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  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Highlighters in 2022 (Zebra, Pentel, and More) 1
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Highlighters in 2022 (Zebra, Pentel, and More) 2
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Highlighters in 2022 (Zebra, Pentel, and More) 3
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Highlighters in 2022 (Zebra, Pentel, and More) 4
  • 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Highlighters in 2022 (Zebra, Pentel, and More) 5

10 Best Tried and True Japanese Highlighters in 2022 (Zebra, Pentel, and More)

Highlighters are indispensable study assistants. It’s their job to point out and help you remember the most vital parts of your notes, textbook, or documents. Of course, finding the best one, that doesn't smear all over the page, can be hard. And stationery is competitive in Japan, where they have some of the most innovative highlighters in the world, including ones that are retractable, erasable, and fast-drying.

That’s why we ordered the 14 most popular highlighters from Japan’s e-commerce giants, such as Amazon, Rakuten, and kakaku.com, and tested for the following:

  1. How easily it writes
  2. How quickly it dries
  3. How functional it is
  4. How rich the color is

This is how we tested and found the most exceptional Japanese highlighters.
Last updated 09/26/2023

Quick List - Top Japanese Highlighters

1

Mitsubishi Pencil

PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided
PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided

Drying Speed and Functionality Won High Marks

2

Mitsubishi Pencil

PROPUS Window Double-Sided
PROPUS Window Double-Sided

Clear-Tipped and Smooth

3

Zebra

MildlinerWKT7-MP
Mildliner

A Mild Ink That Leaves Print Clear and Is Gentle on the Eyes

4

Zebra

Highlighter OPTEX CARE Double-Sided
Highlighter OPTEX CARE Double-Sided

The Retro Style and the Way It Writes Are Both Top Class

5

Pentel

Retractable Refillable Handy Line S
Retractable Refillable Handy Line S

Ready for Use in a Flash With Its Convenient Retractable Feature

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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Japanese Highlighter – Buying Guide

Here, we want to introduce four things you should look out for when picking out a highlighter.
1

Get a Highlighter That Writes Comfortably

Not all highlighters come with the familiar angular tip. There are tips with windows in them, tips coated in resin, and tips that are like brushes. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of each and it will be a simpler task to choose a highlighter you find easy to work with.

Tips With Windows in Them Let You See Through to the Words Underneath

Tips With Windows in Them Let You See Through to the Words Underneath

If you hate making mistakes, then a highlighter with a window installed in the tip might be good for you. Because you can see exactly what you’re highlighting as you’re highlighting it, you’ll never start drawing a few letters too early or end a few letters too late. Windows are especially helpful for marking up textbooks or documents where the letters are printed close together.

Ones That Are Coated in Resin Don’t Wear Down as Quickly

Ones That Are Coated in Resin Don’t Wear Down as Quickly
Tips that are coated in resin are a godsend if you use a ruler when highlighting or if you write with heavy strokes.


The resin coating reinforces the tip, keeping it from wearing down or fraying. It not only makes highlighting a lot steadier, it keeps the pen looking and acting like new for a long, long time.

Brush Tips Allow You to Completely Control the Thickness of Your Highlights

Brush Tips Allow You to Completely Control the Thickness of Your Highlights
If you want to vary the width of your strokes, a brush-tipped highlighter is going to be your best bet.


The tip not only ensures that you can highlight both fine print and large print easily, but also prevents any ink splotches or uneven areas of color once you learn how to control it. If you like neon colors, you can also use brush highlighters for art; overall, these allow you the most control over your highlighting.

2

Make Sure That It Dries Quickly

Make Sure That It Dries Quickly
If you want to be as fast and efficient with your highlighting as possible, look for a highlighter that dries quickly. You won’t need to worry about the ink smearing or rubbing off, so you can move onto the next word, row, and page just like that.


Generally speaking, highlighters that have been marked as “quick-drying” or "Q dry" (as in the image above) do live up to their claims. If they haven’t been so labeled, however, you’ll have to try the highlighter out for yourself.

