Zebra Sarasa Clip: The Binder-Clip Gel Pen Explained

The Sarasa Clip 0.5 mm, with the binder clip that gives it its name.

Product facts

Product: Zebra Sarasa Clip Retractable Gel Pen (0.3 / 0.4 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; JJ15)
Brand: Zebra
Brand origin: Japan
Made in: Japan^*
Material: Plastic barrel (76% recycled plastic by Eco Mark calculation in standard colors), rubber grip, movable binder clip
Released: 2003
Price range: $under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)

Notes on these facts

Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation. Made in Japan: per retailer spec sheets: FairPrice (Singapore) lists Japan for the 0.7 mm pen and the JF-0.5 refills, Carrefour UAE lists Japan for the Sarasa Push Clip, and SM Stationery (Philippines) says made in Japan. Zebra's Japanese and global product pages don't state a country of manufacture. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

Zebra released the Sarasa Clip in 2003, three years after the first Sarasa pen in 2000; its birthday is October 16.
Zebra says it has been No. 1 in Japan's gel pen sales for 14 straight years (Nikkei POS, January 2012 to December 2025), with more than 1.4 billion pens shipped.
Five ball sizes: 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm; the 0.5 mm takes the JF-0.5 refill.
Zebra's Japanese site lists every size at 141.0 mm (5.6 in) long, 11.0 mm across and 10.9 g, for ¥132 (about US$0.80) including tax.
Retailer listings in Singapore, the UAE and the Philippines give Japan as the country of origin.

What is the Zebra Sarasa Clip?

The Sarasa Clip is Zebra’s retractable gel pen with water-based pigment ink and a movable binder clip. Zebra’s Japanese company history dates the first Sarasa to 2000 and the Sarasa Clip to 2003; Zebra-supervised material gives its birthday as October 16. Zebra’s Japanese site lists it at ¥132 (about US$0.80) including tax.

Zebra says the Sarasa Clip has been No. 1 in Japan’s gel pen sales for 14 straight years, citing Nikkei POS data from January 2012 to December 2025, and that it had shipped more than 1.4 billion pens by December 2024. Those are Zebra’s figures; we haven’t seen the underlying data.

Zebra Sarasa Clip specs

Spec	Value
Maker	Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); US arm Zebra Pen Corporation
Type	Retractable gel pen, water-based pigment ink
Ball sizes	0.3 · 0.4 · 0.5 · 0.7 · 1.0 mm
Japanese model codes	JJH15 (0.3) · JJS15 (0.4) · JJ15 (0.5) · JJB15 (0.7) · JJE15 (1.0)
Refill	JF series (JF-0.5 for the 0.5 mm)
Length	141.0 mm (5.6 in), per Zebra Japan (SM Stationery and JetPens agree)
Diameter	11.0 mm, per Zebra Japan (JetPens: 11.1 mm max, 10.3 mm grip)
Weight	10.9 g, per Zebra Japan (SM Stationery lists 10 g)
List price (Japan)	¥132 (about US$0.80) including tax
JAN (0.5 mm black)	4901681143115
Launched	2003 (Sarasa series 2000)
Made in	Japan (per retailer spec sheets)

All of those figures are the same for every ball size on Zebra’s Japanese page. Zebra also says the standard-color bodies carry the Eco Mark, with 76% recycled plastic by the Eco Mark calculation (Vintage and Deco Shine colors excluded).

What does the binder clip do?

It’s a movable clip that opens like a binder clip, so it grips thicker things than a normal pen clip. Zebra’s Japanese site says the movable binder clip can grip thick boards and reduces clip breakage. In practice that means a notebook cover, a planner band or a stack of paper.

Which Sarasa Clip size should you choose?

Pick 0.5 mm for everyday writing, 0.3 or 0.4 mm for small handwriting and planners, and 0.7 or 1.0 mm for bold lines.

0.3 and 0.4 mm: fine lines for small notebooks and margins; less ink means faster drying.
0.5 mm: the standard Sarasa Clip and the size most sets and colors come in.
0.7 mm: a darker, wetter line with a smooth feel.
1.0 mm: signatures and headings. It puts down the most ink.

