--- title: "Tombow Fudenosuke: Hard vs Soft Tip Brush Pens" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-fudenosuke/" description: "Tombow Fudenosuke brush pen explained: hard vs soft tip, waterproof pigment ink, the 62038 2-pack, 134 mm size, colors, and why letterers start with it." category: "Pens" type: "Brush pen" published: 2026-10-20 updated: 2026-10-20 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 13 products: - name: "Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (hard and soft tip)" brand: "Tombow" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Elastomer brush tip, water-based pigment ink (Tombow); recycled plastic barrel (LarryPOST)" released: "2001" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Tombow USA" model: "WS-BH 150 (hard tip), WS-BS 150 (soft tip); in Japan GCD-111 (hard) and GCD-112 (soft)" sku: "62038" url: "https://www.tombowusa.com/products/fudenosuke-brush-pen-2-pack" --- # Tombow Fudenosuke: Hard vs Soft Tip Brush Pens > The Tombow Fudenosuke is a small, non-refillable brush pen from Tombow of Japan, sold in the US as a 2-pack (62038) with one hard tip and one soft tip. Both hold water-based pigment ink. The firm hard tip suits small lettering; the soft tip makes bigger strokes. JetPens lists a soft-tip pen at 134 mm (5.3 in) uncapped. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-fudenosuke/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-20 - Updated: 2026-10-20 ![The Tombow Fudenosuke 2-pack drawn in proportion, both pens uncapped: a hard-tip pen with a navy body and a short firm black brush tip, and a soft-tip pen with a black body and a longer, flexed black brush tip, with a close-up comparing the two tips](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/tombow-fudenosuke-16x9.png) *The 2-pack: the navy hard tip for small letters and the black soft tip for bigger strokes.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/tombow-fudenosuke-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (hard and soft tip) | Tombow (by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Tombow USA) | Japan | Japan | Elastomer brush tip, water-based pigment ink (Tombow); recycled plastic barrel (LarryPOST) | 2001 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (hard and soft tip)): Japan. LarryPOST (Australia) lists the navy-body black hard tip as made in Japan. Tombow's Japanese, US and European pages don't state a country, and we found no origin for the soft tip (WS-BS 150), so check the pack. Source: https://www.larrypost.com.au/apps/aeo/ai/md/default/products/tombow-fudenosuke-brush-pen-hard-tip-black.md ## Key takeaways - The US 2-pack, Tombow item 62038, holds one hard-tip and one soft-tip pen, both with black water-based pigment ink. - Tombow Japan launched the black Fudenosuke in 2001, took it to the US and Europe from 2015, and added 9 colors in October 2018. - Tombow's 2018 press release gives the hard-tip pen as 10 mm across, 142 mm (5.6 in) long and 8 g; JetPens lists a soft tip at 13.4 cm uncapped. - Tombow Japan lists the black hard (GCD-111) and soft (GCD-112) pens at ¥165 (about US$1) each with tax. - Amazon search data cited by amazonseo.ai puts the 62038 2-pack first for "brush pens", with a 12.40% click share. ## What is the Tombow Fudenosuke? **It's a small, non-refillable brush pen from Tombow of Japan, made for brush lettering and Japanese-style writing.** Most US buyers get it as the 2-pack, Tombow item 62038, which pairs a hard-tip pen with a soft-tip pen. Tombow USA describes the ink in both as water-based pigment ink in black, and odorless. Tombow Japan first sold the black pen at home in 2001 as a 筆文字サインペン (brush-lettering sign pen) and began selling it in Europe and the US in 2015. Unlike Tombow's bigger [Dual Brush Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-dual-brush-pen/), the Fudenosuke has one tip only, a small brush that's easier to control at letter sizes you'd use in a journal or on a card. ## Tombow Fudenosuke specs | Spec | Hard tip | Soft tip | |---|---|---| | Model | WS-BH 150 | WS-BS 150 | | Japanese model | GCD-111 | GCD-112 | | Body color (black ink) | Navy | Black | | Tip | Small, firm elastomer brush | Small, flexible elastomer brush | | Best for | Small writing | Larger writing | | Ink | Water-based pigment, black | Water-based pigment, black | | Length | 142 mm (5.6 in), 10 mm across (Tombow Japan) | 13.4 cm (5.3 in) uncapped, 16.4 cm (6.5 in) posted (JetPens) | | Weight | 8 g (Tombow Japan) | Not stated | | Price in Japan | ¥165 (about US$1) including tax | ¥165 (about US$1) including tax | | Price in Europe | €3.30 (about US$3.70), Tombow Europe | Not checked | | Refillable | No | No | | Made in | Japan (LarryPOST) | Not