Hongdian N23 Rabbit Year Fountain Pen vs Kita-Boshi Otona No Enpitsu WA Style Review: The UK's Best Limited Design Writing Instruments 2026
Jul 01, 2026
Hongdian N23 Rabbit Year Fountain Pen vs Kita-Boshi Otona No Enpitsu WA Style Review: The UK's Best Limited Design Writing Instruments 2026
The finest writing instruments celebrate craftsmanship, culture, and the art of writing itself. In this review, we compare two outstanding culturally-inspired writing instruments: the Hongdian N23 Rabbit Year Fountain Pen and the Kita-Boshi Otona No Enpitsu WA Style 2.0mm. Both are available from TTPEN UK.
Hongdian N23 Rabbit Year — A Fountain Pen That Celebrates the Year of the Rabbit
The Hongdian N23 Rabbit Year Fountain Pen is a limited edition fountain pen celebrating the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Rabbit. At £45.00, it represents Hongdian’s finest craftsmanship applied to a culturally significant theme — a pen that is both a superb writing instrument and a collectible work of art.
Design and Performance
The rabbit is associated with elegance, grace, and good fortune — qualities reflected in the pen’s refined aesthetic. The N23 platform features excellent balance, a comfortable grip, and a smooth steel nib with good ink flow and no hard starts. It accepts standard international cartridges or a converter, giving access to the full range of fountain pen inks.
Price: £45.00 — Buy the Hongdian N23 Rabbit Year at TTPEN UK
Kita-Boshi Otona No Enpitsu WA Style — Japanese Harmony in a 2mm Mechanical Pencil
The Kita-Boshi Pencil Otona No Enpitsu WA Style 2.0mm draws on Japan’s rich tradition of WA — the concept of harmony and beauty that underpins Japanese aesthetics. At £14.00, it incorporates traditional Japanese visual elements into its barrel design, creating a pencil immediately recognisable as Japanese in its aesthetic.
The 2mm Mechanical Pencil Format
The WA Style uses a 2mm lead — significantly thicker than conventional mechanical pencil leads — providing a writing and drawing experience closer to a traditional wooden pencil, with broader strokes and richer graphite deposit. The lead can be sharpened to a fine point using the built-in sharpener, giving versatility of both broad and fine marks.
Price: £14.00 — Buy the Kita-Boshi WA Style at TTPEN UK
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Hongdian N23 Rabbit Year | Kita-Boshi WA Style 2mm |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £45.00 | £14.00 |
| Type | Fountain pen | 2mm mechanical pencil |
| Design Theme | Chinese Zodiac — Year of the Rabbit | Japanese WA (harmony) aesthetics |
| Best For | Collectors, fountain pen lovers | Japanese aesthetics fans, artists |
Final Verdict
The N23 wins on fountain pen performance and collector appeal; the WA Style wins on Japanese aesthetic beauty and value. Both earn our highest recommendation. Visit TTPEN UK today.