The number is the ball diameter; the line on paper depends on paper and pressure.

What colors and refills are there?

The Sarasa Clip comes in dozens of colors and takes Zebra’s JF gel refill in the matching size. JetPens’ color chart lists 84 options across sizes and sub-series such as Milk (pastels), Vintage and Deco Shine. Zebra says the line started with 10 colors in 2003.

For the 0.5 mm pen the refill is the JF-0.5. US distributors list JF refills as also fitting the Sarasa, Sarasa SE, Jimnie Gel and Z-Grip Gel, which makes them easy to find.

Is Sarasa Clip ink waterproof?

It’s sold as water-resistant, not waterproof. Zebra’s Japanese site says the water-based pigment ink has excellent water resistance and gives dark lines that don’t feather; retailers add fade resistance and call it archival and acid-free. Zebra doesn’t publish a dry time.

How does the Sarasa Clip compare to the Pilot G2?

Both are cheap, refillable Japanese gel pens; the Sarasa Clip has pigment ink, a binder clip and more sizes at the fine end.

	Zebra Sarasa Clip	Pilot G2
Ink	Water-based pigment gel	Gel
Sizes	0.3 · 0.4 · 0.5 · 0.7 · 1.0 mm	0.38 · 0.5 · 0.7 · 1.0 mm
Clip	Movable binder clip	Standard pocket clip
Refill	JF series	77240 etc. (BLS-G2)
Launched	2003	1997
Made in	Japan (retailer sheets)	Japan (retailer sheets)

If you smear gel ink, the Pentel EnerGel is the usual quick-drying alternative. For a gel pen sold in most US office stores, see the Sharpie S-Gel. For another pigment gel pen, the uni-ball One uses larger pigment particles that uni-ball says sit on the paper’s surface.

Where is the Zebra Sarasa Clip made?

Retailer spec sheets list the Sarasa Clip as made in Japan. FairPrice in Singapore gives Japan for the 0.7 mm pen and the JF-0.5 refills, Carrefour UAE gives Japan for the Sarasa Push Clip, and SM Stationery in the Philippines says made in Japan. Zebra’s Japanese product page doesn’t state a country of manufacture.

How much does a Sarasa Clip cost?

It falls in our lowest price band, $ (under $5 per pen), in a typical multi-pack. Single pens from specialist shops cost a little more, and large color sets cost less per pen.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called the Sarasa Clip?

Because of its clip. Zebra fitted it with a movable binder-style clip that opens wider than a normal pen clip, so it can grip a notebook cover or a thick stack of paper.

What refill does the Zebra Sarasa Clip use?

Zebra's JF gel refill in the matching size, such as JF-0.5 for the 0.5 mm pen. US distributors say the JF refill also fits the Sarasa, Sarasa SE, Jimnie Gel and Z-Grip Gel.

Is Sarasa Clip ink waterproof?

It's water-resistant rather than waterproof. Zebra's Japanese site says the water-based pigment ink has excellent water resistance and doesn't feather; we haven't tested it ourselves.

Is the Sarasa Clip the best-selling gel pen in Japan?

That's Zebra's claim. Zebra says the Sarasa Clip has ranked No. 1 in Japan's gel pen sales for 14 straight years, citing Nikkei POS data from January 2012 to December 2025, with over 1.4 billion pens shipped by December 2024.

How many colors does the Sarasa Clip come in?

Dozens. JetPens' color chart lists 84 options across sizes and sub-series such as Milk, Vintage and Deco Shine. Zebra says the line started with 10 colors in 2003.

Where is the Zebra Sarasa Clip made?

Retailer spec sheets in Singapore, the UAE and the Philippines list Japan as the country of origin; Zebra's own product pages don't say. Zebra Co., Ltd. is based in Tokyo; Zebra Pen Corporation is its US arm.

How does the Sarasa Clip compare to the Pilot G2?

Both are retractable, refillable gel pens from Japan. The Sarasa Clip uses pigment ink and a binder clip and comes as small as 0.3 mm; the G2 has a ribbed rubber grip, a standard pocket clip and runs from 0.38 to 1.0 mm.

Sources (20)

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