Compiled from 4 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Zebra Sarasa Mark On is a retractable pigment gel pen made so you can highlight your notes without smearing them. Zebra says that about 5 seconds after writing, the ink no longer bleeds under a highlighter. It comes in 0.5 mm (JJ77) and 0.4 mm (JJS77), both 141 mm long, at ¥198 (about US$1.30) in Japan.
On this page11 sections
The Sarasa Mark On 0.5, 141 mm long, with the graph-paper print that marks it out.
Product facts
Product
Zebra Sarasa Mark On gel pen, 0.5 mm (JJ77), black
Plastic barrel with printed grid, translucent rubber grip, steel tip; water-based pigment gel ink
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 Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Zebra's Japanese product page gives size, weight, ink and refills but not the country of manufacture, and we found no retailer page that states it.
Colors: names per Zebra Japan, checked October 24, 2026. Zebra Japan lists the same three ink colors (黒, 青, 赤) in 0.4 mm (JJS77) and 0.5 mm (JJ77); names given in English. Tints were sampled from Zebra Japan's product photos; black was set by hand. 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
Zebra says the Mark On's ink, a water-based pigment gel with a new ingredient for water resistance and paper adhesion, won't smear under a highlighter about 5 seconds after writing.
Zebra Japan lists both sizes, 0.5 mm (JJ77) and 0.4 mm (JJS77), at 141.0 × 11.0 mm (5.6 × 0.4 in) and 10.9 g.
It takes Zebra's MJF refills: MJF-0.5 for the 0.5 mm and MJF-0.4 for the 0.4 mm, not the JF refills of the Sarasa Clip.
Zebra lists it at ¥198 (about US$1.30) including tax, against ¥132 (about US$0.80) for a Sarasa Clip.
Zebra warns it can still smear after many highlighter passes or on some papers.
What is the Zebra Sarasa Mark On?
It is a Sarasa gel pen with a special ink that stays put when you highlight over it. Zebra Japan’s page puts the promise in one line: even if you run a highlighter over what you wrote, the writing won’t smear, so your notes stay clean.
The body is easy to spot: a white barrel printed with a grey graph-paper grid, a dark translucent grip and a “Mark ON” label in yellow. It is a retractable pen with the clip at the top, like the Zebra Sarasa Clip.
How does the Mark On ink resist highlighters?
Zebra added a new ingredient to its gel ink that raises water resistance and helps the ink bond to the paper. It says that about 5 seconds after writing, a highlighter pass won’t make the line bleed.
Zebra's claim in three steps; repeated passes can still smear.
Zebra adds two limits in a footnote: highlighting the same spot many times, or certain papers, can still cause bleeding. Ordinary gel ink smears because a water-based highlighter re-wets it; the Mark On’s ink is meant to have set by then.
Zebra Sarasa Mark On specs
Spec
0.5 mm
0.4 mm
Model
JJ77
JJS77
Ink
Water-based pigment gel
Water-based pigment gel
Length × diameter
141.0 × 11.0 mm (5.6 × 0.4 in)
141.0 × 11.0 mm
Weight
10.9 g
10.9 g
Refill
MJF-0.5
MJF-0.4
JAN (black)
4901681538713
4901681514014
Japanese list price
¥198 (about US$1.30)
¥198 (about US$1.30)
All values are from Zebra’s Japanese product page. Its spec table lists black ink; the page also pictures blue and red 0.4 mm pens.
Which size should you choose, 0.5 or 0.4 mm?
Pick 0.5 mm for everyday notes and 0.4 mm for small planner squares or textbook margins. The bodies are identical, so the only difference is the ball and refill.
A finer ball lays down less ink, which also helps on thin planner paper.
Who is the Sarasa Mark On for?
Students and planner users who write first and highlight later. Zebra pitches it for making tidy notes: write a lecture summary or a to-do list, then mark the key words in color without grey streaks dragging across the page.
It is also a sensible pen for Bible and textbook margins, where you often underline printed text and then add a handwritten note beside it. If you never highlight, a cheaper Sarasa Clip does the same everyday job in far more colors.
How do you refill the Sarasa Mark On?
Buy an MJF refill in the matching size: MJF-0.5 for the 0.5 mm pen and MJF-0.4 for the 0.4 mm. Zebra lists the MJF separately from the JF refill used in the Sarasa Clip, so check the code before you buy; a JF refill won’t give you the highlighter-safe ink.
How does it compare to other Sarasa pens?
It costs a little more than a Sarasa Clip and trades the clip’s color range for highlighter-safe ink.
Zebra also attacks the problem from the highlighter side with the Justfit Mojini Line, whose ink is made not to smear water-based pen writing.
Zebra doesn’t state it on its Japanese product page. Zebra is based in Tokyo; we list the country as not stated until we can read it off a package.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I wait before highlighting Sarasa Mark On ink?
About 5 seconds, according to Zebra. Highlighting sooner, going over the same spot many times, or using some papers can still cause smearing.
Can I put a Sarasa Clip refill in the Mark On?
It isn't designed for that. Zebra lists the MJF refill for the Mark On and the JF refill for the Sarasa Clip; the two are listed as separate refills.
What sizes does the Sarasa Mark On come in?
Zebra Japan sells 0.5 mm (JJ77) and 0.4 mm (JJS77). Both bodies measure 141.0 × 11.0 mm and weigh 10.9 g.
Is Sarasa Mark On ink waterproof?
Zebra says the new ink is more water resistant than its usual gel ink, but it doesn't claim it is waterproof. We haven't tested it with water yet.
Does the Mark On work with Mildliners?
Zebra doesn't name a highlighter, so the claim covers highlighters in general. Water-based highlighters such as the Zebra Mildliner are the usual pairing; we plan to test it.
Is the Sarasa Mark On sold in the US?
Yes, through importers: JetPens includes it in its recommended Hobonichi Techo pens sampler. Zebra Pen's US range doesn't list it in the sources we checked.
