Zig Kuretake – Japanese quality for artists, calligraphers and creative souls

Zig Kuretake is a renowned Japanese brand that has been a firm favourite among artists and creative enthusiasts for over 100 years. With deep roots in Japanese calligraphy and traditional art forms, Zig Kuretake combines innovation and cultural heritage in their wide range of artistic tools. At Plan & Plot Studio, you will find a carefully curated selection of Zig products – perfect for bullet journaling, brush lettering, illustration, manga and creative hobby projects.

Zig or Kuretake – What is the difference?

Kuretake is the overarching brand name representing the company's focus on art, colours, and creative lifestyle products. Zig, on the other hand, is the name of Kuretake's product line for pens and markers. The name ‘ZIG’ originally stems from the first fineliner pen, the Kuretake Zig, launched in the 1970s – a breakthrough in Japanese writing instruments, known for its extra-fine tip and elegant design.

The name ‘ZIG’ refers to the movement one makes when writing – the back-and-forth movement that is also at the core of creative expression. Today, ZIG is used as the brand name for all of Kuretake's pens and markers.

Why choose Zig Kuretake?

Japanese craftsmanship – High quality and attention to detail based on more than 100 years of experience.

Intense and clear colours – High pigmentation in both pens and watercolour paints.

Water-based ink – Ideal for paper, bullet journals and mixed media.

Versatile products – For both beginners and professional artists.

Popular Zig Kuretake products at Plan & Plot Studio

Zig Clean Color Real Brush

A brush pen with real brush bristles and water-based ink, which gives beautiful, watercolour-like effects. Perfect for colouring, illustration and brush lettering.

Can be used on its own or blended with water

Ideal for bullet journaling and mixed media

Available in a wide range of colours

Zig Clean Color Dot Pen

A unique pen with a flexible dot tip that makes it easy to create dots of various sizes – ideal for trackers, decorations and creative layouts.

Super popular for bullet journaling

Can also be used for point colouring and details

Available in lots of fun colours

Gansai Tambi – Traditional Japanese watercolour paints

Gansai Tambi is professional watercolour paint with high pigmentation, which is easy to activate and work with. The colours have a creamy consistency and cover well – even on dark paper.

Ideal for both illustration and decorative art

Beautiful metallic and pearlescent effects are also available

Perfect for creative projects

Bimoji Fude – Traditional brush pen for calligraphy

The Bimoji Fude is inspired by the classic Japanese calligraphy brush. It provides great control over line thickness and is perfect for modern brush lettering and traditional calligraphy.

Suitable for both text and illustration

Waterproof and quick-drying ink

Zig Mangaka – Fineliners for drawing and illustration

Zig Mangaka pens are developed for manga and illustration. They have precise tips and permanent pigment ink that does not smudge, even when used with watercolour or alcohol-based colours.

Available in multiple sizes

Perfect for outlines and detail work

Ink that doesn't run or smudge

Zig Cartoonist – Professional drawing tools

The Cartoonist series is aimed at you who draws comics, manga or detailed illustrations. The series includes both flexible brush pens and precise fineliners with waterproof pigmented ink.

Designed for professional cartoonists and illustrators

High control and precision

Ideal for both black and white and coloured illustrations

Use of Zig Kuretake products

Bullet journals and planners

Zig Clean Color Dot and Real Brush pens make it easy to decorate your setups, create trackers and colour codes, and design headings and layouts with personality.

Brush lettering and calligraphy

Fudenosuke, Bimoji Fude and Clean Color Real Brush are obvious choices for calligraphy and lettering. They give control, variation and elegance to your letters.

Illustration, manga and mixed media

Zig Mangaka, Cartoonist and Gansai Tambi are perfect for artists working with comics, illustration and mixed media. Combine fineliners, colours and watercolour for a unique result.

Frequently asked questions about Zig Kuretake

What is the difference between Clean Color Real Brush and Dot Pen?

Real Brush has a brush tip for line variation and blending, while Dot Pen has a round, flexible tip for decorative dots and bullet journal layouts.

Can I use Gansai Tambi with Zig pens?

Yes! Gansai Tambi works well with Zig's waterproof pens like Mangaka and Cartoonist, as the ink doesn't bleed when you paint over.

Are Zig pens acid-free and safe for scrapbooking?

Yes, most Zig products are acid-free and suitable for paper crafts, scrapbooking and creative hobbies.