3

Check for Extra Features

Check for Extra Features
Double-tipped, or 2-way highlighters, have both a thick and a thin tip. There are also retractable highlighters, erasable highlighters, and highlighters where you can refill the ink. Think about what features you’d like before making your purchase.
4

Pick a Color That Helps You Concentrate

Pick a Color That Helps You Concentrate

When it comes to highlighters, you want a color that’s easy to see on the page, and makes it easy to distinguish the words underneath. If, for example, you find neon colors hard to look at for extended periods of time, then go for softer pastel tones.


You also want to take into consideration the sheer variety of colors a pen line has to offer. Colors can be mixed and matched to meet various needs. You could use blue, which supposedly boosts concentration, on passages you need to memorize, and yellow, pink or red on other passages you want to emphasize.

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10 Best Japanese Highlighters

Here are the best Japanese highlighters we tested. They were ranked by how well they did on our tests and given an overall grade ranging from 1.0 to 5.0. For more on our selection process, check out our editorial policy. Prices were gathered from respective EC sites on October 4, 2022.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
1

Mitsubishi Pencil

PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided

Mitsubishi Pencil PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided 1

Drying Speed and Functionality Won High Marks

2

Mitsubishi Pencil

PROPUS Window Double-Sided

Mitsubishi Pencil PROPUS Window Double-Sided 1

Clear-Tipped and Smooth

3

Zebra

MildlinerWKT7-MP

Zebra Mildliner 1

A Mild Ink That Leaves Print Clear and Is Gentle on the Eyes

4

Zebra

Highlighter OPTEX CARE Double-Sided

Zebra Highlighter OPTEX CARE Double-Sided 1

The Retro Style and the Way It Writes Are Both Top Class

5

Pentel

Retractable Refillable Handy Line S

Pentel Retractable Refillable Handy Line S 1

Ready for Use in a Flash With Its Convenient Retractable Feature

6

Mitsubishi Pencil

Uni Promark VIEW

Mitsubishi Pencil Uni Promark VIEW 1

Its Clear Point Left the Strongest Impression

7

Kokuyo

Beetle Tip

Kokuyo Beetle Tip 1

Very Functional, but Has a Bit of a Learning Curve

8

Pilot

Spotliter VW

Pilot Spotliter VW 1

An Inky Highlighter With Vivid Colors

9

Tombow

Keicoat80 Refillable

Tombow Keicoat80 Refillable 1

Indispensable if You Must Have Pin-Straight Lines

10

Kuretake

ZIG Brush Hilite Quick C+

Kuretake ZIG Brush Hilite Quick C+ 1

The Brush Tip Makes It Hard to Control the Thickness

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Mitsubishi Pencil
PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided

PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided 1
PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided 2
PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided 3
PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided 4
PROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided 5
Reference price
$2.30
Mid
Reference price
$2.30
Mid

Drying Speed and Functionality Won High Marks

We rated this highlighter with an A+ in two separate categories, drying speed and functionality. It improves upon the strengths of the PROPUS Window by adding a quick-dry feature

Even our most stalwart stationery buffs proclaimed it "the best highlighter ever." We couldn’t complain about the ink, either. We touched it as soon as it was laid down and tried to smear it, but still, it didn’t smear


The highlighter had a window in its tip that helped us lay down accurate lines, and it was kind to lefties. If you want a highlighter that won’t stress you out in any way, no matter how small, then mybest can confidently say this is the one.

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No.2

Mitsubishi Pencil
PROPUS Window Double-Sided

Reference price
$2.20
Mid

Clear-Tipped and Smooth

This has the same kind of clear tip as the Promark VIEW, but we thought it was a better choice for those looking for smooth writing. It glided easily over print, leaving behind few undulations and angles. Those of us who liked slightly firmer tips were especially enamored.
No.3

Zebra
MildlinerWKT7-MP

Reference price
$1.75
Mid

A Mild Ink That Leaves Print Clear and Is Gentle on the Eyes

The word "highlighter" in Japanese is written as "fluorescent pen," but instead of producing highlighters in fluorescent colors, Zebra produced them in pastels. But even though the colors are soft, they aren’t faint; rather, they are both easy to see and gentle on the eyes. We also loved the sheer range of color.

