Sunday Reading for April 19, 2026

1. My 2026 Atlanta Pen Show Haul (via Inkdependence). I love a good pen show haul unboxing video, and Mike delivers on this unboxing of his Atlanta Pen Show finds.

2. Hakase JG10A (via UK Fountain Pens). I’ve seen these pens in person, and yes, the craftsmanship may justify the wait list.

3. Leonardo + Stilo e Stile Poliedrica Desert Night (via Figboot on Pens). Leonardo is getting in on the semi-triangular fountain pen game. Not sure how I feel about this particular design going mainstream.

4. Hexagonal Fountain Pens (via dwrdnet). Many people appreciate hexagonal fountain pens for the grip, which mimics a traditional woodcase pencil.

5. My Bag (and What’s in It) (via SBRE Brown). I love seeing a good bag dump video, and I’m also partial to bags with lots of compartments and pockets, both internal and external.

6. I Forgot My Sketchbook at Work (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I forgot a set of pens at work - or at least thought I did - and ended up caving to go in on the weekend and look for them. Couldn’t take it.

7. Back on the Swatch Wagon (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’m working through a boatload of swatches myself this weekend, and sort of rediscovered that it’s a great way to unwind at the end of the day, even if it is sort of a work project for me.

In Case You Missed It….

The big news this week was the release of Episode 7 of On the Paper Trail, when Lisa and I managed to get back in the studio after a few weeks on the road to discuss our favorite underappreciated stationery. We each select a handful of items/brands from three categories (pens, paper, and ink) and discuss why we like each one. On Saturday I took a look at the Pilot Juice Up and Juice Plus gel pens, both of which feature Pilot’s “Synergy Tip” - a hybrid pen that combines the precision of a needle-point with the smoothness of a conical tip.

Yes, there are now 8 new Taccia inks that you can choose from!

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Gel Pens and Yes, More Taccia Inks!

If you haven’t guessed, we recently received a massive shipment of gel pens, inks, and mechanical pencils direct from Japan. We now have additional Uni Zentos, Pilot Juice+ and Juice Ups, Uni Jetstream standard ballpoint and multi pens, and the excellent double-ended Kire-Na Highlighters. On the paper side, we’ve added new letter writing sets from Belle & Union, and we’ve completely restocked on paper from Kobeha (including Graphilo and some inexpensive iiro Bible-size 6-ring refills). Be sure to check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for a full listing of all new arrivals and restocks.

Stop by our Nashville Shop and see these and more this week, in addition to shopping online. We are open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday.

Pilot Juice+

Uni Kuru Togas

Kobeha/Graphilo

Belle & Union

How YOu Can Support us further: AND SAVE THE DATE FOR OCTOBER 16-18, 2026 for On The paper Trail Live in Nashville!

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and special promotions, consider supporting us via Patreon. In addition to exclusive content, Discord access, and online meetups, Patreon supporters have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail” which have not been publicly released. Also, as we noted in yesterday’s post, we are planning an On The Paper Trail Weekend Event in Nashville the weekend of October 16-18, 2026! Stay tuned as we plan to release additional details in the coming weeks.

Pen Review: The Juice Up, the Juice Plus, and Pilot's "Synergy Tip"

I first discovered Pilot’s “Synergy Tip” gel pens a few years ago, when I picked up a pack of “Synergy Clicker” Frixion pens. This innovative tip format immediately improved my writing experience with the Frixion pens, reminding me of the smooth-writing liquid ink “V” rollerball series that I’ve always loved, with the added precision of the Hi-Tec-C gel ink. Of course, given the limitations of erasable Frixion ink, the pens weren’t quite as smooth or dark as I would’ve liked, so I kept looking. I soon discovered that Pilot also uses the Synergy Tip in their excellent “Juice” gel pen range, available in the U.S. as Japanese imports (including now from T.G.S.!). The two main options are the “Juice+” and the “Juice Up” lines, both of which use the same cartridge, with the primary differences being color range and barrel design.

The Pilot Juice+ / Juice Plus features a matte white barrel that’s lighter-weight than the heftier Juice Up.

Why I Like the Pilot “Synergy Tip” Gel Pens (Juice+ and Juice Up)

• You get most of the precision of the Hi-Tec-C with the smoother writing experience of a conical metal tip like the G2 or the Signo DX. The difference is especially noticeable when writing at a lower angle, which is where the Hi-Tec-C can sometimes give me trouble. In my experience the Juice pens are much less prone to clogging and premature drying out than the Hi-Tec-C, which is the primary downside to Pilot’s classic needle-tip gel pen.

