Best Beginner Japanese Art Supplies: 9 Essentials from Pencils to Watercolors

Introduction

Starting out in art is easier when your first supplies are dependable. Japanese stationery brands have a strong reputation for quality control and thoughtful design, and a small set of well-chosen tools can cover sketching, inking, coloring, and even watercolor. Here are nine beginner-friendly picks that work well together as a starter kit.

Sketchbook: Maruman New Soho Series

The best sketchbook depends on your medium, but if you are just starting out, the Maruman New Soho Series is a safe bet. Its slightly textured heavyweight art paper handles both dry media and light washes of paint. It comes in several convenient sizes for sketching on the go, and the glue binding lets you pull out finished pages cleanly.

Pencil: Uni Mitsubishi Hi-Uni

The Uni Mitsubishi Hi-Uni is a pleasure to write and draw with. It lays down buttery, dark, even lines, and it is available in an impressive 22 lead grades, so you can create light sketches or soft, charcoal-like drawings. The 2B is great for sketching and light shading, though if you want to fill more space, go for softer leads like 4B.

Eraser: Tombow Mono

A good eraser is essential for sketching, and the Tombow Mono stands above the rest. It requires little pressure to use and erases cleanly and reliably, even with darker markings. It is available in five sizes, but the medium size is the one we recommend for beginners: it is small enough for detailed erasing but big enough for larger mistakes.

Fineliner: Sakura Pigma Micron

When it comes to fineliners, you cannot go wrong with the Sakura Pigma Micron. Artists love these pens for drawing comics, outlining artwork before coloring, and more. The ink is waterproof, lightfast, and archival, and the pens come in a wide range of tip sizes, from a super tiny 0.15 mm to a broad 3 mm. Just use a gentle hand with the smaller tips so you do not bend them.

White Gel Pen: Uni-ball Signo Broad

White gel pens like the Uni-ball Signo Broad are game-changers for finishing touches. The viscous ink stands out on dark paper and over artwork, so you can add highlights, sparkles, outlines, and more. Since it is broad-tipped, it is best suited to larger artworks. Use it frequently, because the thick ink can dry up if the pen sits unused.

Finer Option: Sakura Gelly Roll Classic

If you want a finer tip, consider the Sakura Gelly Roll Classic. Its 0.8 mm tip has similar opacity to the Signo Broad but a slightly thinner line, making it a good companion for more delicate highlights.

Color Pencils: Uni Arterase

Uni Arterase Color Pencils are unlike most color pencils you have seen before: they are erasable. Not only do they erase well, they also produce creamy, vivid lines. The colors are blendable and show up well on both light and dark papers. You can get the 12 color set, or if you just want to test a few colors, they are also sold individually.

Marker: Tombow Dual Brush Pens

If you prefer markers, try Tombow Dual Brush Pens. Available in a dazzling array of colors, these double-sided markers are great for adding a splash of color or depth to your art. One end features a bullet tip for drawing consistent lines, while the other features a flexible brush tip for coloring or shading. Tombow also offers a blending pen if you want to seamlessly blend your colors.

Watercolor: Sakura Koi Watercolor Set

The Sakura Koi Watercolor Set is the ultimate all-in-one beginner kit. Besides paint, it includes a mini water brush, a sponge for dabbing, and mixing palettes. The small size makes it portable and easy to take out into the field, and the fairly pigmented paints blend easily. The sets come in a variety of pan and palette sizes, but for beginners we suggest the 18 color palette: it is a good starter number of colors, and the lid also acts as an easel for postcard-size paper.

Buying Advice

If you want to keep things simple, start with the sketchbook, the 2B Hi-Uni pencil, the Tombow Mono, and one Pigma Micron. That covers the fundamentals of drawing and erasing. Add color gradually: the Arterase pencils or Dual Brush Pens for dry color, and the Koi set if watercolor appeals to you. The white gel pens are inexpensive extras that pay off the moment you start finishing pieces on toned or dark paper.

Conclusion

Each of these supplies solves a specific beginner problem: forgiving paper, smooth graphite, reliable erasing, archival inking, and easy ways to add color. Pick the ones that match the medium you want to learn first, and you will have a starter kit that can grow with your skills.