Ito-ya Romeo No. 4 Multi-Pen Review: Slim, Stylish, and Surprisingly Practical

Introduction

The Romeo No. 4 multi-pen comes from Romeo, the original brand that Ginza Ito-ya established in 1914. Ito-ya itself was founded as a stationery store in 1904 and has a long history of operating through many hardships while expanding into businesses beyond stationery. The No. 4 is not a new product, and many people have already written about it, but it remains one of the most distinctive multi-pens in its class, so it deserves a closer look.

It arrived in a presentation box, which reflects its 5,500 yen including tax price point. This is a pen positioned above typical everyday multi-pens, and the packaging, materials, and design all reinforce that.

Who This Pen Is For

This pen suits people who want a single, slim writing tool that handles multiple ink colors and a pencil without looking cluttered. If you appreciate a calm, matte, understated design and you are willing to pay a bit more for materials and build, the Romeo No. 4 fits well.

It is also a good match for writers who dislike the wobble common in multi-pens and want something that feels precise at the tip. If you prefer colorful, brightly marked refill selectors or a very short knock button, read the considerations section carefully first.

Main Strengths

The body is brass, painted black over the metal, with the Romeo logo printed in silver on the center of the barrel. The overall atmosphere is chic and unified. The lineup comes in three grip materials: carbon, crocodile, and leather. The leather grip model reviewed here uses genuine leather with a fairly firm feel, and it pairs with a silver clip, while the black and carbon models use black clips.

The signature feature is the gravity-select mechanism. You hold the pen so the desired color indicator faces up, then click, and that refill deploys. Thanks to this mechanism, the pen stays quite slim despite carrying black, red, and blue ballpoint inks plus a mechanical pencil. The color indicators themselves are just text and a silver oval rather than colored markers, which keeps the whole design remarkably color-uniform. Whether that appeals to you is a matter of taste, but it gives the pen a distinctive, restrained character.

It is also easy to write with. The tip is small, so the distance between your grip and the paper contact point is short, and wobble is kept to an absolute minimum. Multi-pens usually have some wobble, so this stands out.

Another point worth noting: over long use, the paint on the barrel will likely start to chip. That reads as character rather than damage, adding to the pen’s appeal. On the leather model, the silver clip also means paint wear on the clip is less noticeable than on the other models. If paint chipping concerns you, the leather grip model is the one to choose.

Writing Performance

The included ballpoint refill is Ito-ya’s original 0.7 mm, sold in a pack of two for 330 yen. The black ink skips a little, though the writing feel itself is not bad. Red is on the brighter side, and blue is similar, leaning slightly light in color.

The mechanical pencil is actually quite easy to write with for a multi-pen. It uses the 4C refill standard, and swapping in Pilot Acro Ink refills works well. In comparison, the smoothness is completely different: the Ito-ya refill is lighter in color, while Acro Ink is significantly darker. Both have a good writing feel, so it comes down to preference.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The first concern is the destiny of all shaker-type pens. It makes a rattling sound when shaken, and the knock button is quite long. Carried in a suit breast pocket, that length is noticeable enough to feel slightly out of place. If that bothers you, this may not be the right pen.

Second, on the leather model, the genuine leather wrap shows a visible seam on the back of the grip. It is not especially noticeable, but it is a detail to keep in mind.

Buying Advice

At 5,500 yen including tax, the price is a bit high, but this is a multi-pen that earns its position through design, materials, and writing comfort. The key decision points are simple: choose the leather grip if you want the silver clip and the most forgiving look as paint wears over time; consider the carbon or crocodile models if you prefer a black clip and different grip texture.

If you carry pens in a breast pocket and a longer knock button would bother you, think twice. If you value a slim body, minimal wobble, and a unified matte design, this pen is easy to recommend.

Conclusion

The Romeo No. 4 is a well-executed multi-pen with genuine character: brass construction, a gravity-select mechanism that keeps it slim, and writing comfort that outclasses most multi-pens. The shaker rattle, long knock button, and premium price are the trade-offs. For anyone who wants one refined tool instead of several pens, it is a purchase worth making.