Sakura Kakikata Felt Tip Pen Review

The Sakura Kakikata gets it done with simplicity. No bells, no whistles, no frills, Just excellent performance at a fair price. What more can you ask for?

The Kakikata looks like a throwback to marker pens from the 70's and 80's that you would find by the dozen in some beat up box in an office supply closet or desk. They may have even had dust on them when you saved them, but after popping the cap off and scribbling a few test lines you knew you were on to something. Where is the love for a simple pen like this?

This is another one of those pens where I'll take two or three of them, stash them in the places I like to write, pick up from time to time, and remember how nice it is to write with. The fine felt tip is clean and sharp, and the lines are dark. The ink is water and fade resistant too, so artists will enjoy them as well.

Will this pen replace the Pigma Micron, Uni Pin, or some of my other favorite art pens? Not likely, but its a fun pen and a reminder that you don't need much to make something awesome.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Sakura Pigma Calligrapher Review

I feel positively evangelical about this pen, which I think is unknown and underrated. At under $3 per pen when you buy a pack of 6, they're cheap enough to stash everywhere. I keep them at the office, in the car, in the kitchen, because at that price point I can afford to misplace them as often as I do.

I've been able to buy these locally as single pens (I live in Minneapolis) but I've only found the 6-pack online via Amazon. There are colors I'm less fond of than others - I find I almost never need to write in purple - but even the less loved colors get used as for quick jottings around the house.

The pen I'm using here is a 1mm. You'll see you can get some line variation, though not a ton. For me, it's just enough variation to make my writing look a little nicer while not being such a prominent italic tip that I feel like I need to slow down to write with it. The pens also come in 2mm and 3mm sizes. I've used the 2mm, but I just find it a little too thick for daily writing.

If you're looking for a cheap way to see if you'd like to write regularly with an italic point, this is probably your best bet. The chisel tip doesn't get soft and spread out like many, many other markers I've owned, and the colors look vibrant on every type of paper I've thrown at it.

The Sakura Pigma Calligrapher is available in packs of 6 at Amazon.

Sakura Pigma Sensei Drawing Pen 0.4 mm Review

There are not many pens that I like more than the Sakura Pigma Micron. It has been a long time favorite of mine, and along with the Pilot Hi-Tec-C it is a pen I keep handy everywhere I am, or might be. The Sakura Pigma Sensei Drawing Pen shares some of the same properties as its cousin the Micron but has many unique qualities of its own.

What intrigued me the most about the Sensei line was the range of tip types offered, especially the porous tip found in the 0.4 mm. The product line is made to be sold as a set, with the 0.3 mm made to look like the traditional Micron for fine lines, and the wider 0.6 mm and 1.0 mm designed like markers for wide, bold lines. Fortunately for me, JetPens sells the pens individually as well because I really wanted to try the 0.4 mm the most.

Porous tip pens are one of my favorite types of pens because of the sharp, clean lines they produce. The ink is generally darker as well, compared to other similar types of pens. The Sensei is a winner in both of those areas, but the tip is a little more fibrous than I prefer. I believe it is designed like that for a reason, allowing artists some variation in line width. For me, I'd prefer a firmer, solid tip for every day writing.

I was hoping the Sensei would take a spot in my arsenal right next to the Micron, but it is one notch below for me. It is excellent for sure, but for my needs the Micron suits me better.