Over time, Sakura developed more ink colors and special effects.
Popularity surged when Sakura introduced Gelly Roll Metallic in opaque reflective colors in late 1997. This new ink had the ability to write on both white and black paper.
In 1999 Sakura debuted Gelly Roll Lightning® (now Gelly Roll Silver Shadow®) which outlines metallic silver in colors.
In January 2000, Sakura introduced Gelly Roll Stardust® glittering gel pens.
Although there are now many suppliers who offer a variety of gel pen products, Sakura was officially recognized as the first and original inventor of the gel pen.
In June 2000, Sakura Color Products Corporation received the “Award of the Director-General of the Japanese Patent Office” for the invention of the gel ink rollerball.
