The Kakuno is my ride or die to this day! Underrated, never fussy, always ready to go. The weight is also my Goldilocks weight. Not too light, not too heavy, just right for everyday writing
Yes! I started with Kakuno and I still think it's the best starter pen. Now it becomes my "experimental pen" to test new inks I bough because of how easy the cleaning and how an easy writer it is with nearly every kind of inks. If I had an ink that didn't perform well in my other pens (muted colors, skipping due to dry ink, etc), I threw it in a kakuno to see how the color really is. The downside is the converter (CON-40) has such small barrel, thus small ink capacity, but that's why it's my perfect "try-outs" pen now!
I would suggest the Pilot Vanishing Point especially for your needs. I’m heavily considering one myself especially after trying the Majohn A1, to see if the whole clip controversy was a make or break for me and finding that I love everything about the pen and it’s entire reason for being. I completely get the hype when it comes to the Vanishing Point now. Just something to consider.
You can eyedropper these.... And you put hot glue in the holes. Make sure you put water in it afterwards making sure it does not leak, and I have not had trouble running shimmer in mine either. That pen is just something great to leave on your desk without it walking off.
Oh my gosh!! Thank you for sharing. I have been wanting to try a fountain pen but was nervous about the cost. Thank you!! And thanks for sharing the ink choices 😊
kakuno was my first fountain pen n i love it to bits! mine is the grey body + orange cap with an nib and a CON-40 converter. still my primary pen for writing in my daily journal. hard to believe it took u this long to feature this humble yet awesome pen! 🤣🤣
The Pilot 823 is a vacuum filler so the only way to clean it is by filling it with water and emptying it, over and over and over. If you dedicate one ink, it is not so bad. The 743 is the same pen but uses a cartridge/converter. The 823 colors are all translucent (clear, amber, or dark dark grey). 743 colors are solid, just black now as the discontinued the green. A Pilot Custom 74 is less expensive and has a gold nib though a size smaller than the 823. The 74 comes in lots of translucent colors.
My absolute favourite Pilot ever is a Pilot custom 74, in mustard yellow. An Itoya exclusive. I was ready to spend $$$ on a fountain pen at Itoya the first time I went to Japan, but fell in love with this one.. It was comparatively cheap (under $100) and it is the smoothest pen ever.
This is the exact pen I put in my husbands stocking this year! After writing with it, I like it as much (if not more than) the Lamy and the Kaweco I received. None of them compare to my Nahvalur... ;-) I really need to decide on a pen case. Thanks for sharing. (Hubs works in a foundry, so I will be interested to see how his Kakuno holds up in that type of enviroment!)
The Kakuno is my favorite entry level pen. Plus I love the look of the pastel color ones so I have a whole set of that color family. I want to get the pastel pearly set they just came out with too (not as see-through as the family set) You can interchange your Metropolitan nibs with the Kakuno …as well as the Prera. I have the EF, F, and M nibs. F is my fave. As for your question about if all Pilot pens are the same…no, they are not. But they are very well-known for being of high quality no matter if you’re getting the entry-level steel nibs (like the Metropolitan, Kakuno, Prera) or their gold nib pens. I know the 823 is the most popular higher end pen. I haven’t had the pleasure to use it, but the 743 is more the one I want to acquire since it is the same as the 823 but as a cartridge/converter fill instead of the 823’s vacuum fill. I have the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with FA nib. I have tried other people’s PO nib which I believe is Pilot’s thinnest “stock” nib…very nice and smooth experience.
I prefer the 743 over the 823 since it uses a cartridge converter rather than the vac filling system (so much easier to clean) I love the pilot gold nibs so smooth with a slight bounce.
Both of my pilot metropolitans were as smooth as butter and medium juicy. If you get the stub nib, your writing will look like calligraphy without even trying. Also, Merry Christmas ⛄🎁⛄
I love Pilot nibs too. My daily writers are Decimos. They are great for work since they are retractable. I have a beautiful Nagasawa Kobe gradation that came out last April with a medium fine nib (which are hard to get in Decimos). It’s the perfect pen. Platinum nibs are really good too - and the Platinum Preppy is surprisingly good and comes in 3 nib options (EF, F, M). My other daily writers though is a Platinum 3776 with a medium nib. (Hate Sailors - too scratchy! lol - but they definitely have the prettiest pens in the Japanese market).
Pilot girlie here. I am so glad you love the cute kaküno. To answer your question, the Pilot Custom 823 is next level. It is a gold nib pen and is AMAZING! It has been my number one pen since I got it this past summer. It has been downgraded to number 2 now that I have my grail pen Pelikan M800. But they are two different pens. I have nothing like the pilot custom 823 in my collection. It’s smooth, soft with a little feedback = perfection! I wouldn’t say you NEED the 823 because no one NEEDS fountain pens 😂 but I think you would love it 🙃
I also love pilots and will comment above on Kakuno, but can you compare 823 to a 912 Heritage, because I prefer the square tops vs. cigar. In fact, SWK will lose her mind over Pilot Prera... it's more comparable to TSWBI, IMHO.
@@christadavidart except that FA nib is extremely flexy, so for a daily writer I still debate between Pilot fine or Med which is so nice on the Metro and Preras. pens.... 🤯 (so many!) Happy 2025!