And the thick and flexible tip made up for any unsteady hands. We also liked how it was easy to get an even line with this highlighter.
No.4

Zebra
Highlighter OPTEX CARE Double-Sided

The Retro Style and the Way It Writes Are Both Top Class

This 2-way highlighter has been the highlighter of choice from ages ago. Even though it didn’t have any fancy features, because the ink flow was so well controlled, even the color that came out of the thinner tip was highly visible–such that we could write with it.

Of course, the thicker tip was just as easy to use. It’s meaty and smooth, contributing to steady, even lines. It’s a simple product, but for many, it wouldn’t be a stretch to call this the best highlighter ever.
No.5

Pentel
Retractable Refillable Handy Line S

Reference price
$5.95
High

Ready for Use in a Flash With Its Convenient Retractable Feature

Pentel’s Handy Line S was the only retractable highlighter that we tested. Most highlighters only have caps, so we had to give this one points just for being retractable, and everything felt so easy and convenient. The opening for the tip even seals itself off, so we didn’t need to worry about the ink drying out either.
No.6

Mitsubishi Pencil
Uni Promark VIEW

Reference price
$4.23
High Mid

Its Clear Point Left the Strongest Impression

Because the Uni Promark VIEW utilizes a transparent tip, it was crystal clear where we started a line and where we ended it. Because the barrel was angular and fat, this highlighter didn’t easily fit into pencil cases, but it felt good in the hand and didn’t roll off tables.

The soft pink reminded of us cherry blossom petals and most of us loved the design. "Even the thinnest trickle of ink will reach the tip of the pen," one of our testers, Notomi-san, said. "It’s so well-designed, I could cry."

Very Functional, but Has a Bit of a Learning Curve

This had a peculiar tip that's shaped like a beetle’s horns, which allowed us to draw a thick line, a thin line, or two lines at a time. We could use any of the features by simply rotating the highlighter, so we gave it points for functionality; however, it took some time to master, so we couldn’t say it wrote easily.

There was even someone who quietly said, "But the Beetle Tip Dual Color is easy to use–you don’t even need to change your grip on the highlighter to switch between the colors."
No.8

Pilot
Spotliter VW

Reference price
$2.20
Mid

An Inky Highlighter With Vivid Colors

The color came out crisp and clear, leaving the print beneath easily visible, making this highlighter perfect for going over printed black text. Because it was so inky, the highlighter didn’t rub or catch on the page; however, this strength turned against it when we tested for drying speed, leading to a grade of C.

Because we could easily see how much ink we had left and we also got two colors in one pen, we gave the highlighter a B for functionality.

Indispensable if You Must Have Pin-Straight Lines

If you don’t use rulers when highlighting, there’s not much to say about the Keicoat80, since it felt so normal. However, if you’re a bit of a neat freak, this is probably the one for you.

Not only did the coating prevent the tip from getting worn down, when we used this highlighter with a ruler, it didn’t stain the ruler or the page. 

The Brush Tip Makes It Hard to Control the Thickness

If you draw fast and precise lines, the Kuretake Brush Hilite can be like a dream come true. It worked well on thick books like dictionaries, where the pages are arched and difficult to use traditional highlighters on, and you can even use it for art.


However, for those of us not used to using brush pens, it was difficult to control. It was great for drawing thin lines, but we needed a bit of skill and strength to maintain a thick, even line.

How We Tested the Highlighters

We gathered 14 popular Japanese highlighters from Amazon, Rakuten, and kakaku.com and tested them for how well they wrote, how quickly they dried, how functional they were, and how rich the color was.

Test ① How Easily It Writes

Test ① How Easily It Writes

First, we looked at how easily each highlighter wrote. We honed in on things like how easy it was to draw a line of uniform thickness and how the tip felt against paper. We then graded each highlighter on a scale from 1.0 to 5.0.

Test Highlight: Flexible, Fat Tips Wrote the Most Easily, No Matter the Type of Paper

Test Highlight: Flexible, Fat Tips Wrote the Most Easily, No Matter the Type of Paper
The highlighters that were deemed easiest to write with utilized flexible, fat pen tips. That fat tip acted as a kind of cushion, allowing us to get a straight, uniform line no matter the strength or steadiness of hand and quality or thickness of paper.


Stiffer pen tips obviously offer you little wiggle room, but don’t go for one that’s too soft either, as it shifts easily under an unsteady hand, making the highlighter more difficult to use.

