Review on Kuretake FUDE PEN NIHON-DATE KABURA: Double-sided, Black Brush Tip Pen for Calligraphy, Art, Writing - Made in Japan by Carrie Spencer

I bought two of these pens to use for practicing kanji and writing. I changed two handles each day to try and maintain their longevity. After about 4 months of minimal daily use (about 15 minutes of writing per day), the ink on both pens became noticeably grayer and more translucent. Pen tips are still strong, but brush tips are about 65% more efficient than before. I expect they will both last another 3 or 4 months before I have to throw them away. Considering that two pens only last 8 months, that means one pen should only last 4 months, which is a lot less than 12 months. the lifespan mentioned in several other comments and reviews. These pens are incredibly cheap so I can't complain too much. That being said, the pens are otherwise fantastic. Both ends, brush and tip, are comfortable to write on with minimal smearing or strike-through. Definitely recommend. ---- Edit: I greatly overestimated the lifespan of these things. A week after I posted my first review, both brushes have turned a translucent gray and are completely unusable for drawing or writing. The pen tips still work well and are comparable to fine Sharpie tips. Two pens have been sitting on my desk the whole time, away from water, sunlight, extreme temperatures, etc., so I see no way this is user error. According to my calculation, the pens actually last about 2-3 months each (at least the brush runs out). I have already ordered a replacement. I reasonably doubt any pin will be alive when a new one arrives.