Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Tokyo, President: Junichi Fukushima) will release the “Water-Based Gel Ballpoint Pen Monograph Lite” (Price ¥220 (¥200 before tax)) on October 30th as part of the “Monograph” series. The pen will be sold at stationery stores and sales areas nationwide. The ballpoint pens come in two sizes: a very fine 0.5 mm tip and an ultra-fine 0.38 mm tip. Ink colors are black, red, and blue (red and blue are available only with the 0.5 mm tip). Body colors come in a Mono color (all types/photo), blue, gray, pink, and purple (only available for the black ink/0.5 mm tip version). Refills cost ¥132 each (¥120 before tax) for all types.
*The “Monograph” line was designed to expand the typical drafting pen tip shape into a broader, brighter nib suitable for study and business use. The gel ballpoint pen also employs a long needle tip (the longest in the gel ballpoint pen category) to ensure a wide, bright view of the writing area.

The features of this product make it suitable for use in learning and office settings.

Newly developed “Monodry Ink” is fast drying and resistant to bleeding
We’ve developed a new “Monodry Ink” that combines both resistance to bleeding and fast-drying qualities. The water-based gel ink with excellent fast-drying properties features a formulation designed to prevent ink from penetrating paper when applied. By combining the high-precision needle tip with the ink flow control, this pen helps to prevent bleeding and strike through as well as delivering sharp, defined lines. The pen is suitable for compact text or dense writing in small areas.

* Gel ballpoint pens are generally known to be darker in shade than oil-based pens, allowing for easier writing, and an average of 25% of school and university students use them. However, the top concern from users is “slow drying time, smudging, and bleeding.” (Survey conducted by Tombow Pencil on 1,500 respondents (male and female) in 2022)

Newly developed high-precision needle tip, which reduces line width variation when writing at different angles.
The unique tip design, which increases the ball seat diameter (shown on right), ensures that even when the pen is used at a low angle, the ball stays on the seat, thus reducing ink flow changes. This allows for more consistent and stable line width regardless of the writing angle. The combination of reduced bleeding and strike through, and the ink control leads to cleaner note taking.

A gel ballpoint pen with a wider, brighter pen tip
A new high-precision needle tip has been developed, resulting in a 5.2 mm exposed tip when extended. We’ve successfully integrated the “Monograph” philosophy into this gel ballpoint pen by utilizing a wider, brighter nib design. This pen is perfect for writing detailed text or diagrams within the limited space of exam papers or test answer sheets in clear, sharp writing.

High-density textured grip
We’ve added a unique texture to the grip surface to enhance both grip strength and precision. The pen is designed with a well-fitting grip that provides excellent writing support.

MONO brand Design
Simple and elegant design in line with the Monograph Series identity. The upgraded pen features an enhanced shine and transparency, giving it a premium appearance. Body colors come in Mono color, blue, gray, pink, and purple

“Water-Based Gel Ballpoint Pen Monograph Lite”
tip sizes : a very fine 0.5 mm tip and an ultra-fine 0.38 mm tip.
Ink colors ：black, red, and blue (red and blue are available only with the 0.5 mm tip)
Body colors ： Mono color (all types), 　blue, gray, pink, and purple (only available for the black ink/0.5 mm tip version).
Price： ¥220 (¥200 before tax)／Refills ¥132 (¥120 before tax)
Release date： October 30th, 2025