Compiled from 11 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The uni-ball ZENTO Standard is Mitsubishi Pencil's everyday retractable ZENTO pen, the muted-barrel 0.7 mm pen that sells as the uniball Zento gel pen on Amazon US. It writes in black water-based pigment ink, comes in 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm, takes UBR-Z refills, and JetPens lists it at 13.9 cm and 11 g.
On this page11 sections
The 0.7 mm Linen ZENTO Standard, drawn to scale at JetPens' 13.9 cm.
Plastic barrel with recycled material, long rubber grip, metal clip
Released
February 2025*
Price range
$under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
Linen0.7 mm
Special editions
Ink
black
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Notes on these facts
Made by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: Hunter Paper Co's listing for the 0.7 mm ZENTO (barcodes matching Mitsubishi Pencil's UBN-ZSC-07 codes) says "Made in Japan", and OnTime Supplies' spec sheet for the US dozen box (70660) gives Japan as the country of origin. Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product page doesn't state it. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Mitsubishi Pencil's January 15, 2025 release says the ZENTO series went on sale in Japan on February 3, 2025, after it had already been sold overseas; the 0.7 mm Standard went on sale in Japan on December 23, 2025.
Colors: names per Mitsubishi Pencil Japan, checked October 24, 2026. Barrel colors and ball sizes per Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese UBN-ZSC page (names translated from its katakana); six are marked limited quantity. All write in black ink. Tints were sampled from Mitsubishi Pencil'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
Amazon US ranked the uniball Zento 0.7 mm 4-pack No. 8 among all pens and refills on October 22, 2026, at 4.7 stars from 3,609 ratings.
Mitsubishi Pencil sells the Standard model (UBN-ZSC) in 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm, all with black ink, for ¥275 (about US$1.70) in Japan.
JetPens lists the 0.7 mm at 13.9 cm (5.5 in) long, 10.9 mm wide at most and 11 g.
It refills with UBR-Z cartridges, ¥132 (about US$0.80) each in Japan, the same refill as the ZENTO Signature.
Hunter Paper Co and a US office-supply distributor list the ZENTO as made in Japan.
What is the uni-ball ZENTO Standard?
It’s the everyday retractable model of Mitsubishi Pencil’s ZENTO line: a plastic pen with a long rubber grip, muted barrel colours and black pigment ink. In US shops it sells simply as the uniball Zento gel pen, and its 0.7 mm 4-pack was No. 8 among all pens and refills on Amazon US on October 22, 2026, with 4.7 stars from 3,609 ratings.
Mitsubishi Pencil says the ZENTO ink took six years to develop and writes with a smooth, soft feel. Above the Standard sits the metal uni-ball ZENTO Signature, which uses the same refill.
uni-ball ZENTO Standard specs
Spec
ZENTO Standard
Maker
Mitsubishi Pencil, Japan
Model
UBN-ZSC-38, UBN-ZSC-05, UBN-ZSC-07
Tip sizes
0.38, 0.5, 0.7 mm
Ink
Black only; water-based pigment, water-resistant (JetPens)
Mechanism
Retractable, top button; metal clip
Length (0.7 mm)
13.9 cm (5.5 in), retracted (JetPens)
Diameter
10.9 mm max; 10.3 mm grip (JetPens)
Weight
11 g (JetPens, 0.7 mm); 10 g (Well-Appointed Desk, 0.38 mm)
Refill
UBR-Z-38, -05 or -07
Barcode (0.7 mm Linen)
4902778351314 (order code UBNZSC07.53)
Price band
$ (under $5 per pen)
Mitsubishi Pencil says the barrel uses recycled material. US retailers also sell barrel colours in sizes Japan doesn’t list them in: Lavender, Snow and Mist on Staples’ 0.7 mm listings and Adobe on a US distributor’s. Japan lists Lavender and Adobe only in 0.38 mm, Mist only in 0.5 mm, and no Snow.
The three ball sizes at 200×; the 0.7 mm is what Amazon US sells most.
Is the ZENTO Standard a gel pen?
Mitsubishi Pencil calls ZENTO a water-based rollerball (水性ボールペン), while US shops and Amazon sell it as a gel pen. The Pen Addict reviewed the Basic model and filed it with gel pens because it writes like one.
Either way, the ink is pigment-based, so JetPens rates it water-resistant and fade-resistant. Our gel vs ballpoint vs rollerball guide explains the difference.
Which size should you choose?
The 0.7 mm for a bold, smooth line; 0.5 or 0.38 mm for small handwriting and planners. Mitsubishi Pencil added the 0.7 mm to the Japanese range on December 23, 2025, after the 0.38 and 0.5 mm.
In the US, Amazon and Staples sell the 0.7 mm in 4-packs and dozens. JetPens sells single pens, including the 0.7 mm Linen.
How does it compare with the Pilot G2?
Both are retractable 0.7 mm pens in our $ band; the ZENTO has pigment ink and a longer grip.
The UBR-Z, in the same size as your pen. Mitsubishi Pencil lists the 0.7 mm refill, UBR-Z-07, at ¥132 (about US$0.80) in Japan, in black, red and blue.
The same refill fits the ZENTO Signature and the other single-colour ZENTO pens, so one refill box serves the whole line. Our ZENTO Standard vs Signature comparison sets the two models side by side.
How is the Standard different from the Basic and Flow?
The Standard has the long rubber grip and muted barrel colours; the Basic is plainer and the Flow has a metal grip. Mitsubishi Pencil lists the Standard and Basic at the same ¥275 (about US$1.70) in Japan, and the Flow at ¥1,100 (about US$7).
The Basic is the only one with red and blue ink in 0.7 mm. Well-Appointed Desk compared the Standard with the Flow in 0.38 mm and preferred the Standard’s rubber grip.
Where is the ZENTO Standard made?
In Japan, per retailers. Hunter Paper Co’s listing says “Made in Japan”, and OnTime Supplies’ spec sheet for the US dozen box gives Japan as the country of origin.
Mitsubishi Pencil, the Tokyo company behind the uni and uni-ball brands, doesn’t state the country on its own product page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Amazon uniball Zento the ZENTO Standard?
Yes, as far as we can match it. The 0.7 mm Zento sold in US shops uses barcodes and barrel colours (Linen, Indigo, Umber) that Mitsubishi Pencil lists for the ZENTO Standard UBN-ZSC-07.
Is the ZENTO ink waterproof?
It's water-resistant, not waterproof. JetPens lists the ink as pigment-based and water-resistant, as well as fade-resistant and quick-drying.
What refill does the uniball Zento take?
The UBR-Z, sold in 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm; the 0.7 mm comes in black, red and blue. Mitsubishi Pencil lists it at ¥132 (about US$0.80) in Japan.
Does the ZENTO Standard come in colours other than black ink?
No. Mitsubishi Pencil lists only black ink for the Standard; the cheaper Basic model adds red and blue in 0.7 mm.
Is the ZENTO Standard good for left-handers?
It may be. JetPens calls the ink quick-drying, which helps a left hand trailing over the line, but we haven't tested it yet.
Is the uniball Zento made in the USA?
No. Hunter Paper Co and OnTime Supplies list Japan as its country of origin.
How much does a ZENTO Standard cost?
It's in our $ band, under $5 a pen. In Japan, Mitsubishi Pencil lists it at ¥275 (about US$1.70).
