Japanese Fountain Pens - guide to picking the right nib

The choice of nib really depends on the type of writing. 

In the images below, we have provided reference with Arial 10pt, Arial 12pt and mechanical pencil 0.5mm. 

Caveat
Everyone's writing style is different. 
Thus everyone's preference is different.

The writing samples below were written with moderate strength and consistent  speed. To simulate how most people would write. 
The paper used are standard A4 paper since this is most common.

Hope this helps you pick the right nib.

Tips
You can right click each of writing sample and open the image sample in a separate tab. Larger image would allow you to inspect the strokes, and nib samples. 

Approach
The approach was finding the nib most suited for daily use. For use at the office, and students at school.  For a variety of situations. 

I started writing with fountain pens in High School.  Since it produced deeper blacks than ballpoints.  And much more stronger impression.
Later, at work, I always had a fountain pen on my desk.  
Taking notes, writing memos, correcting spreadsheet printouts.  
During travel, the fountain pen was used for capturing thoughts & inspirations.  

And thus this forms the approach below for recommending nibs. 
A nib not too strong, not too wet, not too broad, not too fine. 
Not too dry.  
But then some people like their whiskey straight. 



Pilot Fountain Pens

Pilot's Fine Nib
- For writing with more clean and crisp lines.
- Good for writing font size from Arial 10pt and Arial 12pt, etc.
- Ink flow is just right.
- Good for writing numbers.  Phone numbers, doing math.  
- Perfect for office use when you would want to write on a spreadsheet. 
- Produces lines similar 0.5mm mechanical pencil. 

Pilot's Medium Nib
- Thicker lines, more ink flow compared to fine nib. 
- Writing feels stronger, more bold, deeper impression. 
- Suitable for larger handwriting from Arial 12pt onward.
- Great for writing out greeting cards. invitations, and signature.

Which Pilot nib for writing Japanese, Kanji and Chinese characters
- Recommended to use the fine nib for writing Asia characters. 
- Medium nib maybe too wet under most circumstances.
- Thicker lines not suitable for characters with many strokes. 

For daily use, for students and at the office
- Pick the Fine nib.
- Just right amount of ink flow, crisp writing is perfect for day to day use. 
- Simply is more versatile. 
- Great for high school students
- Perfect for the office, day to day use. 
- For writing journals.

Sailor Fountain Pen Nibs 

Sailor's Medium Fine Nib
- The standard/de-facto nib for Sailor Fountain Pens is Medium Fine. 
- The Sailor Lecoule Series, Sailor Profit Junior Series are produced in Medium Fine nib.
- Sailor's Medium Fine compares closely to Platinum's Fine and Pilot's Fine Nib.
- Perfect for writing from Arial 10pt upward. 
- Ink flow is moderate. Clean and crisp writing. 
- Good for numbers as well. 

Sailor's Fine Nib
- Sailor's Fine Nib is more fine that Medium Fine nib (of course).
- Better for writing Asian characters with lots of strokes.

Which Sailor Fountain Nib for students and office use?
I would say Sailor's Medium Fine nib is most versatile.  
The middle of the road option.


  

 
Platinum Fountain Pens

Platinum's Fine Nib
- This is the option we recommend. 
- Platinum's Fine Nib is closer to 0.5mm pencil.
- Just perfect for daily use, for students and office use.
- Also good for Asian characters. For Japanese.
- Ideal for writing from Arial 10pt upward.

Platinum's Medium Nib
- It is stronger and dark. Perfect for signatures.
- Platinum's Medium Nib is more stronger than Pilot and Sailor's Medium.
- So it is suited for Arial 12pt font handwriting. 
- It feel like writing with 0.9mm mechanical pencil.