Aaah our journey is similar! Pilot Metropolitan was my first Japanese fountain pen after trying out Lamy (and did not like it), and for the Metro it was just alright. I got a TWSBI Eco as a gift, and was blown away. This year, I got Pilot Kakuno from a friend and regret why I didnt pick this instead of the Metro. I just swatched ink from both pens and the Kakuno is definitely smoother based on my penmanship!
Yea the Kakuno is a really good value (I hate the term beginner's pen). Pilot's steel nibs are some of the best you can find. That the Kakuno can also take the larger Con70 converter is another big plus. Great pen for everyone at anytime in their fountain pen journey.
Do check out the Pilot Prera Iro-ai. They write smoothly and look more mature, as you put it. I had the same issue with kokuno. But loved my prera iro-ai. I have the transparent orange and green.
I've been wanting to dip my toes back into fountain pens, but my income is too restricted to invest heavily. Yesterday I ordered the Kukuno! I'm torn on inks. What is the company you referred to for samples? And I really like that summer storm shade!!
Yes! I have several Pilot kakuno pens. I think you may have seen the ones that are two toned. For instance some are blue and gray, red and gray and others. But I bought the transparent green or aqua, clear red and just clear. They right very nice. I once saw a very fancy IG post with a lot of swirly writing and even had some drawings on it. I was expecting to see some expensive pen named at the end of the post but no, it was a Pilot kakuno! Pick yourself up a few more. I bought mine for $12‼️. Happy New Year, Michelle❤
The Kakuno has been on my list forever now. At one point I decided that I should try the Platinum Preppy first. And I love those. They are so dirt cheap that I'm not scared to use permanent ink in them. So it feels like I already have that slot filled... But now that I watched your video... *Opens Amazon app*
DO IT!! Any Pilot pen writes smoother than the Preppy. It's so worth the investment of a few extra dollars and you can get yourself a bottle of ink and a syringe with a blunt needle so that you can refill the cartridge that it comes with or get a converter with it so you can use bottled inks. The Pilot Iroshizuku inks are PHENOMENAL! 💙 Happy pen hunting/shopping ❄️
I got that pen in my stocking this year! It is quite good. I really like pilot pens. Edit: the pilot metropolitan was my first pen too, but I got it in a bright lime green, so it isn't very daudy. $25 CAD and it still writes like a dream, even after I dropped it and slightly bent the nib.
Pilot Kakuno is my first love as well and what got me pulled into fountain pens. 🥰 then I wanted to try more pilot pens. Here are some more pilot pens I’ve tried: Pilot 78g - super light body, meh Prera (ivory) - a favorite! Love the feel of the cap closing (sadly I’m not into smaller pens) Metro - heavy body! Lightive/ Explorer - can take con70 more ink capacity, not really a fan of how it looks So in my quest to find a pilot pen with a beautiful body I ventured into pilot gold nibs. And surprisingly they don’t write the same with their steel nibs. ( for me atleast, I’m a lefty overwriter btw) Pilot custom 74 - i tried Fine and soft Fine but ended up selling them, i find them a bit dry compared to steel Fine nibs Pilot Decimo - Fine writes juicy and nice but not as pointy feeling as the steel Fine nib Pilot E95s Extra Fine - doesn’t feel smooth enough for me and I had to use wet inks like writer’s blood for it to be usable for me so ended up selling it as well In conclusion, Pilot is still my favorite (along with twsbi! Twsbi diamond 580 smoke RG in EF is currently my top one!) but I think for now I am contented with the kakuno. Hope this helps! 😆
If you like the idea of the ink cartridges, just you wait until you discover roller fountain pens. Still run on ink like a normal fountain pen, they take a cartridge, but instead of a nib they have a rollerball head. I had very basic Schneider ones throughout school and high school. I used each so much that the tip would get so worn then ball would fall out. I'd then fish out the ball from the cap and pop it back in. I'd only change it if I lost the ball.
The Pilot nib sizes are pretty consistent, but, the Pilot Custom 823 you mentioned has a gold nib so will be more expensive and quite a different writing experience...totally worth it, imo, but it is an investment for sure. For a steel nib, the Kakuno is an amazing choice!!
I’ve owned this pen (in medium) for about a year or more now. I absolutely love it. I bought it here in Tokyo for ¥1,000, which I guess is around $8~9 USD.
Love the Kakuno fountain pens!!!! It's my EDC. My favorite is the medium nib with De Atramentis Document Black fountain pen ink. I'm excited to add the new pastel colors soon.
Aww~ the kakuno was my first fountain pen too because we had free samples at work I still use it as my every day pen (not the same one I got originally because I wanted a different nib size tho)
For you I would suggest the following: Pilot E95s, Custom 74 clear demonstrator. Parker 51 Deluxe. Waterman Carene. Their ink is considered the best. The Carene nib is probably the smoothest on the planet. Rhodia pads for sampling.
LOL. I’ve had this “saved for later” on Amazon forever! I feel like you just gave me the go ahead yo forgive myself and finally buy it: BTW it comes with different color caps but same clear barrel.
I love my Kakuno, I have an EF and F and they are great with Robert Oster inks. I think you would like Silent Nite since you like Diamines Earl Grey, similar but the Silent nite leans more blue.
