Mechanical Pencil

Mechanical Pencil – シャーペン (しゃーぷぺんしる) –

In Japan, mechanical pencils are abbreviated to “sha-pen” and that’s what most Japanese people call them.

Since Japanese stationery is becoming recognized overseas as a way to introduce Japan, I thought I would take another look at mechanical pencils. It turns out that the history of mechanical pencils dates back to 1838, when an American named Kieran introduced a writing instrument he called the “Eversharp” (meaning always sharp).
In English, it is called a “MECHANICAL PENCIL”, which means “a pencil with a mechanical mechanism that advances the lead”. The Japanese-made mechanical pencil was invented in 1915 during the Taisho era by Tokuji Hayakawa of Hayakawa Metal Industries, the predecessor of the current electronics manufacturer Sharp, and released under the name “Hayakawa Retractable Pencil”.
However, at the time the lead was 1mm thick and they were still a luxury item, so they did not catch on to the general public. Later, in 1960, Dainippon Bungu Co., Ltd. (now Pentel Co., Ltd.) became the first Japanese manufacturer to release a “knock-type” mechanical pencil.
At the time, 0.9 mm leads were the norm, but when a type with a 0.5 mm lead was released in 1962, mechanical pencils began to be widely used by the public.

The 0.5 mm lead became popular because it was perfect for writing Japanese characters with many strokes, but in my hometown, I think that elementary school students were banned from using it.(;^ω^)
This is because sharp pencils can be dangerous for children.

So I decided to post about my mechanical pencils, and around 2023 I did a major cleaning and got rid of stationery I wasn’t using, and as you can see in the banner at the top, I had 10 of them (including a multi-function ballpoint pen (ballpoint pen + mechanical pencil) and lead).
(Most of the items were purchased at convenience stores at short notice for work meetings, and since I’m a guy, the colors are pretty muted.(;´･ω･)）

I’m not a mechanical pencil enthusiast nor do I collect them, but I’m sure I can still find them if I look.
I think that’s how familiar it is to Japanese people.

The main manufacturers of mechanical pencils in Japan (in no particular order) are

Pilot Corporation Co., Ltd.
https://www.pilot.co.jp/
[GLOBAL]https://www.pilot.co.jp/company/english/global/
　”FRIXION” that disappears when rubbed, etc.

Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.
https://www.mpuni.co.jp/
[GLOBAL]https://www.uniball.com/home/
　In addition to the uni series, there are also “Kurutoga” etc.

Zebra Co., Ltd.
https://www.zebra.co.jp/
[GLOBAL]https://www.zebra.co.jp/global/
　”Mckee” and “Sarasa” series, etc.

Pentel Co., Ltd.
https://www.pentel.co.jp/
[GLOBAL]http://www.pentelworld.com/
　”Pentel Crayon” and “correction fluid”

Kotobuki Co., Ltd.
http://koto-com.co.jp/
[ENGLISH]http://koto-com.co.jp/en/
　Multi-purpose writing instruments, ballpoint pens, felt tip pens, etc.

Sailor Pen Co., Ltd.
https://sailor.co.jp/
[ENGLISH]https://en.sailor.co.jp/
　「TUZU」Adjustable fountain pens, ballpoint pens, etc.

Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.
https://www.tombow.com/
[ENGLISH]https://www.tombow.com/en/
　「MONO（モノ）」Pencils, erasers, etc.

I don’t have any particular attachment to mechanical pencils, but I am grateful that in Japan they can be easily purchased at convenience stores and supermarkets.
When purchasing an air conditioner Air conditioner manufacturer However, there are also many excellent mechanical pencils from various companies, and they are easy to write with no matter which one you pick up, so perhaps there is no particular attachment to any of them.(;´･ω･)
However, those who draw precise drawings or cartoons, or those who use a pencil for long periods of time for writing, will likely choose a mechanical pencil that suits them.
Below I will introduce the mechanical pencils I use, some of which are decades old and out of production.

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PILOT　SPARK 0.5
Mechanical pencil lead：0.5mm
Shake and knock type
[Size] Maximum diameter φ14.3mm / Total length 145mm
[Weight] 19.5g(Internet research)
Equipped with the PILOT unique shake-and-seek mechanism.
The lead comes out just by shaking, so you can write nonstop without having to change hands.

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ZEBRA JIM-MECA
Mechanical pencil lead：0.5mm
Size: Maximum diameter Φ11.6 x total length 141.8mm
Weight: 9.3g
(Internet research)

Easy-to-use classic knock type.
Comes with rubber grip.

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Pentel ROlLY Mechanical pencil
Mechanical pencil lead：0.5mm
PC125
Discontinued Pentel ROlLY
It cost 1,500 yen at the time.
It’s made of metal so it feels heavy。
Double knock type,With cleaner pin.
It’s 2024 and this is still a great mechanical pencil that can be used today.

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Sailor Pen Co., Ltd.
Fair Line Mechanical pencil
Mechanical pencil lead：0.5mm
This mechanical pencil is from Sailor’s classic Fairline series.
It has an easy-to-hold hexagonal grip and a “pipe slide” tip that allows you to store the lead.。
This is a common mechanical pencil in Japan that can be purchased for under 100 yen, and it is easy to use and extremely durable.

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I will continue to rely on mechanical pencils, but if I purchase any new ones or find any that I would like to introduce, I would like to do so here.

Thank you for watching.