stated | Tombow Japan's 2018 press release for the hard-tip pens gives 10 mm across, 142 mm long and 8 g, "about the same as a ballpoint", with a clip. The soft-tip length comes from JetPens' listing for a colored soft-tip pen. Neither Tombow nor the retailers give a line width in millimeters. Tombow's Japanese site explains what the tips are made of: not hair or felt, but elastomer, a rubbery plastic. Tombow says the hard elastomer tip writes at ordinary ballpoint pressure, about 250 g, and rarely splays or crushes if you press harder; the soft tip (しなやか仕立て) bends more. Japanese packs also include a guide sheet (お助けプレート) for keeping lines straight. ![To-scale drawing of a Tombow Fudenosuke soft-tip pen: 134 mm (5.3 in) uncapped and 164 mm (6.5 in) with the cap posted, from JetPens](https://stationerytimes.com/images/tombow-fudenosuke-lengths.svg) *Uncapped and posted lengths at 1 mm = 3.4 px, from JetPens' listing.* ## Hard tip or soft tip: which should you choose? **Start with the hard tip if you're new to brush lettering or write small; pick the soft tip once you want more contrast in bigger letters.** Tombow Europe says the soft tip is especially suited to larger writing and the hard tip to small writing. A firm tip changes width less for the same pressure change, so shaky hands show less. A softer tip bends further, giving thinner upstrokes and fatter downstrokes, which is the look most lettering styles aim for. ## Is the Fudenosuke ink waterproof? **Tombow USA calls the black ink water-based pigment ink, and Tombow's Japanese site says it is water- and light-resistant.** Tombow Japan adds that once dry it won't run, so it is safe for mail and documents, and that it doesn't bleed when you color over it with water-based dye markers. It also lists inkjet paper as compatible. That makes the Fudenosuke a good outline pen under watercolor or under water-based markers such as the Dual Brush Pen. We haven't run our own wash test yet. ## Can you refill it? **No: Tombow USA lists the Fudenosuke as non-refillable.** When it runs dry, you replace the pen. If you want a brush pen you refill with cartridges, the [Pentel Arts Pocket Brush Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-pocket-brush-pen/) takes Pentel's FP10 black refills. ## Does it come in colors? **Yes: besides black, Tombow sells colored hard-tip Fudenosuke pens.** Its 2018 press release lists 10 colors: black, gray, brown, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, green and yellow, all in pigment ink. Tombow Japan sells them as the WS-BH10C set at ¥1,650 (about US$10) with tax, and Tombow USA as the Fudenosuke Colors 10-pack (SKU 56429). The release says the colors came at the request of overseas hand-lettering fans and went on sale in Japan on October 5, 2018, in the US in early October and in Europe in mid-October. There's also a twin-tip Fudenosuke in black and gray (WS-TBS in Europe, SKU 82040 in the US). Tombow Japan also sells the 慶弔ツインS (GCD-121), a soft-tip twin pen with black and pale ink (薄墨) for Japanese celebration and condolence envelopes, at ¥275 (about US$1.70) with tax; we didn't find it in US shops. ## How does it compare to other lettering pens? **It's the small, firm brush; the Dual Brush Pen is the big colorful one and the Pentel Sign Pen is a fiber point with little flex.** | | Tombow Fudenosuke | [Tombow Dual Brush Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-dual-brush-pen/) | [Pentel Sign Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-sign-pen/) | |---|---|---|---| | Tip | Small brush, hard or soft | Large nylon brush + 0.8 mm fine tip | Fiber point | | Ink | Water-based pigment | Water-based dye | Water-based | | Colors | Black, plus colored sets | 108 | Black and colors | | Best for | Small brush lettering | Big letters, blending | Signing, small text | For fine outlines and dots next to brush letters, a [Sakura Pigma Micron](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-pigma-micron/) is a common partner, or the 0.3 mm [STAEDTLER triplus fineliner](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/staedtler-triplus-fineliner/) for color. For art with a brush and lightfast ink, see the [Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/faber-castell-pitt-artist-pen/). ## Is the Fudenosuke popular? **Yes: it's one of the best-selling brush pens on Amazon US.** Amazon search data cited by amazonseo.ai puts the 62038 2-pack first by click share, 12.40%, for the search "brush pens." Tombow's 2018 press release also notes that the kanji 筆之助 logo on the barrel had become familiar to fans in Europe and the US, so Tombow kept it on export pens. ## Where is the Tombow Fudenosuke made? **A retailer gives Japan for the hard-tip pen.