That's a thing since it is for kids many overlook it. But, this is such a great pen. I use the grey&blue body and it looks really really professional. I love it. Sorry I am a die hard kakuno fan. I also think u will love platinum prefonte/preppy but they tend to be a little on the drier side.
TFS your experience. I really 💙 Pilot. Definitely great starter pen, great EDC, great value, great gifts, just great overall. I also have these wonderful inexpensive styles: petit, prefounte, preppy. I often eye dropper ink into the body or refill the cartridges if I'm not using a converter. I too am not a fan of the metropolitan body style & thread location. Very much appreciate inexpensive quality pens.
yessss! i love kakunos :) when I started out with fountain pens this summer I got a twsbi eco, a lamy safari, and a pilot kakuno so I could try out a variety of started pens. And I loved the writing experience of the kakuno so much that I immediately bought three more 😂 (I wanted to be able to have a good selection of colours inked up at a time)
I have 2 Pilot 823 pens with Fine nibs. I also have several of the Pilot Metropolitans, half with the Fine nib and the other half with the Stub nib from a different "cheap" starter pen from Pilot (I forget the name, but it preceded the Kakuno by several years, and came with the Stub nib standard). In comparison, for day-long writing, the 823 has the same ink supply as the TWSBI 580's. The experience writing with the 823'a is also far better for me due to the thicker barrel than the Metro. As I get older, it gets harder for me to use narrow pens. The 823 has proven life changing for me, and I'll know I'll be able to use them for a lot longer. In comparison to the TWSBI 580, it is so much easier to fill and clean. The TWSBI 580 mechanism is impossible for me to put back together once I've taken it completely apart. As a consequence, I've moved to the TWSBI Vac700s, basically replacing the 580s. I use the 823 for black and blue inks, both Fine nib. The TWSBI Vac700s do duty for coloured inks, precisely because of the clear barrels. (One of my 823s is a demonstrator body, which was hard to find in US stores for a long while.) I do have other brands of FPs (I am probably talking from the bottom of the hole :) ) Interestingly, listening to your review, I considering getting a Kakuno to try! I am nuts for demonstrator bodies, I MUST see my ink! I don't carry my wad of pens around, znd wouldn't even with a snazzy Galen leather pen case like you've got. The 823's are really expensive things to lose or get damaged, so they are always on my desk at home. Instead, I'm wimping out, carrying other types of writing instruments while bopping around town, etc. A brace of clear demonstrator Kakuna's would probably fill my need for more colour even running about!
I do not know much about different inks but I have some Ferris wheel press inks that I like. I’m not sure if you’ve tried those. Sometimes hard to find a specific color as they sell out fast!
My first Pilot FP was the Metro. I didn't realize at that time how much finer Japanese nibs were. My local pen shop suggested I try the Kakuno which basically had same nib (with faces.) It was the F pt, so I went M with Metro. I think you appreciate the Kakuno grip which brings me to Prera. OMG. No cap glides on and off in such a satisfying way as Prera. Must try, for those who haven't. I have noticed my newest Prera is MUCH thinner than my older one, which also means thinner grip. The quality and style of the Prera make it the perfect pen for those who want translucent barrel (which I barrel-filled with shimmer ink on my first one.) Ahhhh. Pilots write so well 😍I also have e95 14K, but have resisted the Heritage 912 with FA nib so far. 🖋
Hi Michelle, I love muted colored inks too! You and I have similar taste, so I listed the inks that I like. Perhaps you'll be drawn to some of them, too? But be careful, some company's paler inks can seem dry. So I would read/watch reviews and buy samples before investing in full-size bottles. PINK / MAUVE / LILAC Robert Oster - Dusky Pink Sailor Shikiori - Yozakura Herbin - Larmes de Cassis GREEN Herbin - Vert Empire Diamine - Green Umber Colorverse - Alpha PSC ORANGE-ISH Diamine - Autumn Oak Dominant Industry - Maple BLUE Herbin - Vert de Gris Pilot Iroshizuku - Tsuki-yo BLUE-GREEN / TEAL Sailor Shikiori - Shito Shito GREYISH- BROWN Monteverde - Moonstone (very wet, use in finer nibs) NOT MUTED, BUT PRETTY COLORS and SHADES NICELY ***Diamine - Marine ***Diamine - Meadow
Not the Lamy Safari, not the TWSBI Eco, not the Pilot Metropolitan...the Pilot Kakuno is the best starting fountain pen and also one of the best overall fountain pen. Price to value ratio nothing beats it.
I refill cartridges with a blunt point syringe that most pen places sell who also sell inks. I have a few pilot petite pens that may be discontinued now. The write like a dream I think they were under 10 dollars being smaller.
For your TWSBI ECO in Cafe, how about trying a sample of Akkerman's "SBRE Brown"? It's not muted, but it's warm (not yellowish-brown, which I think looks like baby poop) orangey brown that shades so beautifully!!! Other brown inks that I love are: Diamine "Brandy Snap" and "Autumn Oak" (I think you already have it). KWZ "Honey" and Robert Oster's "Caffe Crema" are both yellowish-browns, therefore baby poopish, IMO.