Kidate Taku
Stationery Blogger
Kidate Taku

Zebra’s Justfit is a prime example of a good tip. It’s soft enough to cover for any mistakes you make while angling the highlighter, and it’ll produce a uniform line, even over the tight print in a dictionary. It also draws straight even if your hand does shake a bit, so it’s a good one to try out if your highlights are normally messy.

Test ② How Quickly It Dries

Test ② How Quickly It Dries

Next, we tested how quickly each highlighter dried. We tried to smear each line with our hands, and then graded the highlighters on a scale from 1.0 to 5.0.

Test Highlight: Propus Window Q-Dry and Several Other Highlighters Dried Fast

Test Highlight: Propus Window Q-Dry and Several Other Highlighters Dried Fast
Two out of three testers gave Mitsubishi Pencil’s PROPUS Window Q-Dry full points on this test. Even the freshly-laid ink didn’t smear when we touched it, substantiating our claim that you can't really go wrong if you look for "fast-drying" on the product's label.

However, Zebra’s Justfit and OPTEX CARE, neither of which made any claims as to drying speed, also did well on this test. Basically, any ink that absorbs quickly into the paper is going to be quick-drying. On the other hand, if the ink tends to pool, then it’ll end up smearing and staining your hands.

Takoka Beuji
Stationery Fanatic
Takoka Beuji

Mitsubishi Pencil's PROPUS Window Q-Dry is the gold standard for fast-drying highlighters! Unless another product surpasses this, it'll always be number one. Zebra's Justfit isn't quite as good, but still dries within two seconds.

Test ③ How Functional It Is

Test ③ How Functional It Is

Next, we looked at functionality. To be more specific, we checked to see if the highlighter had any special features and whether they were actually helpful. We then graded on highlighter on a scale from 1.0 to 5.0.

Test Highlight: Though They May Differentiate a Product From the Competition, Not All Features Are Practical

Test Highlight: Though They May Differentiate a Product From the Competition, Not All Features Are Practical
There were many products with new features, such as 2-way tips, windows, and magical ink. However, just because a product has special features doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easier to use.


There were products that stood out because of their uniqueness, such as Pentel’s Retractable Handy Line S retractable highlighter and Pilot’s Frixion Light with erasable ink. However, there were also products that, frankly, added on unnecessary features that led to bad reviews, such as Tombow Pencil’s Play Color Dot.

Yasukuni Kotomi
Ballpoint Pen Blogger
Yasukuni Kotomi

Pentel’s Retractable Handy Line S is notable if you want a retractable highlighter. The transparent nib of Mitsubishi Pencil's Uni Promark View makes it great for highlighting vertical text.

Test ④ How Rich the Color Is

Test ④ How Rich the Color Is

Finally, we tested for color. In order to accurately compare products from different brands, we focused only on pink highlighters. We highlighted text printed onto normal printer paper and looked both at how clearly the color showed up and at how easy it was to read the words underneath.

Test Highlight: Most Important Was How Fluorescent the Color Was Rather Than How Deep

Test Highlight: Most Important Was How Fluorescent the Color Was Rather Than How Deep
Even if the color was darker, as long as it was in a fluorescent shade, we could still see black print underneath. On the other hand, if the color was dark but not florescent, or a purplish tone rather than pink, then the print underneath would be hard to read.

Also, two highlighters could be from the same brand, but still vary in intensity. If you’re someone that likes paler colors, then your best bet would to be to look for highlighters in colors labeled "soft" or "mild."

Kidate Taku
Stationery Blogger
Kidate Taku

Tombow's Keicoat may be your image of a typical highlighter, and will feel familiar to use, but I think the letters underneath become a bit hard to see. The Pilot Spotlighter VW has a clear and direct brightness that works well with black text and is visible even from a distance. And personally, I love the colors of Mitsubishi Pencil's highlighters!

Top 5 Japanese Highlighters

No. 1: Mitsubishi PencilPROPUS Window Q-Dry Double-Sided

No. 2: Mitsubishi PencilPROPUS Window Double-Sided

No. 3: ZebraMildlinerWKT7-MP

No. 4: ZebraHighlighter OPTEX CARE Double-Sided

No. 5: PentelRetractable Refillable Handy Line S

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The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.

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