---
title: "uni-ball R:E3 BIZ: Erasable 3-Color Pen With a Metal Grip"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-re3-biz/"
description: "The uni-ball R:E3 BIZ explained: an erasable 3-color 0.5 mm gel pen with a metal grip, how its ink erases, how it differs from R:E3 and FriXion, and its status."
category: "Pens"
type: "Erasable gel pen"
published: 2026-10-26
updated: 2026-10-26
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 10
products:
  - name: "uni-ball R:E3 BIZ erasable 3-color gel pen (0.5 mm; URE3-1000-05)"
    brand: "uni-ball"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Not stated"
    material: "Matte-painted barrel, knurled metal grip and metal clip (Mitsubishi Pencil); metal refills with thermo-sensitive erasable ink"
    released: "2019-11-29"
    price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd."
    model: "URE3-1000-05"
    mpn: "URE3100005.24"
    gtin: "4902778257074"
    url: "https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/20191121-36562.html"
---

# uni-ball R:E3 BIZ: Erasable 3-Color Pen With a Metal Grip

> The uni-ball R:E3 BIZ (URE3-1000-05) is Mitsubishi Pencil's erasable 3-color gel pen, with black, red and blue 0.5 mm ink, a knurled metal grip and a metal clip. It launched in Japan on November 29, 2019 at ¥1,000 (about US$6.30) before tax. Mitsubishi Pencil now lists it as discontinued, and its URR-103-05 refill ends production in 2026.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-re3-biz/
- Category: Pens
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-26
- Updated: 2026-10-26

![uni-ball R:E3 BIZ erasable 3-color pen in Navy, drawn to scale with its knurled metal grip](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/uni-ball-re3-biz-16x9.png)

*The R:E3 BIZ in Navy, drawn to scale from Shibuya Stationery's 149.9 mm; part lengths from Mitsubishi Pencil's photo.* Original drawing (SVG): <https://stationerytimes.com/images/uni-ball-re3-biz-cover.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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uni-ball R:E3 BIZ erasable 3-color gel pen (0.5 mm; URE3-1000-05) | uni-ball (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Not stated | Matte-painted barrel, knurled metal grip and metal clip (Mitsubishi Pencil); metal refills with thermo-sensitive erasable ink | 2019-11-29 | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |

- Made in (uni-ball R:E3 BIZ erasable 3-color gel pen (0.5 mm; URE3-1000-05)): Not stated. Mitsubishi Pencil's press releases and FAQ, the Amazon US listings and the Shibuya Stationery and Plaza Japan pages we read on October 26, 2026 don't state a country of manufacture.

### uni-ball R:E3 BIZ erasable 3-color gel pen (0.5 mm; URE3-1000-05) colors

- Body colors (5 standard, 6 special edition): Navy; Turquoise; Bordeaux; Black; White (silver grip); N Pink (special edition, 2019 limited; grip matches the body); C Gray (special edition, 2019 limited; carbon-look pattern); V Blue (special edition, 2019 limited); N Yellow (special edition, 2019 limited); M Green (special edition, February 2020 limited); A Gold (special edition, February 2020 limited).
- Ink colors (3 standard, 0 special edition): black; red; blue.
- Per Mitsubishi Pencil Japan (https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/20191121-36562.html), checked 2026-10-26. Five standard colors and four 2019 limited colors per Mitsubishi Pencil's November 21, 2019 release, plus two limited colors from its February 5, 2020 release (names romanized from the katakana). Every color holds the same black, red and blue ink. Body tints were sampled from Mitsubishi Pencil's launch photos; ink tiles are generic tints, not sampled. Shops stock different colors; check the listing.

## Key takeaways

- Mitsubishi Pencil launched the R:E3 BIZ in Japan on November 29, 2019, at ¥1,000 (about US$6.30) before tax, twice the standard R:E3's ¥500 (about US$3.20).
- It holds three 0.5 mm erasable inks, black, red and blue: you twist the barrel to choose a color and click the end.
- Shibuya Stationery lists it at 149.9 mm (5.9 in) long, 12.7 mm across and 17 g.
- Mitsubishi Pencil's FAQ marks the pen as discontinued and says its URR-103-05 refill ends production in 2026.
- Mitsubishi Pencil says the ink turns colorless at 60 °C (140 °F) and up and may come back near −10 °C (14 °F), the same triggers Pilot gives for FriXion.

## What is the uni-ball R:E3 BIZ?

**It's the business version of uni-ball's erasable 3-color pen: black, red and blue 0.5 mm erasable gel ink in a slim barrel with a knurled metal grip and a metal clip.** Mitsubishi Pencil launched it in Japan on November 29, 2019, a year after the plastic R:E3, and aimed it at meetings and formal office use.

R:E is Mitsubishi Pencil's erasable line, launched in 2017. The company says the name stands for words like rewrite, repeat and retry. The pen is no longer made: Mitsubishi Pencil's FAQ marks it as discontinued.