I have a Kakuno that I bought to steal the nib for my Metropolitan that I dropped but the pen is so cute I use it. My Metropolitan is still waiting for a nib. The Kakuno, Metropolitan, Prera, and Explorer all use the same nibs and are interchangeable. I don’t have a Prera but I have a few Explorers that I like very much.
I have a clear Kakuno with an EF nib. Nothing but good comments on the pen as an EDC in a shirt pocket, pants pocket, notebook, and briefcase, but the EF nib is like writing with a pin. It is too narrow and has the tendency to pick up paper fibers.
I was one of your fans that recommended that Pilot Kakuno to you, years ago. Did you know that you can also fit the Kaweco Sport pen's clip on the Kakuno? The pen looks a bit childish because it's designed to teach Japanese children how to use fountain pens. I heard that the holes in the cap and body are safety measure in the event that the child swallows it.🤷🏻♀ If you have a Metropolitan M nib, you can swap it onto your Kakuno. The nibs are the same.
I just ordered this, it will be my first fountain pen. Can you teach us how to use a converter? I would like to use permanent ink in my art journal. Thank you!
I have other brands like Visconti and Sailor but I have to say the Pilot 823 and E95S are still my favorites. The writing experience is divine, they make my handwriting look great and the F nibs are great for sketching as well.
Gold nib pens are completely different, so any gold nib Pilots will be a drastically different experience than the Kakuno. Even my Pilot Decimo, which is much cheaper than the 823, is in an entirely separate ballpark from the Kakuno and other cheaper Pilots. Gold nibs are generally smoother and 'bouncier'. I would research all the more expensive Pilots and decide which actual model you want. There's the Decimo/Vanishing Point, Custom 74, Custom 823, etc and they're all quite different. They have a similar nib feel but each pen has pros and cons, depending on the individual.
It's just fun to use cheap fountain pens, isn't it? I had the same feeling with the Platinum Preppy. The only reason I chose preppy instead of this Pilot Kakuno is because I can convert a Preppy into an eye-dropper pen. But otherwise, they are all great pens. In the past, I tend to invest heavily on expensive fountain pens. Then one day my office mate showed me a TWSBI 580AL and liked it so much (as much as my maki-e Pilot).
The 823 isn’t life changing lol it’s just a pen haha but honestly it is a very good pen, if you can find it at a discount I would jump at it. I did on Amazon and could not help myself I had ever seen it that low and at the price point I got it for I was glad I did. The 74 is also a good pen. The nibs are a little softer than pens like the kakuno. But I find my kakunos a solid work pen for me especially the fine nibs. Also the con 70s fit the kakuno and give it a much larger ink capability. If you’re looking for a gold nib experience I’d honestly start with a E95s or a custom 74. I’m a pilot Stan so I have almost all of them. And again tbh I 2 can’t tell the difference between the E95 the 74 or the 823 nibs.
I'm hesitant to learn about fountain pens because that's an expensive rabbit hole, lol. 😅 But I can't not watch your videos! I'll save this pen in my "one day" wishlist 😊
part 2: ua-cam.com/video/dv3vUDy_wBQ/v-deo.html
The Kakuno is my ride or die to this day! Underrated, never fussy, always ready to go. The weight is also my Goldilocks weight. Not too light, not too heavy, just right for everyday writing
Do you know if the cap is screw or push? Because the pink one is so cute and I’ve been eyeing it
@@ghostyplans It's a snap cap.
i actually love the Pilot Kauno over my TWSBI fountain pens...Im a Fine and EF nib lover so it was a def winner so welcome to the Kakuno Club lol
Yes! I started with Kakuno and I still think it's the best starter pen. Now it becomes my "experimental pen" to test new inks I bough because of how easy the cleaning and how an easy writer it is with nearly every kind of inks. If I had an ink that didn't perform well in my other pens (muted colors, skipping due to dry ink, etc), I threw it in a kakuno to see how the color really is. The downside is the converter (CON-40) has such small barrel, thus small ink capacity, but that's why it's my perfect "try-outs" pen now!
I would suggest the Pilot Vanishing Point especially for your needs. I’m heavily considering one myself especially after trying the Majohn A1, to see if the whole clip controversy was a make or break for me and finding that I love everything about the pen and it’s entire reason for being. I completely get the hype when it comes to the Vanishing Point now. Just something to consider.
I love my Kakuno too! Currently use it with Birmingham Pen Co ink and it’s wonderful! They have many muted colors that you may like
One great thing about the Pilot Kakuno is that the CON-70 converter will fit and give you more ink capacity.
You can eyedropper these.... And you put hot glue in the holes. Make sure you put water in it afterwards making sure it does not leak, and I have not had trouble running shimmer in mine either. That pen is just something great to leave on your desk without it walking off.
Oh my gosh!! Thank you for sharing. I have been wanting to try a fountain pen but was nervous about the cost. Thank you!! And thanks for sharing the ink choices 😊
Definitely try this one out!
@ Thank you! It’ll be here tomorrow 😊
kakuno was my first fountain pen n i love it to bits! mine is the grey body + orange cap with an nib and a CON-40 converter. still my primary pen for writing in my daily journal. hard to believe it took u this long to feature this humble yet awesome pen! 🤣🤣
I think this might be an answer to my “I love fountain pens but have a toddler” dilemma! Thank you for sharing ❤
The Pilot 823 is a vacuum filler so the only way to clean it is by filling it with water and emptying it, over and over and over. If you dedicate one ink, it is not so bad. The 743 is the same pen but uses a cartridge/converter. The 823 colors are all translucent (clear, amber, or dark dark grey). 743 colors are solid, just black now as the discontinued the green. A Pilot Custom 74 is less expensive and has a gold nib though a size smaller than the 823. The 74 comes in lots of translucent colors.
