A ballpoint pen from Hobonichi with a small figure of one of Yumi Kitagishi’s characters sitting on top.

This pen takes Kaweco Refills!

Kitagishi is a Japanese illustrator, and she sculpted the original figure in clay by hand, which is why it has the soft, slightly uneven look of a made thing rather than a printed one.

Why people love it

• A 0.5 mm oil based ballpoint, so the line stays fine enough for the small squares in a planner

• Press the top to write: the figure rides on the knock button

• 159 mm long and about 10 g, a normal pen to hold rather than a novelty you put down again

• The barrel carries Kitagishi’s signature and logo next to the Hobonichi name

• The colours are matched to her planner covers, so the two sit together

Each pen has its own version of the character.