax per the catalog
Price band $ (under $5); Yoseka’s US listing is inside it

Pilot’s press release gives the length as 142 mm and the catalog as 142.3 mm; we use the catalog figure.

What colors does the Waai come in?

Eight inks: black plus seven new muted shades. Pilot’s press release names Black, Velvet Red, Turquoise, Sand Beige, Dry Peach, Cheek Pink, Chilly Blue and Mini Gray, and says the new colors suit everyday writing and also work as accents for headings.

For junior and senior high school note-takers, Pilot suggests Mini Gray in place of a mechanical pencil, because it erases. The body is “simple off-white” per Pilot, while Yoseka calls the bodies muted beige, so we name no body colors. Our swatches are tints chosen to match the names, not sampled from photos.

Is there a Waai marker?

Yes, a limited erasable marker. Pilot’s press release lists a Waai marker at ¥165 (about US$1.00) with tax in six colors, Red, Soft Green, Pale Orange, Coral Pink, Sky Blue and Gray, with a 3.3 mm writing width and a 139 mm length. It also lists a limited three-pen set pairing a ballpoint with a marker. Our FriXion Light guide covers Pilot’s other erasable marker, the highlighter.

Pilot FriXion Waai ballpoint at 142 mm above the Waai marker at 139 mm, drawn at 1 mm = 5 px
The ballpoint and the limited marker, to the sizes in Pilot's press release. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Who is the Waai for?

Students and note-takers who want erasable pens in softer colors that fit a pocket. The fit is documented, not tested by us.

  • Everyday carry: Pilot Japan lists 142.3 mm and 9.7 g, short and light.
  • Everyday writing: it is in our $ band, and Pilot’s catalog lists a refill for each color.

Skip it for anything that must last: Pilot says not to use FriXion on documents or addresses.

What refill does the Waai take?

Pilot’s catalog lists LFBKRF12EF for the seven colors and LFBKRF30EF for black, both 0.5 mm. Check the code on the pack, because the Waai’s refills differ from the 0.38 mm colors in our FriXion Ball refill guide. For the same ink in a knock pen with a metal refill, see the FriXion Ball Knock Zone, and our best erasable pens compares the family.

What do Pilot’s cautions say about heat and cold?

The ink turns colorless at 60 °C or higher and erased marks may return at around -10 °C (14 °F). Pilot’s catalog says not to leave the pen in direct sun or a hot place. Its press release gives 65 °C as the temperature of complete erasure. Yoseka warns against anything above 140 °F (60 °C). The catalog also says some papers, such as thermal paper, may not erase well.

Where is the Waai made, and what does it cost?

Pilot doesn’t say where it is made. The press release and catalog give no country, and Yoseka doesn’t either, so we list it as not stated.

At launch Pilot listed ¥253 (about US$1.60) with tax, ¥230 (about US$1.50) before tax. Its catalog now lists ¥275 (about US$1.70). Yoseka’s US listing, read on November 2, 2026, was US$4. We haven’t compared shipping or fees.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Pilot FriXion Waai erasable?

Yes. It uses FriXion ink, which Pilot says becomes colorless when the elastomer rubber on the pen rubs it and the friction heats it to about 65 °C.

How big is the Waai's ball?

0.5 mm. Pilot's catalog lists a 0.25 mm writing width for the black pen, which is the width of the line, not the ball.

What are the Waai's ink colors?

Black, Velvet Red, Turquoise, Sand Beige, Dry Peach, Cheek Pink, Chilly Blue and Mini Gray, eight in all.

What color is the Waai's body?

Pilot's press release calls it simple off-white. Yoseka's US listing says muted beige, so the two sources differ.

Can writing from a Waai come back after it is erased?

Pilot's catalog says erased marks can return at around -10 °C (14 °F), and that ink turns colorless at 60 °C or above.

What refill does the FriXion Waai take?

Pilot's catalog lists LFBKRF12EF for Velvet Red, Turquoise, Sand Beige, Dry Peach, Cheek Pink, Chilly Blue and Mini Gray, and LFBKRF30EF for black.

Is there a Waai set?

Yes. Pilot sold an eight-color set (LFW-15-8C) at launch for ¥2,024 (about US$13) with tax, and limited three-pen sets with a marker.

Sources (3)

  1. Pilot Japan press release, October 10, 2023: FriXion Waai (launch November 2, 2023; ¥253; 0.5 mm; 142 mm; eight colors; off-white body; marker; read November 2, 2026)
  2. Pilot Japan web catalog: LFW-15-B FriXion Waai ballpoint (JAN 4902505662614; ¥275; 142.3 mm; 9.7 g; 0.25 mm writing width; refill codes; cautions; read November 2, 2026)
  3. Yoseka Stationery: Pilot FriXion Waai (eight colors, muted beige body, 14.2 cm, 140 °F warning, listed November 21, 2023; read November 2, 2026)

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