My absolute favourite Pilot ever is a Pilot custom 74, in mustard yellow. An Itoya exclusive. I was ready to spend $$$ on a fountain pen at Itoya the first time I went to Japan, but fell in love with this one.. It was comparatively cheap (under $100) and it is the smoothest pen ever.
I love the Kakuno! They are coming out in some beautiful pastels now!
Yes, I saw that~ Added a few to the wishlist 😅
YES!! the Kakuno is amazing! And, they come in fun colors too! And, the smiley face on the nib is adorable, super fun!!
This is the exact pen I put in my husbands stocking this year! After writing with it, I like it as much (if not more than) the Lamy and the Kaweco I received. None of them compare to my Nahvalur... ;-) I really need to decide on a pen case. Thanks for sharing. (Hubs works in a foundry, so I will be interested to see how his Kakuno holds up in that type of enviroment!)
Yayyyy the Kakuno is the best!!! Also the Kaweco clip fits the cap and looks really nice.
Just bought the Pilot Kakuno- I have an Amazon gift card I needed to use.
The Kakuno is my favorite entry level pen. Plus I love the look of the pastel color ones so I have a whole set of that color family. I want to get the pastel pearly set they just came out with too (not as see-through as the family set)
You can interchange your Metropolitan nibs with the Kakuno …as well as the Prera. I have the EF, F, and M nibs. F is my fave.
As for your question about if all Pilot pens are the same…no, they are not. But they are very well-known for being of high quality no matter if you’re getting the entry-level steel nibs (like the Metropolitan, Kakuno, Prera) or their gold nib pens. I know the 823 is the most popular higher end pen. I haven’t had the pleasure to use it, but the 743 is more the one I want to acquire since it is the same as the 823 but as a cartridge/converter fill instead of the 823’s vacuum fill.
I have the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with FA nib. I have tried other people’s PO nib which I believe is Pilot’s thinnest “stock” nib…very nice and smooth experience.
I prefer the 743 over the 823 since it uses a cartridge converter rather than the vac filling system (so much easier to clean) I love the pilot gold nibs so smooth with a slight bounce.
Both of my pilot metropolitans were as smooth as butter and medium juicy. If you get the stub nib, your writing will look like calligraphy without even trying. Also, Merry Christmas ⛄🎁⛄
Kakuno is my favorite fountain pen I have!
I just got gifted one for Christmas! I can’t wait to try it out!
I have three Kakunos and love them all! I want more 🥰
Get a CON-70 converter for storing a large amount of ink. The cap can also fit a Kaweco clip! Both are essential for my daily use.
I love Pilot nibs too. My daily writers are Decimos. They are great for work since they are retractable. I have a beautiful Nagasawa Kobe gradation that came out last April with a medium fine nib (which are hard to get in Decimos). It’s the perfect pen. Platinum nibs are really good too - and the Platinum Preppy is surprisingly good and comes in 3 nib options (EF, F, M). My other daily writers though is a Platinum 3776 with a medium nib. (Hate Sailors - too scratchy! lol - but they definitely have the prettiest pens in the Japanese market).
Pilot girlie here. I am so glad you love the cute kaküno. To answer your question, the Pilot Custom 823 is next level. It is a gold nib pen and is AMAZING! It has been my number one pen since I got it this past summer. It has been downgraded to number 2 now that I have my grail pen Pelikan M800. But they are two different pens. I have nothing like the pilot custom 823 in my collection. It’s smooth, soft with a little feedback = perfection! I wouldn’t say you NEED the 823 because no one NEEDS fountain pens 😂 but I think you would love it 🙃
I also love pilots and will comment above on Kakuno, but can you compare 823 to a 912 Heritage, because I prefer the square tops vs. cigar. In fact, SWK will lose her mind over Pilot Prera... it's more comparable to TSWBI, IMHO.
@@ZiaLinkZen I wish I could help here. I don't own a Heritage 912. I am making my 2025 pen list so this might make the list
@@christadavidart except that FA nib is extremely flexy, so for a daily writer I still debate between Pilot fine or Med which is so nice on the Metro and Preras. pens.... 🤯 (so many!) Happy 2025!
Aaah our journey is similar! Pilot Metropolitan was my first Japanese fountain pen after trying out Lamy (and did not like it), and for the Metro it was just alright. I got a TWSBI Eco as a gift, and was blown away. This year, I got Pilot Kakuno from a friend and regret why I didnt pick this instead of the Metro. I just swatched ink from both pens and the Kakuno is definitely smoother based on my penmanship!
Same! My first pen was a Metropolitan and then I went to wish, but didn’t like either… so I went Kaweco, and that one worked great!
Yea the Kakuno is a really good value (I hate the term beginner's pen). Pilot's steel nibs are some of the best you can find. That the Kakuno can also take the larger Con70 converter is another big plus. Great pen for everyone at anytime in their fountain pen journey.
