Pilot Kakuno Clear — Transparent Demonstrator Fountain Pen (EF / F / M)

Pilot Kakuno Clear — Transparent Demonstrator Fountain Pen (EF / F / M)

The Pilot CON-40 Converter is not included with this pen and must be purchased separately — available here.

The Pilot Kakuno Clear is a fully transparent demonstrator fountain pen — a pen designed from the outset to show its ink. The Kakuno is one of Pilot's most beloved entry-level fountain pens, widely praised for its approachable design, reliable performance, and genuine writing quality at an accessible price point. The Clear variant takes the Kakuno's established platform and removes every visual barrier between writer and ink: the body, grip, and cap are all fully transparent colourless resin, giving an unobstructed view of the ink cartridge, feed, and ink flow at all times. Available in three nib sizes — Extra Fine (EF), Fine (F), and Medium (M) — the Kakuno Clear is the definitive entry point for new fountain pen writers, and one of the most satisfying ink showcase tools available at any price.

The Kakuno line was designed by Pilot to make fountain pen writing accessible without compromising on the quality that defines the brand. The hexagonal pencil-shaped body prevents desk rolling; the triangular grip guides new writers into the correct hand position naturally; the snap cap opens and closes without ceremony; and the smiling face engraved on the nib ensures the correct writing angle every time. The Clear variant adds one further dimension: every ink loaded into the pen becomes a visual experience, with colour, shading, and shimmer visible through the transparent body from cap to barrel. The body is made from 85% recycled plastic resin. Each pen includes one Pilot black ink cartridge; compatible with Pilot cartridges and the CON-40 and CON-70 converters.

Available at Shosai (shosai.ca) in Gatineau / Ottawa — with in-store pickup (J9J 0K6) and Canada-wide shipping.

Why the Kakuno Clear

The Kakuno Clear occupies a unique position: it is simultaneously the best beginner fountain pen for new writers and the best ink demonstrator at its price point for experienced collectors. For new writers, the transparent body demystifies the fountain pen — showing exactly how ink flows from reservoir to nib, how ink volume decreases with use, and how different inks behave inside the pen. For ink enthusiasts and collectors, the fully transparent body transforms every ink into a display piece: vivid colours read at full saturation through the clear resin; shading gradients are visible in the ink column itself; and shimmer particles catch light as they move through the barrel, creating a visual effect that no opaque pen can replicate.

The smiling face on the nib is both a design signature and a functional guide — always oriented upward during writing, it confirms correct nib angle without requiring the writer to think about it. For left-handed writers, new writers, and anyone building a fountain pen habit, this single detail removes one of the most common sources of early frustration. The Kakuno Clear is, in short, a pen that does everything it promises: writes reliably, shows its ink beautifully, and makes fountain pen writing immediately approachable and immediately rewarding.

Pen Specifications

Body and Design

The Kakuno Clear body is hexagonal in cross-section — a pencil-shaped profile that sits naturally in the hand, prevents the pen from rolling off desks and flat surfaces, and gives the pen a clean, understated visual identity. The body, grip section, and cap are all fully transparent colourless resin (85% recycled plastic), with no colour decoration or opaque elements. The result is a complete, unobstructed view of the ink inside the pen at all times — colour, fill level, feed saturation, and ink flow all visible through the clear body.

The cap snaps onto the barrel securely and posts firmly at the back of the pen during writing. The grip section is triangular — a gentle three-sided profile that guides the fingers into a correct writing position naturally, without requiring conscious effort. This is particularly valuable for new writers establishing hand position and for younger writers developing their grip.

Nib

The Kakuno nib is a steel alloy nib with a smiling face engraved at the base — Pilot's signature design element for the Kakuno line, oriented to face upward during correct writing, providing a constant visual confirmation of nib angle. The nib is smooth, consistent, and reliable across all three size variants:

• EF (Extra Fine) — the finest line width; ideal for small handwriting, detailed work, annotation, and writers who prefer a precise, controlled line; particularly effective on premium papers where fine-line shading is visible
• F (Fine) — the most versatile size; a balanced everyday line width suitable for most handwriting styles and most paper types; the recommended starting point for new fountain pen writers
• M (Medium) — a broader, wetter line; the most expressive writing experience of the three sizes; the recommended choice for showcasing ink shading and shimmer; broader strokes reveal the full tonal range of expressive inks

Filling System

The Kakuno Clear accepts Pilot proprietary ink cartridges (standard international short cartridge format is not compatible — Pilot cartridges only) and is compatible with the Pilot CON-40 squeeze converter and the Pilot CON-70 piston converter. The CON-70 is the recommended converter for ink demonstration purposes: its larger capacity fills the transparent barrel more fully, maximising the visual display of ink colour and shimmer. Each pen ships with one Pilot black ink cartridge.

