The water-based ballpoint pen "Uniball Air" released by Mitsubishi Pencil at the end of November last year. It was a ballpoint pen that allows you to change the drawing line depending on the writing style and pressure, and it was a hot topic in magazines and online even before its release.

Uniball Air that appeared in the stationery world like a comet (only for water)
Uniball Air that appeared in the stationery world like a comet (only for water)

◆ Already very popular !?

I saw it at the store, but I didn't use it because I don't usually use a water-based ballpoint pen. However, when I checked it again at the beginning of the year, there were some shortages.

I saw 2 stores, but both were out of stock
I saw 2 stores, but both were out of stock

The popularity stimulated my own Miha heart, and I bought it this time. I want to make it the first stationery review in 2016.

◆ No need for power! Just "airy" writing comfort

I bought 0.5mm blue and 0.7mm black. The price is 200 yen per bottle (excluding tax).

(Top) 0.5mm blue, (Bottom) 0.7mm black
(Top) 0.5mm blue, (Bottom) 0.7mm black

Uniball Air's "air" literally means "feeling as light as air." It is equipped with a newly developed chip, and the inside of the pen tip moves up and down according to the writing pressure to control the ink flow rate.

The latest technology in this pen tip
The latest technology in this pen tip

When I tried it immediately, the ink got on the paper comfortably the moment the pen tip touched the paper. It's like a felt-tip pen when you touch it to get ink, but when you write it, you can see that the ball at the tip is moving, and it's surprisingly smooth writing without getting caught on paper.

In addition, even if the pen tip is tilted 360 degrees in any direction, ink will continue to come out without fading. I tried it on the back of the copy paper this time, but the ink dries quickly so even a left-handed writer didn't have to rub it.

◆ Does the thickness of the drawn line change?

Another feature of Uniball Air is that the lines drawn change depending on the writing style and pressure. If you stand the pen or write with a weak pen pressure, it will become thinner, and if you lay it down or write with a strong pen pressure, it will become thicker.

Image of writing separately
Image of writing separately

According to the manufacturer's site, the line width of 0.5 mm is 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, and the line width of 0.7 mm is 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.
According to the manufacturer's site, the line width of 0.5 mm is 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, and the line width of 0.7 mm is 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.

Calligraphy-style examples are also introduced on the Mitsubishi Pencil site, but it was difficult for the author who can only write at a certain angle and pressure (or rather, he is not good at writing).

I don't have this kind of sense
I don't have this kind of sense

I tried to write down this year's goals with pen pressure
I tried to write down this year's goals with pen pressure

As you can see from the 0.5mm of the company's representative oil-based ballpoint pen "JET STREAM", it is not very suitable for precise drawing. In addition, 0.7mm black is easy to collect ink if you write slowly, so be careful of set-off of notebooks and notebooks.

I was impressed when "JET STREAM" came out.
I was impressed when "JET STREAM" came out.

◆ Looking forward to using it

Uniball Air is perfect for taking notes, writing letters and messages because writing does not make your hands tired at all. It takes a little getting used to drawing the lines you want, but according to the company, "the more you use it, the more suitable the pen will be for the writer." I want to enjoy the tasteful handwriting of a water-based ballpoint pen for a while.

I hope you can meet wonderful stationery again this year!
I hope you can meet wonderful stationery again this year!