Do check out the Pilot Prera Iro-ai. They write smoothly and look more mature, as you put it. I had the same issue with kokuno. But loved my prera iro-ai. I have the transparent orange and green.
I love my kakuno. Bought in pink, blue, green and clear.
I've been wanting to dip my toes back into fountain pens, but my income is too restricted to invest heavily. Yesterday I ordered the Kukuno! I'm torn on inks. What is the company you referred to for samples? And I really like that summer storm shade!!
Yes! I have several Pilot kakuno pens. I think you may have seen the ones that are two toned. For instance some are blue and gray, red and gray and others. But I bought the transparent green or aqua, clear red and just clear. They right very nice. I once saw a very fancy IG post with a lot of swirly writing and even had some drawings on it. I was expecting to see some expensive pen named at the end of the post but no, it was a Pilot kakuno! Pick yourself up a few more. I bought mine for $12‼️. Happy New Year, Michelle❤
Thank you! Wishing you and Happy New Year as well! Appreciate your support!
The Kakuno has been on my list forever now. At one point I decided that I should try the Platinum Preppy first. And I love those. They are so dirt cheap that I'm not scared to use permanent ink in them. So it feels like I already have that slot filled... But now that I watched your video... *Opens Amazon app*
DO IT!! Any Pilot pen writes smoother than the Preppy. It's so worth the investment of a few extra dollars and you can get yourself a bottle of ink and a syringe with a blunt needle so that you can refill the cartridge that it comes with or get a converter with it so you can use bottled inks.
The Pilot Iroshizuku inks are PHENOMENAL! 💙
Happy pen hunting/shopping ❄️
I got that pen in my stocking this year! It is quite good. I really like pilot pens.
Edit: the pilot metropolitan was my first pen too, but I got it in a bright lime green, so it isn't very daudy. $25 CAD and it still writes like a dream, even after I dropped it and slightly bent the nib.
My first was also pilot metropolitan, teal color so it was very noticeable I guess 😂
Pilot Kakuno is my first love as well and what got me pulled into fountain pens. 🥰 then I wanted to try more pilot pens. Here are some more pilot pens I’ve tried:
Pilot 78g - super light body, meh
Prera (ivory) - a favorite! Love the feel of the cap closing (sadly I’m not into smaller pens)
Metro - heavy body!
Lightive/ Explorer - can take con70 more ink capacity, not really a fan of how it looks
So in my quest to find a pilot pen with a beautiful body I ventured into pilot gold nibs. And surprisingly they don’t write the same with their steel nibs. ( for me atleast, I’m a lefty overwriter btw)
Pilot custom 74 - i tried Fine and soft Fine but ended up selling them, i find them a bit dry compared to steel Fine nibs
Pilot Decimo - Fine writes juicy and nice but not as pointy feeling as the steel Fine nib
Pilot E95s Extra Fine - doesn’t feel smooth enough for me and I had to use wet inks like writer’s blood for it to be usable for me so ended up selling it as well
In conclusion, Pilot is still my favorite (along with twsbi! Twsbi diamond 580 smoke RG in EF is currently my top one!) but I think for now I am contented with the kakuno. Hope this helps! 😆
If you like the idea of the ink cartridges, just you wait until you discover roller fountain pens. Still run on ink like a normal fountain pen, they take a cartridge, but instead of a nib they have a rollerball head. I had very basic Schneider ones throughout school and high school. I used each so much that the tip would get so worn then ball would fall out. I'd then fish out the ball from the cap and pop it back in. I'd only change it if I lost the ball.
The Pilot nib sizes are pretty consistent, but, the Pilot Custom 823 you mentioned has a gold nib so will be more expensive and quite a different writing experience...totally worth it, imo, but it is an investment for sure. For a steel nib, the Kakuno is an amazing choice!!
I’ve owned this pen (in medium) for about a year or more now. I absolutely love it.
I bought it here in Tokyo for ¥1,000, which I guess is around $8~9 USD.
Don't have a Kaküno yet, but love my two Preras. 😇
Love the Kakuno fountain pens!!!! It's my EDC. My favorite is the medium nib with De Atramentis Document Black fountain pen ink. I'm excited to add the new pastel colors soon.
Aww~ the kakuno was my first fountain pen too because we had free samples at work
I still use it as my every day pen (not the same one I got originally because I wanted a different nib size tho)
Kakuno pens are so much fun!
Ok so I’ve been influenced, I just purchased one from Amazon to give it a try. 😊
For you I would suggest the following:
Pilot E95s, Custom 74 clear demonstrator.
Parker 51 Deluxe.
Waterman Carene. Their ink is considered the best. The Carene nib is probably the smoothest on the planet.
Rhodia pads for sampling.
LOL. I’ve had this “saved for later” on Amazon forever! I feel like you just gave me the go ahead yo forgive myself and finally buy it: BTW it comes with different color caps but same clear barrel.
You’re going to LOVE it! 🤩
I have a pilot prera, m nib, it writes like butter. It floods over the paper, so smooth 🎉 love it.
Cartridges and the Con-70 converters are equally excellent. I have 3 of these.
