Tachikawa T-40 Pen Holder: Cherry Wood, Grip and Cap

Product facts

Product

Tachikawa Free Pen Holder T-40

Brand

Tachikawa

Brand origin

Japan

Made in

Not stated^*

Material

Cherry wood barrel, elastomer grip (Tachikawa)

Good for

• Drawing and sketching

Price range

$$$5–20 per item

Colors

Cherry wood with light blue gripAs photographed by Tachikawa; the maker gives no color name

• Cherry wood with light blue grip (As photographed by Tachikawa; the maker gives no color name)

Rate it

★★★★★No ratings yet. Be the first to rate this product.

Notes on these facts

• Made by Tachikawa & Co., Ltd. (Iga, Mie, Japan). Country of manufacture not stated: Tachikawa's product page for the T-40 does not say where the holder is made. Its company page lists a domestic factory in Mie and overseas sites in Taiwan and Shaoxing, China, without saying which makes which product, so we don't state an origin. Source. Price: example listing.
• Colors: names per Tachikawa (Japanese), checked November 2, 2026. Tachikawa's T-40 page gives no color names. This entry describes the holder in Tachikawa's own product photos, where the grip is light blue; the tints were sampled from those photos and wood varies from piece to piece. 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

• Tachikawa lists the T-40 at ¥950 (about US$6.00) before tax on November 2, 2026, against ¥780 (about US$4.90) for the T-36 and ¥650 (about US$4.10) for the T-25.
• The barrel is cherry wood (sakura) and the grip is elastomer, with a cap that Tachikawa says prevents nib injuries.
• Tachikawa says a new mechanism lets one holder take maru, G and spoon nibs, and lists the school and Nihonji shapes too, from both Tachikawa and Nikko.
• Tachikawa publishes no length, diameter or weight for the T-40; a UK retailer cited in our beginners guide lists 14.8 cm.
• Tachikawa's holder page marks its plastic TP-40 line and the Nikko N-17 and N-20 holders as discontinued, with the T-40 still listed at a price.

What is the Tachikawa T-40 free pen holder?

It is a cherry wood handle for dip nibs, with a rubber grip and a cap. Tachikawa & Co., Ltd., founded in 1935 as a steel pen nib maker, calls it a “free size” holder with a cap, and sells it as the holder for every nib shape in its comic range.

Tachikawa describes a mechanism for taking maru, G and spoon nibs in one holder, and the page carries the mark “PAT.P”. We read Tachikawa’s pages on November 2, 2026.

What are the specs?

Tachikawa lists the wood, grip, cap, compatible nibs and price, but no dimensions or weight. The drawing is in proportion, not to scale.

Spec	Value (Tachikawa)
Model	T-40 free pen holder
Barrel	Cherry wood (sakura)
Grip	Elastomer rubber
Cap	Included; a safety cap that prevents nib injury
Nibs it takes	Maru, G, spoon (chrome and nume), school and Nihonji, Tachikawa and Nikko
Price	¥950 (about US$6.00), before tax
Length, diameter, weight	Not stated
Made in	Not stated

Which nibs does the T-40 take?

Every shape in Tachikawa’s and Nikko’s comic ranges. The maker’s page lists maru, G, spoon in both chrome and nume finishes, school and Nihonji nibs as fitting this holder.

That covers the Tachikawa T-3 G nib and the T-44 Nihonji nib. Tachikawa gives no nib shank size, so we can’t say which other brands fit.

What do the grip and cap do?

Tachikawa says the rubber grip tires your hand less and the cap prevents nib injuries. Both are the maker’s claims; we haven’t drawn with the holder.

Its photos show the clear cap over the nib end and also pushed onto the back end, which is how our cover shows it. Tachikawa’s T-25 entry mentions no grip or cap.

How does the T-40 compare with Tachikawa’s other holders?

It is the most expensive holder with a listed price on Tachikawa’s page. Tachikawa lists these prices before tax on November 2, 2026.

