Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen for Beginners: EF vs F vs M Nib Guide

Which Pilot Kakuno fountain pen should a beginner buy?

You have watched journaling videos, you like how fountain pen ink looks on paper, and you want to try one without spending a lot on a hobby you might drop. Then the questions start. Is the Pilot Kakuno fountain pen really the best beginner pick? Should you get extra fine, fine or medium? Do you need a converter, or are refills enough? Those are the exact follow-ups people type into Google after "pilot kakuno," along with "refill," "ink cartridge," "madoromi" and "extra fine." This guide answers them in order. We compared Pilot's official specs across the standard, clear, Madoromi and Family versions of the Kakuno. We then narrowed the choice down to one nib width and one body style for each kind of writer. Every spec below comes from Pilot's own catalog or press release. Reviewer opinions are labeled as opinions, so you can see which is which.

The short answer: fine nib for most people, with two exceptions

If you write mostly in notebooks, planners and class notes, start with the Kakuno F (fine) nib. It is the width Pilot offers across every Kakuno family, so you have the most colors to choose from. Pick EF (extra fine) instead if your handwriting is small, if you fill tight planner grids, or if your paper is thin. A finer line puts less ink on the page, so it has less to bleed through. Pick M (medium) if you mostly write cards, letters, envelopes or signatures and want a bolder, more visible line. Body style is a separate choice. The clear Non-Color version shows your ink level. The Madoromi colors swap the bright steel look for a gold-colored nib. The Family Series adds a character face to the nib. All of them share the same basic Kakuno design, so the nib width matters more than the color.

What Pilot confirms about the Kakuno, and the versions we picked

Pilot designed the Kakuno as an entry-level fountain pen for both children and adults. The standard model has won both the Good Design Award and the Kids Design Award, according to Pilot's catalog. The catalog lists a length of 131mm, a maximum diameter of 16mm and a weight of 11g. That is light enough to forget you are holding it. The barrel and cap are resin, and the body has flat sides like a pencil, so it is less likely to roll off a desk. The nib carries a small smiling face. Pilot explains that the face shows you the correct side and angle to write with, which is the most common thing new users get wrong. The pen fills from Pilot cartridges. It also accepts Pilot's CON-40 and CON-70N converters, which let you draw ink from a bottle. A converter is sold separately, so a new Kakuno writes on cartridges out of the box.

Pilot Kakuno Non-Color (clear), EF nib

The Non-Color Kakuno has a fully transparent barrel and cap, so you can see the cartridge, the feed and how much ink is left. That matters more than it sounds for a first fountain pen. The most common beginner surprise is a pen that simply runs dry mid-sentence. With a clear body, you see it coming. We picked the EF (extra fine) nib for this slot because it answers a question US shoppers search for directly: "pilot kakuno extra fine." EF is the thinnest of the three Kakuno widths Pilot makes. It suits small handwriting, dense planner layouts, annotations in the margins of books and thinner notebook paper. A clear pen also becomes more useful later. If you add a converter and start using bottled ink, a transparent body shows the real color of that ink inside the pen, not just on the page. For people who expect to try several ink colors, this is the most flexible starting body.

Best for: small handwriting, planners and anyone who wants to see their ink level at a glance.

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Pilot Kakuno in Soft Blue, F nib

This is the classic Kakuno look: a white body with a soft pastel cap, here in a calm blue. It carries the F (fine) nib, the middle of Pilot's three widths and the safest first choice for most writers. Fine is thin enough for everyday notebooks and lined paper, yet it lays down enough ink to show off a colored ink better than EF does. If you are not sure how small or large your handwriting is compared with other people's, this is the width to start with. Pilot's catalog lists the standard Kakuno at 131mm long and 11g, and the flat-sided body means it stays put on a sloped desk or a lap desk. Soft Blue is one of several soft colors in the line. The exact nib widths offered depend on the color, which is why we matched this one to the fine nib. It pairs naturally with blue or black cartridges for school or work notes.

Best for: first-time fountain pen users who write class notes, journals or to-do lists every day.

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Pilot Kakuno Madoromi Color in Ivory, F nib

Pilot launched the Kakuno Madoromi Color series in Japan on December 2, 2024, according to its press release. The name comes from the Japanese word for dozing off, and the five colors are inspired by a sleepy sky: pink, ivory, brown, blue and light blue. The big visual change is the nib. Madoromi pens use a gold-colored nib made of a hardened special alloy, in place of the usual silver tone. Note that this is a gold color, not a solid gold nib. The body is slightly slimmer than the standard model, with Pilot listing a maximum diameter of 15.2mm at the same 131mm length. The series comes in F and M widths only, so there is no extra fine option here. Pilot describes the series as aimed at adults who want a more grown-up Kakuno. If the bright pastel caps feel too playful for your desk or office, the ivory version is the quietest of the five.