I love my Kakuno, I have an EF and F and they are great with Robert Oster inks. I think you would like Silent Nite since you like Diamines Earl Grey, similar but the Silent nite leans more blue.
the kakuno is so good! I have the EF and the M, both amazing :)
I have 2 of the Pilot Kakunos a fine and a medium nib, I love them. One has a cartridge and the other has the Con-70 converter in it.
That's a thing since it is for kids many overlook it. But, this is such a great pen. I use the grey&blue body and it looks really really professional. I love it. Sorry I am a die hard kakuno fan. I also think u will love platinum prefonte/preppy but they tend to be a little on the drier side.
TFS your experience. I really 💙 Pilot. Definitely great starter pen, great EDC, great value, great gifts, just great overall. I also have these wonderful inexpensive styles: petit, prefounte, preppy. I often eye dropper ink into the body or refill the cartridges if I'm not using a converter. I too am not a fan of the metropolitan body style & thread location. Very much appreciate inexpensive quality pens.
yessss! i love kakunos :) when I started out with fountain pens this summer I got a twsbi eco, a lamy safari, and a pilot kakuno so I could try out a variety of started pens. And I loved the writing experience of the kakuno so much that I immediately bought three more 😂 (I wanted to be able to have a good selection of colours inked up at a time)
Teal Ink in a Kakuno. AMAZING.
I have 2 Pilot 823 pens with Fine nibs. I also have several of the Pilot Metropolitans, half with the Fine nib and the other half with the Stub nib from a different "cheap" starter pen from Pilot (I forget the name, but it preceded the Kakuno by several years, and came with the Stub nib standard). In comparison, for day-long writing, the 823 has the same ink supply as the TWSBI 580's. The experience writing with the 823'a is also far better for me due to the thicker barrel than the Metro. As I get older, it gets harder for me to use narrow pens. The 823 has proven life changing for me, and I'll know I'll be able to use them for a lot longer. In comparison to the TWSBI 580, it is so much easier to fill and clean. The TWSBI 580 mechanism is impossible for me to put back together once I've taken it completely apart. As a consequence, I've moved to the TWSBI Vac700s, basically replacing the 580s. I use the 823 for black and blue inks, both Fine nib. The TWSBI Vac700s do duty for coloured inks, precisely because of the clear barrels. (One of my 823s is a demonstrator body, which was hard to find in US stores for a long while.) I do have other brands of FPs (I am probably talking from the bottom of the hole :) )
Interestingly, listening to your review, I considering getting a Kakuno to try! I am nuts for demonstrator bodies, I MUST see my ink! I don't carry my wad of pens around, znd wouldn't even with a snazzy Galen leather pen case like you've got. The 823's are really expensive things to lose or get damaged, so they are always on my desk at home. Instead, I'm wimping out, carrying other types of writing instruments while bopping around town, etc. A brace of clear demonstrator Kakuna's would probably fill my need for more colour even running about!
love my kakunos! ❤
The converters are Con-40 and Con-70. The 70 holds more ink.
I do not know much about different inks but I have some Ferris wheel press inks that I like. I’m not sure if you’ve tried those. Sometimes hard to find a specific color as they sell out fast!
My first Pilot FP was the Metro. I didn't realize at that time how much finer Japanese nibs were. My local pen shop suggested I try the Kakuno which basically had same nib (with faces.) It was the F pt, so I went M with Metro. I think you appreciate the Kakuno grip which brings me to Prera. OMG. No cap glides on and off in such a satisfying way as Prera. Must try, for those who haven't. I have noticed my newest Prera is MUCH thinner than my older one, which also means thinner grip. The quality and style of the Prera make it the perfect pen for those who want translucent barrel (which I barrel-filled with shimmer ink on my first one.) Ahhhh. Pilots write so well 😍I also have e95 14K, but have resisted the Heritage 912 with FA nib so far. 🖋
Hi Michelle, I love muted colored inks too! You and I have similar taste, so I listed the inks that I like. Perhaps you'll be drawn to some of them, too? But be careful, some company's paler inks can seem dry. So I would read/watch reviews and buy samples before investing in full-size bottles.
PINK / MAUVE / LILAC
Robert Oster - Dusky Pink
Sailor Shikiori - Yozakura
Herbin - Larmes de Cassis
GREEN
Herbin - Vert Empire
Diamine - Green Umber
Colorverse - Alpha PSC
ORANGE-ISH
Diamine - Autumn Oak
Dominant Industry - Maple
BLUE
Herbin - Vert de Gris
Pilot Iroshizuku - Tsuki-yo
BLUE-GREEN / TEAL
Sailor Shikiori - Shito Shito
GREYISH- BROWN
Monteverde - Moonstone (very wet, use in finer nibs)
NOT MUTED, BUT PRETTY COLORS and SHADES NICELY
***Diamine - Marine
***Diamine - Meadow
Have you seen the drowsy series thst Tokyo Pen Shop is selling?? Theyre so beautiful and elegant looking!!
Not the Lamy Safari, not the TWSBI Eco, not the Pilot Metropolitan...the Pilot Kakuno is the best starting fountain pen and also one of the best overall fountain pen. Price to value ratio nothing beats it.
I have this pen in medium nib, and I love it.
You can always just refill your empty ink cartridge if you don’t have a converter.
I refill cartridges with a blunt point syringe that most pen places sell who also sell inks. I have a few pilot petite pens that may be discontinued now. The write like a dream I think they were under 10 dollars being smaller.
