TOMBOW MONO allows people to appreciate the original intention behind the quality of pencils
- ChungT.
- Feb 24
- 3 min read
If life is a blank sheet of paper, waiting for us to fill it with our experiences, then life is a pencil, drawing a changing life on the blank sheet of paper. Unlike pens, pencils will continue to wear out like time, becoming shorter and shorter as time goes by. Fountain pens, on the other hand, last a long time as long as they have ink. In the digital age, most clerical work is gradually being replaced by computers. People may not use pencils as much as they used to, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable in our lives.
Pencils are not made of lead, but of graphite. They are made of synthetic graphite powder and clay through high temperature sintering. They contain no lead at all, so they won't cause lead poisoning. The hardness of the pen will be marked on the pen barrel, H stands for hard and B stands for black. The higher the H number, the harder and lighter the nib; the higher the B number, the softer and darker the nib; HB or F is between the two, with the nib being of moderate hardness and softness, and is mostly used for taking notes. Generally, it is marked from hard to soft as 6H, 5H, 4H, 3H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, and 8B. HB pencils have been around for a long time. Its name clearly indicates that its blackness and hardness are medium, occupying the position of "standard pencil".
The Japanese Tombow brand has a history of more than 100 years and has always been a benchmark in the pencil industry. The MONO series of pencils launched in 1963 is the ancestor of the brand's high-end drawing pencils. The MONO 100 top-grade pencil, launched in 1967, is not just a pen, but an emotion.
The MONO series is made of ultra-fine particles and high-density graphite. The lead core is smooth and not easy to break. The handwriting is clear and delicate, without any pencil shavings left. The outer layer of the pencil is coated with a special moisture-proof coating to make it more durable.
What really made Tombow famous was the high-end pencil numbered 8900, a hexagonal pencil with a golden submarine logo designed to celebrate the accession of Emperor Taisho. The book was a huge success, and even the famous writer Haruki Murakami couldn't put it down. The MONO eraser from Japan's well-known Tombow brand was originally just a free accessory for boxed pencils. However, because the ink of the Tombow pencil is of very good quality and cannot be erased with an ordinary eraser, it has been sold separately since 1969. Its image of the blue, white and black tricolor flag has won the hearts of the people.
Simple products are still reliable tools. When we choose a product, if we know more about the brand story, then this product is more than just a tool. We don't need to do extraordinary things, we just need to appreciate those who do ordinary things extraordinary.
Retail Price
Tombow MONO-100HB Box Set of 12 (HB) ¥1,980
Tombow MONO-HB Box Set of 12 (HB) ¥892
Tombow 70th Anniversary Limited 8900 Number Pencil Set of 6 (HB) ¥2,750
Tombow 8900 Number Pencil Set of 12 (HB) ¥660
Brand Introduction
Tombow's old name is Akizu/Akitsu
It is said that Japan was also called Akitsujima in ancient times, and the company name Tombow was derived from the desire to create a pencil that represents Japan. Dragonflies are also known as "victory insects" and are regarded as auspicious creatures and have always been loved by people. In 1913, 28-year-old Harunosuke Ogawa opened the "Ogawa Harunosuke Store" in Kawaramachi, Asakusa District, Tokyo, selling stationery. In December 1914, he launched the first pencil, MASON, under his own brand and started the production business. In 1927, the "Dragonfly" trademark was registered as a company trademark. In 1928, the first official drawing pencil "TOMBOW DRAWING PENCILS" was launched. In 1943, Japan's highest quality pencil No. 8900 was launched, establishing the Dragonfly brand's position in Japan's pencil manufacturing industry. It was not until August 1963 that the MONO series of high-end pencils was launched, and became a well-known brand with the slogan "There are 8 billion particles in a 1 mm cube".
Source Tombow Official Website & Amazon.jp Tombow Store
Tombow
Amazon