** LarryPOST in Australia lists the navy-body black hard tip as made in Japan. Tombow's Japanese, US and European pages don't state a country, and we found no stated origin for the soft tip or on Tombow USA's 2-pack page. ## How much does it cost? **In the usual 2-pack, it falls in our lowest band, $ (under $5 per pen).** Colored 10-packs also work out to under $5 a pen at Tombow USA. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between the Fudenosuke hard tip and soft tip? The hard tip is firmer, so it gives more control for small letters and is easier for beginners; Tombow Europe calls it especially suited to small writing. The soft tip bends more, making bigger contrast between thin and thick strokes, and Tombow Europe recommends it for larger writing. ### Is the Tombow Fudenosuke good for beginners? Yes, it's a common first pen for brush lettering. Tombow designed the hard elastomer tip so people new to brush pens can write at ordinary ballpoint pressure, about 250 g, without the tip splaying. ### Is Fudenosuke ink waterproof? Tombow Japan says the water-based pigment ink is water- and light-resistant once dry, safe for mail and documents, and won't bleed when you color over it with water-based dye markers. We haven't run our own wash test yet. ### Can you refill a Tombow Fudenosuke? No. Tombow USA lists the 2-pack as non-refillable, so you replace the pen when the ink runs out. For a refillable brush pen, look at the Pentel Arts Pocket Brush Pen. ### How long is a Tombow Fudenosuke? Tombow's 2018 press release gives the hard-tip pen as 142 mm (5.6 in) long and 10 mm across, about the size of a ballpoint. JetPens lists a soft-tip pen at 13.4 cm (5.3 in) uncapped and 16.4 cm (6.5 in) posted. ### Where is the Tombow Fudenosuke made? LarryPOST lists the black hard-tip pen as made in Japan. Tombow's own pages don't say, and we found no stated origin for the soft tip or the US 2-pack. ### Fudenosuke or Tombow Dual Brush Pen? Pick the Fudenosuke for small, crisp lettering in black, and the Dual Brush Pen for big, colorful, blendable letters. The Dual Brush Pen has a much larger nylon brush and a second fine tip. ### Does the Fudenosuke come in colors? Yes. Tombow's 10-color hard-tip set (WS-BH10C in Japan, item 56429 in the US) has black, gray, brown, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, green and yellow, all in pigment ink. There's also a twin-tip pen in black and gray. ## Sources - [筆之助 (Tombow Japan product page, "Fudenosuke": GCD-111 hard tip and GCD-112 soft tip, elastomer tip, water- and light-resistant pigment ink, ¥165 (about US$1) with tax)](https://www.tombow.com/products/fudenosuke/) - [全10色「筆之助しっかり仕立て」日米欧で同時発売 (Tombow Japan press release, October 1, 2018, "10-color Fudenosuke hard tip launched in Japan, the US and Europe": 2001 launch, 2015 export, 10 mm × 142 mm, 8 g, hard elastomer tip)](https://www.tombow.com/press/181001/) - [筆之助 しっかり仕立て カラー (Tombow Japan product page, "Fudenosuke hard tip, colors": WS-BH10C 10-color set, ¥1,650 with tax)](https://www.tombow.com/products/fudenosuke_color/) - [筆之助 慶弔ツインS (Tombow Japan product page: GCD-121, black and pale-ink twin, soft tips)](https://www.tombow.com/products/fudenosuke_keicho_twin/) - [Tombow USA: Fudenosuke Brush Pen 2-Pack, SKU 62038 (one soft and one hard tip, water-based pigment ink, odorless, non-refillable)](https://www.tombowusa.com/products/fudenosuke-brush-pen-2-pack) - [Tombow USA: Fudenosuke Colors Brush Pen Set, 10-Pack (SKU 56429)](https://www.tombowusa.com/products/fudenosuke-colors-set-10-pack) - [Tombow USA: Fudenosuke Twin Tip Brush Pen, black and gray (SKU 82040)](https://www.tombowusa.com/products/fudenosuke-brush-pen-twin-tip-black-grey) - [Tombow Europe: Fudenosuke Brush Pen hard tip, WS-BH (for small writing, €3.30)](https://www.tomboweurope.com/en/products/product/WS-BH) - [Tombow Europe: Fudenosuke Brush Pen soft tip, WS-BS (soft tip for larger writing)](https://www.tomboweurope.com/en/products/product/WS-BS) - [Tombow Europe: Fudenosuke twin soft tip, WS-TBS (black and gray)](https://tomboweurope.com/en/products/product/WS-TBS) - [JetPens: Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen, Soft, Light Green (13.4 cm uncapped, 16.4 cm posted)](https://www.jetpens.com/Tombow-Fudenosuke-Brush-Pen-Soft-Light-Green/pd/34606) - [LarryPOST: Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen (Navy Body), hard tip, black (recycled plastic, waterproof pigment ink, made in Japan)](https://www.larrypost.com.au/apps/aeo/ai/md/default/products/tombow-fudenosuke-brush-pen-hard-tip-black.md) - [amazonseo.ai: Amazon best sellers for brush pens (Tombow 62038 first by click share, 12.40%)](https://www.amazonseo.ai/fr/amazon-best-sellers/brush-pens)