Holder	Price	What Tachikawa says
T-25	¥650 (about US$4.10)	Free-size holder that takes all comic nibs
T-36 (P or W)	¥780 (about US$4.90)	Rubber grip for long sessions; takes all comic nibs
T-40	¥950 (about US$6.00)	Rubber grip, safety cap, cherry wood; takes all comic nibs
TP-25CB clear blue	¥700 (about US$4.40)	Plastic, conical, glitter clear color

Tachikawa marks its plastic TP-40 line, and the Nikko N-17 and N-20 holders, as discontinued. It also lists a premium ash-wood holder, TAMO, which we haven’t priced.

Who is the Tachikawa T-40 for?

It suits manga and comic inkers who want a cherry wood holder with a grip for long sessions.

• Drawing and sketching: Tachikawa sells it as the holder for all its comic nibs, with a rubber grip it says eases long drawing sessions and a cap that prevents nib injuries.

Skip it if you want a plastic holder: Tachikawa’s plastic TP-40 line is discontinued, and it publishes no length or weight for the T-40.

What does the Kakimori holder do differently?

It is a plain wooden stem with a nib mount, where the T-40 adds grip and cap. Our Kakimori sakura wood nib holder guide lists a length, diameter and weight, which Tachikawa does not for the T-40.

For a wider shortlist, see best dip pens for beginners, which names the T-40 with a UK retailer’s 14.8 cm figure.

Where is it made, and what does it cost?

Tachikawa doesn’t say where it is made. Its company page lists a Mie factory in Japan and sites in Taiwan and Shaoxing, China, so we leave the origin as not stated.

Tachikawa listed the T-40 at ¥950 (about US$6.00) before tax on November 2, 2026, in our $$ band ($5–20). Nibs are sold separately.

Frequently asked questions

Does the T-40 fit non-Tachikawa nibs?

Tachikawa names only its own and Nikko's maru, G, spoon (chrome and nume), school and Nihonji nibs, and gives no shank size. We haven't tested other brands.

Why does the T-40 have a cap?

Tachikawa says the safety cap prevents injury from the nib. Its photos also show the clear cap pushed onto the back end of the holder.

What is the grip made of?

Elastomer, according to Tachikawa, which says the rubber grip makes long sessions less tiring. The barrel is cherry wood.

How is the T-40 different from the T-36?

Both have a rubber grip and take the same nibs, per Tachikawa. The T-40 adds a cap and is listed at ¥950 (about US$6.00) against ¥780 (about US$4.90) for the T-36. Tachikawa gives no other differences.

Is there a cheaper Tachikawa holder?

Yes. The T-25 is listed at ¥650 (about US$4.10) before tax and the TP-25CB clear blue plastic holder at ¥700 (about US$4.40). Both take the same nibs, but neither is described as having a rubber grip.

How long is the T-40?

Tachikawa doesn't say. A UK retailer cited in our beginners guide lists 14.8 cm with an 11.7 mm grip, but we haven't confirmed that against the maker.

Is there a premium wooden holder?

Tachikawa lists a premium free pen holder in ash wood, called TAMO, on the same page. We haven't read its price or specs, so this guide doesn't cover it.

How much does the holder cost?

¥950 (about US$6.00) before tax on November 2, 2026, in our $$ band ($5–20). Nibs are sold separately.

Sources (5)

1. Tachikawa (Japanese): Free Pen Holder T-40 (wood, grip, cap, compatible nibs, patent mark, prices of the holder family; read November 2, 2026)
2. Tachikawa (Japanese): pen holder range (T-40, T-36, T-25, plastic TP series, TAMO, discontinued models; read November 2, 2026)
3. Tachikawa (Japanese): comic pen nib range (the nib shapes the holders take; read November 2, 2026)
4. Tachikawa (Japanese): features by brand and nib type (nib shapes by line width; read November 2, 2026)
5. Tachikawa (Japanese): company information (founded 1935, Mie factory, overseas sites; read November 2, 2026)

Plain-text version for AI agents: tachikawa-t-40-free-pen-holder.md · Spotted an error? See how we check facts.