• The Synergy Tip lays down a clean line, with none of the “blobbing” you can sometimes see in a standard Pilot G2 or standard Zebra Sarasa (not the “Sarasa Clip” series). The gel ink used in the Juice pens contains pigment that renders it “water-resistant”, per Pilot, so while it probably won’t survive a thorough soaking, it’s at least waterproof enough to withstand a splash from a spilled drink, and to allow you to highlight over the ink without smearing.

• I love the bolder Juice colors and expanded range. Right now, I think my favorites are the “Glossy” series of five dark colors that you can find within the Juice Up line.

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As you can see, the Juice Up highlights really well, with minimal smearing. The highlighter used here is the excellent Pilot Kire-Na.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

If you’re looking for a needle-ish tip gel pen that writes reliably and comes in a broad range of colors, I highly recommend both the Juice Up and Juice Plus (Juice+) line. We currently stock the .4mm and .5mm Juice Up pens, as well as the .4mm Juice Plus, in our own shop, and will be looking to add more as we grow. I did want to add a note on refill compatibility - you often see the Pilot Juice refills being advertised as “G2” compatible, meaning that they will fit pens that accept the Pilot G2 cartridge. While that may be true for the standard (conical-tip) Juice pens or older versions, the current Synergy refills appear to use a cartridge that is slightly shorter. For example, I was able to use a Glossy Red Juice Plus refill in a Sunderland MK1 (which accepts a standard G2) but I had to wrap a bit of washi tape around the end of the Synergy refill to add length. Otherwise the refill works perfectly with zero tip wiggle or other annoyances.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us and try these and other pens in person at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

All 15 Colors of the Pilot Juice Up!

Thursday Drops: New Japanese Gel Pens and Highlighters, Kuru Toga Wood Pencils, and a Graphilo Restock!

Over the past year, we’ve been working to expand our selection of Japanese gel pens, low-viscosity ballpoints, and highlighters, including many not typically found outside Japan. This past week we received a shipment that included the Pilot Juice Plus, the Pilot Kire-Na double-ended highlighter, and a restock of various Uni Jetstream Lite Touch and Zento gel pens. We even have more of the SXR-600 Parker-style Jetstream refills, which I consider one of the best widely compatible ballpoint refills available. We’ve also received a restock of Uni Kuru Toga mechanical pencils, including new versions like the Kuru Toga “Wood” series.

The new Uni Kuru Toga Wood mechanical pencils, available in two colors!

On the paper side, Graphilo is restocked in most formats, including A4 and A5 looseleaf, and we also have loads of new Midori, including Soft Color notebooks in both staple-bound and spiral/wirebound formats. (You’ll see these featured in this week’s episode of On The Paper Trail!)

Update: As of Friday, April 17, we have additional stock of the Taccia “Kuniyoshi” Ukiyo-e Inks! Be sure to check these out as there are some great colors in here.

Come see these and more in-person at our Nashville location! We are open Thursday-Friday 1pm-6pm, and on Saturday from 10am-6pm.

1. Pilot Juice Plus Gel Pens. The Pilot Juice features Pilot’s new “Synergy” tip, which is a hybrid between a needle-tip and a conical tip and designed to deliver precision while maintaining flow and durability. The Juice Plus (or “Juice+”) is an excellent fine-tip writer, currently available in .4mm.

2. Pilot Kire-Na Double-Ended Highlighters. Pilot’s answer to the popular Mildliners, the Kire-Na features an innovative clear “guide” on the broad end which helps you keep your highlights all neat and clean. The fine tip is even finer than a Mildliner, allowing you to highlight smaller text with precision or even annotate. Available in 10 different colors.

3. Uni Kuru Toga Wood Mechanical Pencils. We’ve been trying to source these mechanical pencils for nearly a year, and finally managed to procure a small shipment. The Kuru Toga Wood features a contoured dark wood grip paired with a softly knurled upper metal barrel. Available in two colors, green and grey.

4. Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch Mechanical Pencils. Looking for an all-day, every-day comfortable writer? We’re huge fans of the Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch, which comes in a wide array of colors, two different lead sizes, and with the ability to turn the Kuru Toga rotating mechanism on and off.

5. Pentel Tradio and PulaMan Fineliner/Fountain Pens. We recently received stock of the standard Pentel Tradio refillable fineliners, as well as the single-use/disposable PulaMan pens which feature a similar tip. Note that these are the standard versions and not the dark green Craft Design Technology versions, which are in the process of being restocked as well.

