Written by: Jin Fujisaki / Published: 2026-02-24
When it comes to work documents and planner entries, there are plenty of situations where "black ink" is required. But haven't you ever felt that it's a little bland when every ballpoint pen you use every day is the same plain black? The pen that solves this grown-up dilemma with an exquisite color lineup—and that proudly took the top prize at the "Stationery Shop Awards 2022"—is Sakura Craypas's "Ballsign iD Plus."
Its biggest distinguishing feature is that all of the ink colors are "black." But these aren't just ordinary blacks. There's the classic, formal "Pure Black"; the slightly bluish, smart-looking "Night Black (Blue Black)"; and the subtly green-tinged, refined "Forest Black (Green Black)"—a carefully curated trio of black inks. At a glance they look black, but on closer inspection the colors are clearly different. It's an extremely sophisticated concept: a pen that lets you quietly slip in your own personal touch without breaking any of the rules of business.
| The true essence of "Plus." A low center of gravity delivered by machined metal
image: Bundoki
Its predecessor, the standard "Ballsign iD," was already a wonderful pen, but in the evolution to the upper-tier "Plus" model, the part that underwent the most dramatic change is the tip. The previously plastic pen tip has been swapped out for premium-feeling "machined metal."
This shifts the pen's center of gravity firmly toward the tip, achieving the "low center of gravity" that's ideal in a writing instrument. Just by setting the tip on the paper, the pen's own weight comes to bear, and you can produce the smooth lines characteristic of water-based gel ink steadily, without applying any extra pressure. The crisp, genuinely high-quality writing feel—hard to believe in a pen costing just a few hundred yen—makes it easy to see why stationery professionals unanimously chose it for the top award.
| A matte coating that grips your fingers, and the hand-friendly "iD design"
image: Sakura Craypas
The texture of the body has also been upgraded to something befitting a grown-up's possessions. The entire barrel is finished with a non-slip matte rubberized coating, so it doesn't slip even when your hands get sweaty, and it clings to your fingertips with a soft, supple feel.
What's even more noteworthy is its distinctive form. Rather than the typical round barrel, or the hexagonal barrel of a pencil, it adopts a unique hexagonal shape that combines elements of both (the iD design). Both sides of the pen are gently shaved down, so when you grip it, the pads of your fingers naturally fit against the flat surfaces. It conceals a kind, ergonomically based design that makes it less likely for your fingers to hurt even during long writing sessions.
| 0.4 mm in "Silver," or 0.5 mm in "Black"
image: Reflog
The lineup comes in two ball-tip sizes: a 0.4 mm extra-fine point ideal for planners, and a 0.5 mm point that's easy to use for notebook writing. What's interesting is that the body color is completely fixed by ball-tip size: the 0.4 mm comes in a stylish "Silver barrel," while the 0.5 mm comes in a weighty-feeling "Black barrel."
Both barrels feature a beautiful, glossy silver clip, and when slipped into the breast pocket of a suit or the pen holder of a system planner, its presence holds its own against luxury pens costing several thousand yen.
| Summary: Your very own "black," for just 385 yen
image: Rakuten Ichiba
Despite packing in all this attention to detail and generous use of metal parts, the price is just 385 yen including tax. "Turning the black pen you use every day into something just a little bit special." That one small change does wonders for your motivation when heading into work and the little spark of excitement when you open your planner.
The "Sakura Craypas Ballsign iD Plus" isn't merely a tool for writing letters—it's something more like a fashion item that quietly expresses your own style. At the test-writing corner of a stationery store, please go and find the "particular shade of black" that suits you best.
