Trust me, I have tried 3 brands already. I actually like all of them but the other 2 brands including BEMLP and Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica are not consistent in terms of strokes and ink. They will dry out at one point and you will not get a consistent line throughout the life of a pen. But this one, from start to finish the last bit of ink, it produces the best quality line and very very consistent.

Look no more, you have found the best pen to write Japanese characters.

I really love these pens and I'm so glad I bought them after hearing the rave reviews of them on Amazon as well as in the studyblr community. My only complaint is that the ink in these pens seem to run out pretty quick. I have been using one for less than a month and it's already almost out. I'm not sure whether it's because of the ink or whether it's just because I use it to write excessively (usually I only use a certain pen to write for every situation until I use it up). Another complaint I have is the grip of these pens. These pens are on the thin side and do not have a soft grip, so my hand gets kind of cramped after using it for a while. It's also not as easy to use in situations where you have to write essays in a short amount of time (at least in my case) because of the grip. During these situations, I tend to switch over to my uniball signo pen, since it has a grip and the ink flows better than the muji. However, for taking notes and other assignments that require small handwriting, the muji pens are great.

Pros: .38 tip is very nice and smooth. Dries nearly instantly. Doesn't blot like some ballpoints do.
Cons: Not waterproof though that isn't a big deal since I wouldn't use these to ink a watercolor work anyway.

This pen is an instant favorite of mine to draw and sketch with. I never expect good things out of gel ink because it either blots or smears even minutes after making a mark. This is not an issue with this pen as it dries within a second of putting a mark down.

.38 is an incredibly fine line to sketch with and I enjoy using this pen thoroughly. Don't let the .38 line fool you, this pen is nice to ink over sketchs and drawings with as well. It makes a very bold line and i can vary the line weight simply by going over lines with it and even blacken parts that I need to.

This order came with 10 pens but I do plan to buy more when I get low. Though I primarily use these to draw with they are very good for writing too.

I got these Muji Gel Ink Ball Point Pen on amazon because I did not want to drive over 30 miles to go to the store in Hollywood, CA plus the time I needed to spend on traffic. Therefore, I searched on Amazon to see if they are available there, and boom! Here they are! They are by far the best gel ink ball pen I have ever used. The great writing feelings it gives me is very good. In addition, I have to say that I basically love everything Muji produces, and if you have a chance, you should go check out the store and of course, buy these pens and try it out yourself! I can tell for sure that you are going to love it and will keep using it.

I will never use different pens for as long as I live. Here's why:

1. What's a "Smudge"?
My biggest pet-peeve with most pens is the smearing and smudging. Those days are long gone with Muji pens. They dry down instantly. However, there is a slight difference between these pens that I ordered through Muji off Amazon and the ones I bought in store--the Amazon-ordered ones seem to smear *slightly* whereas the store-bought ones don't at all.

2. Makes My Handwriting Look Cleaner
I notice a huge difference when I write with another pen or pencil and when I write with a Muji pen. My lines are cleaner, letters more legible, and overall my handwriting seems to improve while using these. Perfect for writing in my planner or taking notes in class. I'm in law school, so having a pen that I can write quickly and legibly is a huge advantage in classes where professors don't allow laptops.

3. Aesthetically Pleasing
My love for all thing Scandi/minimalist is further advanced with these pens. There's nothing fussy about them at all: no designs, metals, grips, logos, etc. Their clean look works really well with all of my school supplies which, when you're a student and stare at your school supplies all day, is important.

All-in-all, these are a must-have. Definitely would have been 5 stars but for the slight difference in quality I mentioned in Point 1.