Best for: adults who want a beginner-friendly fountain pen that looks calm on a work desk.

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Pilot Kakuno Family Series Mama in Red, M nib

The Family Series is the most playful Kakuno. Pilot's catalog lists five characters: Papa in blue, Mama in red, Boy in green, Girl in pink and Baby in yellow. Each one has a transparent colored body and a different face engraved on the nib, so the smile you see when writing belongs to that character. We picked the Mama version with an M (medium) nib for a specific job: letters, cards, envelopes and signatures. Medium puts down a bolder, wetter line than fine, which makes handwriting look more expressive on greeting cards and heavier paper. It is less suited to tiny planner boxes. Because the Kakuno was designed for both children and adults, the Family Series also works as a first pen for an older child who is learning cursive, or as a matching family gift set. The transparent body shows the ink level, just as the clear Non-Color model does.

Best for: handwritten letters and cards, and fun gift sets for the whole family.

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Pilot fountain pen ink cartridges, blue (5 cartridges)

A new Kakuno ships ready for cartridges, so the simplest refill is a pack of Pilot's own. These are Pilot's standard fountain pen cartridges, five to a pack, and this pack is blue. Pilot's first-time user guidance is short and practical. After you push a new cartridge into place, gently squeeze it to send ink toward the nib, then start writing. Pilot also asks that you use only Pilot fountain pen ink, either its cartridges or its bottled ink, in Pilot pens. That rules out mixing in third-party cartridges that may not fit or may not play well with the feed. Blue is a common choice for studying and journaling because it stands apart from printed black text while still looking neat. If you later decide you want bottled ink, you can add a Pilot converter. Until then, a spare pack of cartridges in your pencil case is all the refill system a beginner needs.

Best for: keeping any Pilot Kakuno writing without a bottle or converter.

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What do other writers say? The consumer and reviewer voices here are opinions, not Pilot's claims. In Japan, the MONOQLO team at 360LiFE described the Kakuno as a pen planned for children whose functions still hold up for adults. They also called it easy to toss into a pencil case at a low cost. In the US, independent reviewers often call the Kakuno one of the most approachable first fountain pens. They mention a smooth, reliable nib and a pen that is easy to take apart and clean. The same reviewers list some honest downsides. The plastic body feels basic next to pricier pens. Most versions have no pocket clip. A converter is not in the box. Some also feel it becomes too simple once they move on to higher-end pens. None of these points is a flaw in function. They describe what a beginner pen is designed to be, and they help you decide whether that fits you.

Who should skip the Kakuno

The Kakuno is not the right pen for everyone. Skip it if you want a pen that clips into a shirt pocket or a notebook cover, since reviewers note most versions have no clip. Skip it if a heavier, metal pen feels more comfortable to you. The Kakuno weighs about 11g, according to Pilot, and some writers prefer more weight in the hand. If you want to use a specific bottled ink from the first day, budget for a Pilot converter as well, because the pen does not come with one. Pilot's own guidance adds a few rules. Always close the cap firmly when you stop writing, so the nib does not dry out. Use only Pilot fountain pen ink. Keep the pen out of reach of small children. When you clean it, never pull the nib or feed out of the grip section, and do not wipe the body with alcohol. If those habits sound like too much, a gel pen may suit you better.

Your next step: choose in three quick steps

Start with how you write, not with the color. First, look at your handwriting. If your letters are small or your planner boxes are tight, pick EF; for regular lined notebooks, pick F; for cards and letters, pick M. Second, pick the body. Choose the clear Non-Color if you want to watch your ink level, a soft color for a classic look, Madoromi for a calmer adult style with a gold-colored nib, or the Family Series for gifts. Third, add a pack of Pilot cartridges so you never run dry at the wrong moment. You can browse every Kakuno color and nib width in our Japanese stationery collection. If you are building a full study space around your new pen, our guide to a Japanese study desk setup covers the pencil, timer and organizers that go with it.

FAQ

Is the Pilot Kakuno good for beginners?

Yes. Pilot designed the Kakuno as an entry-level fountain pen for children and adults, and its smiling-face nib shows the correct writing side and angle.

Which Kakuno nib is best: EF, F or M?

F (fine) suits most everyday notebook writing. EF (extra fine) suits small handwriting and planners. M (medium) suits letters, cards and signatures.

Does the Pilot Kakuno come with a converter?

No. The Kakuno uses Pilot ink cartridges out of the box. Pilot lists the CON-40 and CON-70N converters as compatible for filling from a bottle.

What is the difference between the regular Kakuno and the Madoromi?

The Madoromi Color series has a gold-colored special alloy nib, five muted colors, F and M widths only, and a slimmer 15.2mm maximum diameter.

How do I start writing with a new cartridge?

Push the cartridge in firmly, then gently squeeze it to send ink to the nib. Pilot recommends using only Pilot fountain pen ink.