## uni-ball R:E3 BIZ specs

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), brand uni-ball |
| Model | URE3-1000-05 |
| Type | Erasable 3-color gel pen, twist-to-select knock |
| Ink and ball | Black, red and blue, 0.5 mm |
| Refill | URR-103-05 (metal) |
| Length | 149.9 mm (5.9 in), per Shibuya Stationery |
| Width | 12.7 mm body, 18 mm with the clip |
| Weight | 17 g |
| Grip and clip | Knurled metal grip, metal clip |
| Japanese price | ¥1,000 (about US$6.30) before tax |
| Launched | November 29, 2019 (Japan) |
| Status | Discontinued; refill ends production in 2026 |

Mitsubishi Pencil doesn't publish the length or weight, so those come from Shibuya Stationery, a Tokyo shop that ships abroad.

| Color | Order code | JAN |
|---|---|---|
| Black | URE3100005.24 | 4902778257074 |
| Bordeaux | URE3100005.65 | 4902778257081 |
| Navy | not listed | 4902778257050 |

## How does R:E erasable ink work?

**The ink is thermo-sensitive: Mitsubishi Pencil says it turns colorless at 60 °C (140 °F) and above.** Rubbing with the eraser on the end makes enough friction heat to trigger a chemical change, so nothing is scraped off and you can write over the same spot again.

The eraser is a soft elastomer that Mitsubishi Pencil says leaves almost no crumbs. Pilot gives the same 60 °C trigger for FriXion, and both inks can come back in the cold.

![Temperature scales for uni-ball R:E and Pilot FriXion ink: both turn colorless at 60 °C and can return near −10 °C](https://stationerytimes.com/images/uni-ball-re3-biz-temperatures.svg)

*Same trigger, same risk: heat erases both inks, and cold can bring them back.*


## How do you switch colors and erase?

**Twist the barrel until its dot lines up with the color's mark on the front section, then click the end.** To change color, click once to retract the tip and twist again. Mitsubishi Pencil calls this a rotating select-knock, and it replaces the sliders of most multi pens so the barrel can stay slim.

To erase, retract the tip, pull off the end cap and turn the pen upside down. Mitsubishi Pencil says a lock then holds the knock rod still, so the eraser doesn't wobble as you rub.

## How is the BIZ different from the standard R:E3?

**It swaps the plastic parts for a knurled metal grip and a metal clip, narrows the grip, and paints the barrel matte.** Mitsubishi Pencil says the grip is slimmer than the standard R:E3's 12.7 mm body, and the clip is narrower too.

| | R:E3 BIZ | R:E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Model | URE3-1000-05 | URE3-500-05 |
| Body | Matte paint, metal grip and clip | 12.7 mm slim barrel |
| Price before tax | ¥1,000 (about US$6.30) | ¥500 (about US$3.20) |
| Launched | November 29, 2019 | November 29, 2018 |

Both use the same URR-103-05 refills and the same mechanism, and both are now discontinued.

## Is the R:E3 BIZ still made?

**No. Mitsubishi Pencil's FAQ marks the R:E3 BIZ and the standard R:E3 as discontinued, and says the URR-103-05 refill ends production in 2026.** Its refill list also marks the single R:E pens as discontinued.

Mitsubishi Pencil says the metal refill holds about twice the ink of its same-size plastic refills, so a spare lasts a while. If you like the pen, buy refills while shops still have them.

## Where can you buy the R:E3 BIZ in the US?

**Mostly from Japanese shops that ship abroad; US stock has run out.** On October 26, 2026, both Amazon US listings (Black and Bordeaux) said currently unavailable, and Plaza Japan's Navy was out of stock. Shibuya Stationery in Tokyo had Black in stock at ¥2,000 (about US$13), which puts it in our $$ band.

## R:E3 BIZ or FriXion Synergy 3?

**Choose the [FriXion Synergy 3](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-synergy-3/) unless you want the R:E3 BIZ's metal grip enough to stock up on refills.**

| | R:E3 BIZ | FriXion Synergy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Inks | Black, red, blue | Black, red, blue |
| Tip | 0.5 mm | 0.4 mm Synergy Tip |
| Length, weight | 149.9 mm, 17 g | 145 mm, 13 g |
| Body | Knurled metal grip | Resin, metal clip |
| Status | Discontinued | Current; JetPens sells it |

A Shibuya Stationery customer wrote that the R:E3 BIZ takes a little longer to erase than FriXion. For a single color, our [best erasable pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-erasable-pens/) roundup starts with Pilot's FriXion Clicker, and the [FriXion Synergy Clicker](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-synergy-clicker/) suits small handwriting.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the uni R:E3 better than FriXion?

Not for most buyers now. The R:E3 BIZ has a metal grip and a twist-to-select knock, but Mitsubishi Pencil has discontinued it and its refill ends production in 2026. Pilot's FriXion Synergy 3 is current, sold in the US by JetPens, and refills are easy to find.