6. iiro 6-ring Refills. Kobeha, maker of Graphilo paper, also released these fun Bible-size refills which feature colorful dot-grid paper. Note that these relatively inexpensive refills are NOT made with Graphilo, but rather a more absorbent paper that’s designed to dry quickly and is better suited to ballpoints, gel, and rollerballs than especially wet fountain pens.

7. Graphilo Paper. We’ve restocked on most variants of Graphilo paper, including looseleaf, standard A5 and A5 Square notebooks, and the memo blocks. Graphilo paper is some of the most fountain pen-friendly paper available, and has rapidly become a shop favorite.

8. Belle & Union Correspondence Sets. By popular request, we’ve increased our selection of correspondence sets, including notecards and letter-size paper. We’ve even added their popular desk box, which includes both sizes.

9. Kaweco Metal Sport Fountain Pens. We have additional stock of the popular Stainless Steel Kaweco Sport fountain pens, as well as continued stock of the new Lunar Light Green and Shadow Green releases!

10. Kaweco Liliput Fountain Pens. We’ve also received additional green and brass Kaweco Liliputs, which are two of the more popular finishes of Kaweco’s most popular pocket pen.

On the Paper Trail Episode 7: Underappreciated Stationery Gems

In this week’s episode of On the Paper Trail, we discuss a topic that’s close to both of us: Underappreciated Stationery. For a variety of reasons, a wide range of exceptionally good stationery items don’t get the attention that we think they deserve. In some instances, entire brands can be underrated. We each picked items from three categories (pens, paper, and ink), and also talk a bit about why certain stationery can fly under the radar.

Additionally, we discuss our upcoming On the Paper Trail: Live in Nashville weekend event, currently slated for October 16-18! We talk a bit about our vision for this event and how we both wanted to create the type of event we personally want to attend, with a more balanced approach to shopping, seminars/classes, and opportunities to socialize!

On The Paper Trail: Where You Can Download the Podcast

As noted above, if you want to follow along and watch the video, On The Paper Trail has its own YouTube Channel. We have also uploaded the podcast to most popular podcast networks and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast.

Episode 7 Show Notes and Links

Note: We discuss a LOT of individual products this week, therefore this longer list has been moved to the bottom of the post.

1. Pilot e95s (Lisa’s Weekly Pen).

2. Blackwing Matte (Lisa’s Weekly Pencil).

3. Midori Soft Color Spiral (Lisa’s Weekly Paper).

4. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).

5. Uni Style Fit Meister 5 Multi Pen (Joe’s Weekly Pen).

6. Life Noble Note A5 6-Ring Paper (Joe’s Weekly Paper).

7. Kaweco Perkeo (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

8. Lamy Pico Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

9. Conway Stewart (Underappreciated Pen Pick.

10. Ohto Ceramic Rollerball Pens (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

11. Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

12. Jetstream Prime Ballpoint (Underappreciated Pen Pick).

13. Levenger Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

14. Yamamoto Ro-Biki (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

15. Original Crown Mill (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

16. Wearingeul Paper (Underappreciated Paper Pick).

17. Callifolio Ink (Underappreciated ink Pick).

18. KWZ Old Gold (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

19. Laban Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

20. Papier Plume Ink (Underappreciated Ink Pick).

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

New Arrivals: Stationery Sets from Belle & Union, Plus Washi Tapes from Papier Platz and Oeda Letterpress!

We’ve continued to build out the written correspondence section of the shop, adding additional notecard/envelope sets as well as traditional half and full-sheet letter sets. San Antonio-based Belle & Union uses 100% cotton paper printed with snail mail and analog-themed motifs, and they’ve even assembled a desk box that contains both notecards and letter paper so you have a complete correspondence set ready to go for whatever type of writing you need to do. Be sure to check out the full line of Belle & Union products both online and in-store!

We’ve also expanded our washi tape offerings to include new designs from Papier Platz and Oeda Letterpress, two Japanese brands specializing in stationery and calligraphy-themed tapes and other accessories. Papier Platz has collaborated with Japanese artist Eric Small Things on a line of washi tapes that includes fountain pen ink, bookshelves, and desk art - these are among my favorite of the new washi tapes, particularly the “My Desk” and “Writing Utensils” designs.

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We will be open normal hours this week in our Nashville shop, from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm Saturday. Stop by to see these and more in-person!