EN PITSU
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The above two Chinese characters "en"
Pencils sold in Japan are of both Japanese and imported makes.
They can be of the wood-cased type, or the more popular mechanical
pencil. The major wood pencil makers are Mitsubishi, Tombow, and
Pentel. They also include mechanical pencils, which are called "sharp
pencils" in Japan, and there are numerous other major manufacturers such
as Pilot, Sakura, and Zebra that also make "sharp pencils". In fact
sometimes I will look at a major US brand mechanical pencil to see "Japan"
stamped on the pencil clip.
Pencils in Japan can be further divided into two types according
to purpose. There are the less expensive home/school/work types, the
regular pencil with eraser, and the very colorful "sharp pencils." The
other kind are the drafting/drawing types, designed more for the needs of
artists and those in drafting. Japan uses the H-F-B system of
designating how hard or soft the pencil lead is. HB for example is a
common grade that is close to the #2 pencil in the US. B through 9B
indicates "soft" or "black" lead used in drawing, F is for "firm" used
in stenography, and H through 9H for drafting.
Prices given are in yen. As this is being written, it's around
100 yen to the US dollar. So 140 yen is $1.40 US. That's just what you
would pay if you were in Japan, and getting a 100/1 exchange rate.
Hi-Uni: This is Mitsubishi's best selling pencil since it's
introduction in 1966. It is maroon in color with the top degree
indicator being black and having a gold-colored ring around it and
a yellow-orange dot on top.
It writes very smoothly, which leads me to believe it's a polymer/graphite
blend. Price given is 140 yen each. This model is not sold in the US,
and I had to pay double the price to have a dozen special ordered from
Japan. Hi-Uni lead is also made for mechanical pencils. 300 yen for a
pack of 40 leads.
Uni: One notch down is the Mitsubishi-Uni. Maroon color, black lead
degree indicator band at the top. "Pressured-proofed high density lead"
is imprinted on the side. No eraser.
The "Uni" leads are also availiable for mechanical pencils for
200 yen/40 leads, and in 2mm diameter for drafting leadholders, 6 leads for
200 yen. A Mitsubishi Uni leadholder is 500 yen.
Uni-star: Maroon in color, lead degree is simply stamped on the side of
the pencil along with "master-writing". I can't say that I can honestly
see any difference or feel any difference from this model and the Uni.
The price is 60 yen. No eraser. I do not see this model in their
latest catalogue, so they may have discontinued it.
"For Home/Office use": Yellow pencil with eraser. 60 yen. Havn't seen
or tried this one yet.
Mono-100: Black, white stripe at the top, and "Highest Quality Tombow
Mono: The less fancier model. Black with grey band with lead degree
imprinted on it. 90 yen.
Tombow also makes a yellow office/home pencil for all you plain folks :)
with eraser.
Mechanical pencil leads are packged as "Mono SX" 40 leads for 200 yen.
Black Polymer 999a: As with their other competitors, Pentel makes
models of the "high-quality drafting" type. This model is their top of
the line. It retails for 100 yen. Black, silver top, and "supreme
quality for drawing lines of high density" engraved on the side.
They also package leads like their competitors: High Polymer for Pro
300yen for 40 leads, and Hi Polymer100 200yen/per 40.
Address:
Conclusion: I hope you found this article useful. I realize that there
are things missing such as company addresses, histories, or other
information that I did not think to include. It would take more time
and research, and rather than procrastinate, and let this die...I have
decided to release a first version and hope to add information as I find
time.Mitsubushi Pencil Co., Ltd. (Since 1887)
Model:Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.
Tombow is japanese for "dragonfly", the trademark imprinted on the side
of their pencils. Tombow is distributed in the US. Pearl Paints in New
York City is one excellent source for Tombow. Tombow also makes an
popular white plastic eraser called the "Mono".
Pentel Co., Ltd.
Pentel is famous for their mechanical pencils. Their first model called
the "Sharp Pencil" is in the Japanese vocabulary as their word for
mechanical pencil. Pentel does make woodcased pencils. The problem is
that their American division does not import them.
Imported pencils:
Japan also imports pencils from abroad. They are mostly pencils of the
drafting/drawing kind. Here are some examples:Faber-Castell 9000 150 yen per pencil
Staedtler Mars Lumograph 130 yen
Schwan-Stabilo 8000 130
Schwan-Stabilo Othello 100
Berol Cardinal 80
Derwent Sketching Pencil 120 (Made by Cumberland)
Lyra Orlow-Technico 130
Caran 'd Ache
Technograph 777 180 (their B grade is really nice)
A word on Sharps (mechanical pencils)
Japan has been the most innovative when it comes to the mechanical
pencil. You do not have to go to Tokyo to find out. KSG Stationery
in San Francisco's Japantown imports the mechanical pencils sold only in
Japan. The designs are a work of art. They are normally white, pink,
light-blue and green with wire clips and sometimes a bellows around the
push-button. I'll admit they appear to be for school use and are
shorter than what is normally sold in the US. I recommend a visit to
KSG if you ever find yourself in San Francisco. Oh yes, you might also
want to check out the Cable Cars and the Golden Gate Bridge if you have
any time left over :)
Kinokuniya Stationery and Gifts,
Kinokuniya Building, Second Floor
1581 Webster Street,
San Francisco, California
(415) 567-8901
Gene--