The Kakuno can also be converted to an eyedropper filling system by sealing the grip section threads with silicone grease or heat-set adhesive — a modification popular among ink enthusiasts who want maximum ink capacity and the most dramatic shimmer display. Eyedropper conversion is not an official Pilot configuration and is done at the user's discretion.

Dimensions and Weight

The Kakuno Clear as an Ink Showcase

The Kakuno Clear's fully transparent body makes it one of the most effective ink showcase tools available at any price point. Every visual property of a fountain pen ink is amplified and made directly visible through the clear resin:

Colour — the ink's true base colour is fully visible through the transparent body without distortion; vivid inks read at full saturation; subtle inks show their true depth; colour shifts under different lighting conditions are directly observable in the barrel

Shading — ink shading is visible both in the barrel (where concentration differences between the top and bottom of the ink column are apparent) and on the page, where the full tonal gradient of expressive inks is most visible with the M nib on quality papers

Sheen — the transparent body catches and refracts light at different angles, making metallic sheen effects at stroke edges and pooling points more apparent and more dramatic than in opaque pens; the Kakuno Clear is a frequently recommended showcase pen specifically for inks with red, gold, or green sheen

Shimmer — shimmer particles move visibly through the transparent barrel as the pen is used, creating a visual effect — shimmer catching light as it flows through the ink reservoir — that is unique to demonstrator-style pens; the Kakuno Clear is widely used in the fountain pen community specifically as a shimmer ink display tool

A note on shimmer inks: The Kakuno's feed and grip section are not designed for easy disassembly, and shimmer particles can accumulate in the feed channels with extended use. For short-term shimmer display the pen performs excellently; for regular shimmer ink use, flush thoroughly with water immediately after each session and allow the feed to soak. Some users convert the pen to eyedropper filling for shimmer use, which simplifies cleaning and maximises display capacity.

Nib Size Guide

Recommended Inks

The Kakuno Clear performs well with all Pilot cartridge and bottled inks, and is compatible with most water-based fountain pen inks from other brands when used with a converter. Inks that particularly reward the transparent demonstrator format:

• Pilot Iroshizuku inks — the full Iroshizuku range showcases beautifully through the clear body; shading inks (Shin-kai, Fuyu-syogun) show tonal depth in the barrel; sheening inks (Kon-peki, Yama-budo, Asa-gao) catch light dramatically through the clear resin
• Shimmer inks — the transparent barrel makes shimmer particles visible in motion; particularly effective with fine shimmer inks at low particle concentration; see note on shimmer maintenance above
• Vivid saturated inks — highly saturated inks (Kon-peki, Asa-gao, Yama-budo) read at maximum chromatic depth through the clear body
• Water-based dye inks generally — any well-behaved water-based ink performs reliably in the Kakuno; pigment inks are not recommended due to clogging risk in the non-disassemblable feed

Pen Care and Maintenance

The Kakuno Clear is low-maintenance under normal use with standard dye-based inks. Flush with cool water every 4–6 weeks or when changing inks. The grip section and feed are not designed for full disassembly — avoid forcing the grip section apart, as the pen is not intended to be user-disassembled. For shimmer inks, flush immediately after each session and soak the nib and grip section in cool water for 30–60 minutes to clear particle accumulation from the feed channels.

The transparent resin body may show minor surface scratches over time with regular use — this is normal for clear plastic demonstrator pens and does not affect writing performance.

About Pilot

Pilot Corporation is one of Japan's oldest and most respected writing instrument manufacturers, founded in 1918 and producing fountain pens, inks, and writing instruments for over a century. The Kakuno line represents Pilot's commitment to making quality fountain pen writing accessible to new writers — a pen that does not compromise on writing performance while removing every barrier to entry. The Kakuno Clear is the Kakuno at its most expressive: the same reliable platform, now designed to show its ink as beautifully as it writes.

Product Specifications

Available at Shosai — Ottawa–Gatineau

Shosai (shosai.ca) is a fine stationery boutique serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region. We carry a curated selection of premium fountain pen inks, papers, and writing instruments from the world's most respected stationery brands.

• 📍 In-store pickup: Gatineau, QC — J9J 0K6
• 🛵 Local delivery: Available in the Ottawa–Gatineau area
• 🚚 Canada-wide shipping available
• 🇫🇷 Service bilingue — français et anglais

Whether you are new to fountain pens or a seasoned collector, Shosai is your local destination for inks that go beyond the ordinary.