### Is the uni-ball R:E3 BIZ discontinued?

Yes. Mitsubishi Pencil's FAQ on the R:E3 marks both URE3-1000-05 (BIZ) and URE3-500-05 (standard) as discontinued, and says the URR-103-05 refill ends production in 2026. Some shops still have stock.

### What refill does the R:E3 BIZ use?

The URR-103-05, a 0.5 mm metal refill with erasable ink in black, red or blue. Mitsubishi Pencil says the metal tube holds about twice the ink of its same-size plastic refills. To change one, unscrew the front section counterclockwise with the tip pointing up.

### Why did my R:E3 writing disappear?

Heat. Mitsubishi Pencil says the ink turns colorless at 60 °C (140 °F) and above, so a hot car or direct sun can fade or erase it. Erased writing may come back at around −10 °C (14 °F).

### Can I use the R:E3 BIZ to sign documents?

No. Mitsubishi Pencil says not to use it for securities, addresses or anything that must not disappear, because heat or rubbing can erase the ink.

### Is the R:E3 BIZ a gel pen or a ballpoint?

A gel pen. Mitsubishi Pencil's releases call it an erasable ballpoint pen, a Japanese term that covers gel pens, but it files R:E refills under gel-ink ballpoint refills. Shibuya Stationery sells it as an erasable gel pen; Amazon US calls it a ballpoint.

### What does R:E stand for?

Mitsubishi Pencil says R:E sums up words such as rewrite, repeat and retry, meaning to do something again, because the ink can be erased and rewritten many times.

## Sources

- [三菱鉛筆: 消せる3色ボールペン『ユニボール R:E 3 BIZ（ビズ）』 (Mitsubishi Pencil press release, November 21, 2019, read in full: launch November 29, 2019; URE3-1000-05; 0.5 mm black, red, blue; ¥1,000 before tax; metal knurled grip and metal clip; narrower grip than the 12.7 mm R:E3; nine colors incl. four limited; URR-103-05 refill)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/20191121-36562.html)
- [三菱鉛筆: 消せる3色ボールペン『ユニボール R:E3（アールイー スリー）』 (Mitsubishi Pencil press release, November 8, 2018: R:E3 launch November 29, 2018; URE3-500-05; ¥500 before tax; 12.7 mm body; rotating select-knock mechanism; metal refills with about twice the ink; 60 °C erasing; locking eraser)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/20181108-36684.html)
- [三菱鉛筆: 『ユニボール R:E 3』『ユニボール R:E 3 BIZ』ビンテージ調の限定軸色 (Mitsubishi Pencil press release, February 5, 2020: BIZ limited colors M Green and A Gold, on sale February 19, 2020)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/20200205-36671.html)
- [三菱鉛筆: ノック式消せるボールペン『uni-ball R:E』 (Mitsubishi Pencil press release, January 19, 2017: R:E launch January 27, 2017; thermo-erasable ink colorless at 60 °C; elastomer eraser; meaning of R:E)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/20170119-36779.html)
- [三菱鉛筆 よくあるご質問: 消せる3色ボールペン R:E3 の使い方を知りたい (Mitsubishi Pencil FAQ, read October 26, 2026: URE3-1000-05 and -500-05 discontinued; URR-103-05 production ends 2026; 60 °C and −10 °C; how to select colors, erase and change refills; cautions)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/customer/ans_re3.html)
- [三菱鉛筆: ゲルインクボールペン 替芯 (Mitsubishi Pencil gel-ink refill list: R:E refills URR-100; R:E bodies marked discontinued)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/refill_gel.html)
- [Shibuya Stationery: Uni R:E3 BIZ, Erasable 3 Colors Gel Pen 0.5mm, Black (149.9 × 12.7 × 18 mm, 17 g, URE3100005.24, JAN 4902778257074, ¥2,000, in stock October 26, 2026; customer review comparing erasing with FriXion)](https://shibuya-stationery.com/products/uni-r-e3-biz-erasable-3-colors-gel-pen-0-5mm-black)
- [Amazon US: uni Erasable 3 Color Ballpoint Pen, Ball R:E 3 BIZ 0.5mm, Black (URE3100005.24; currently unavailable and 3.8 out of 5 from 359 ratings on October 26, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08221MWL3)
- [Amazon US: Uni Erasable 3 Color Ballpoint Pen, Uni-Ball R:E 3 BIZ 0.5mm, Bordeaux (URE3100005.65, GTIN 04902778257081; currently unavailable on October 26, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08222D8Y9)
- [Plaza Japan: Mitsubishi Pencil uni Ball R:E 3 BIZ, URE3-1000-05, Navy (JAN 4902778257050; US$18.97, out of stock on October 26, 2026)](https://www.plazajapan.com/4902778257050/)