Omg I just ordered this a week ago!! So excited to receive it soon
It will take a con40 or con 70 converter as well.
For your TWSBI ECO in Cafe, how about trying a sample of Akkerman's "SBRE Brown"? It's not muted, but it's warm (not yellowish-brown, which I think looks like baby poop) orangey brown that shades so beautifully!!! Other brown inks that I love are: Diamine "Brandy Snap" and "Autumn Oak" (I think you already have it). KWZ "Honey" and Robert Oster's "Caffe Crema" are both yellowish-browns, therefore baby poopish, IMO.
I've seen previews for new colors of the kakuno pens. Maybe it is time for me to guve them a try.
I have a Kakuno that I bought to steal the nib for my Metropolitan that I dropped but the pen is so cute I use it. My Metropolitan is still waiting for a nib. The Kakuno, Metropolitan, Prera, and Explorer all use the same nibs and are interchangeable. I don’t have a Prera but I have a few Explorers that I like very much.
I much prefer “low-cost” or “less expensive” to the word “cheap” 😉 Great video!
I have a clear Kakuno with an EF nib. Nothing but good comments on the pen as an EDC in a shirt pocket, pants pocket, notebook, and briefcase, but the EF nib is like writing with a pin. It is too narrow and has the tendency to pick up paper fibers.
I was one of your fans that recommended that Pilot Kakuno to you, years ago. Did you know that you can also fit the Kaweco Sport pen's clip on the Kakuno? The pen looks a bit childish because it's designed to teach Japanese children how to use fountain pens. I heard that the holes in the cap and body are safety measure in the event that the child swallows it.🤷🏻♀ If you have a Metropolitan M nib, you can swap it onto your Kakuno. The nibs are the same.
Yes to pilot custom 823! It’s known as everyone’s one-pen collection for minimalist folks.
I wonder how it compares to platinum century 3776? They look similar 😍
@@tortagialla I have both. The platinum 3776 century is nice but the nib is stiff no flex the pilot 823 is smooth and soft. Both are wonderful.
@@christadavidart Good to know! Thank you. I hope to try them in person one day and really get the feel… I don’t want to order online 😅
@@tortagialla yep that is the best way to buy as they are investments for sure. Enjoy!
Oh man, I'm obsessed with Vanness, love the samples
so many options, the samples quickly add up! 😅
I just ordered this, it will be my first fountain pen. Can you teach us how to use a converter? I would like to use permanent ink in my art journal. Thank you!
I have other brands like Visconti and Sailor but I have to say the Pilot 823 and E95S are still my favorites. The writing experience is divine, they make my handwriting look great and the F nibs are great for sketching as well.
Gold nib pens are completely different, so any gold nib Pilots will be a drastically different experience than the Kakuno. Even my Pilot Decimo, which is much cheaper than the 823, is in an entirely separate ballpark from the Kakuno and other cheaper Pilots. Gold nibs are generally smoother and 'bouncier'.
I would research all the more expensive Pilots and decide which actual model you want. There's the Decimo/Vanishing Point, Custom 74, Custom 823, etc and they're all quite different. They have a similar nib feel but each pen has pros and cons, depending on the individual.
I couldn't click on this video fast enough 😂lol
and I couldn't wait to geek over this with ya'll fast enough!😂🏃♀️
It's just fun to use cheap fountain pens, isn't it? I had the same feeling with the Platinum Preppy. The only reason I chose preppy instead of this Pilot Kakuno is because I can convert a Preppy into an eye-dropper pen. But otherwise, they are all great pens.
In the past, I tend to invest heavily on expensive fountain pens. Then one day my office mate showed me a TWSBI 580AL and liked it so much (as much as my maki-e Pilot).
Gold nibs are very different. The Custom 74 is a great pen and less expensive than some of the other gold nibs.
Try the zebra disposable fountain pen too.
The 823 isn’t life changing lol it’s just a pen haha but honestly it is a very good pen, if you can find it at a discount I would jump at it. I did on Amazon and could not help myself I had ever seen it that low and at the price point I got it for I was glad I did. The 74 is also a good pen. The nibs are a little softer than pens like the kakuno. But I find my kakunos a solid work pen for me especially the fine nibs. Also the con 70s fit the kakuno and give it a much larger ink capability. If you’re looking for a gold nib experience I’d honestly start with a E95s or a custom 74. I’m a pilot Stan so I have almost all of them. And again tbh I 2 can’t tell the difference between the E95 the 74 or the 823 nibs.
What kind of work do you do that you use a fountain pen?
administrative work- taking notes, documenting ideas, scribbling meeting discussions, signing contracts/paperwork, handwritten personalized "thank you" cards, etc
I have it and I love it. Too bad there are no Kakunos with a broad nib. Japanese medium is like a European fine.
I love writing with the kakuno but the ink dries up on me a lot.
I'm hesitant to learn about fountain pens because that's an expensive rabbit hole, lol. 😅 But I can't not watch your videos! I'll save this pen in my "one day" wishlist 😊
Why wait for "one day"? The Kaküno is only about 15 or 16 bucks and it comes with one ink cartridge so you can start using it immediately.
It looks like you have several Benu pens. Are they not among your best writers?