Japanese Mechanical Pencil Comparison Review

[Tsujigiri]

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Many countries make fountain pens, but Japan is king of the mechanical pencils. No other country has such a selection of low-priced and high-functioning pencils like Japan does. These four are the ones that caught my eye the most. They’re all around the same price. The Shift Pipe and Kuru Toga High Grade retail for about $10 in Japan, the Sharp Kerry $15, and I don’t know about the Super Promecha. I couldn’t find any when I was there. These are also all domestic Japanese models, so it may be difficult to get one depending on where you live. Here in the U.S., Jetpens and Jstationary are pretty good sources, although I’ve never bought from them. Every time I’m about to, the local Kinokuniya stocks the item, or I go to Japan, or something like that. Anyway, on to the review…

 

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Uni Kuru Toga High Grade:

Build Quality: 10/10

Grip: 6/10

Balance And Feel: 10/10

Durability: 7/10

Function: 10/10

The original Kuru Toga was a smash hit that soon sold out everywhere and had people combing the net looking for them. It utilized a unique new system in the grip, which rotated the lead around as you wrote. It works by use of ratcheting gears that turn the lead 6 degrees each time you lift and press on the tip. You can see it working through the clear grip on the original model, seen next to the HG in black. It seems a little gimmicky, but the apparatus really does work. The rotation keeps the lead shaped in a point as you use it, so it stays sharp without you having to twist it around in your hand. It works if you’re printing, doing math, or writing in Japanese. It doesn’t work so well if you’re writing in cursive. This isn’t so much of a problem for me, though, because I use fountain pens when I write in cursive.

This particular Kuru Toga is the High Grade, a metal version of the original. I personally see a lot of potential wasted with this pencil. Uni could have done more with the window than just making a hole in the grip, and they could have done more with the grip than casting the plastic style one in metal. They could have knurled it like a drafting pencil, and it would have been a lot more comfortable and less prone to slipping. They could have also made the whole pencil metal, instead of just part of it. And it would have been really neat if they had made the Kuru Toga engine metal. I wonder how long the plastic gears will last, even if the rest of the pen feels pretty well-made. But despite all these shortcomings in Uni’s upgrading the original, this is an excellent pencil in its own right. The innovation of the twisting lead is really groundbreaking. It changes the entire way that you write with a mechanical pencil, making it less fidgety and more befitting of a fine writing implement. Each of these pencils reviewed here has its own special feature, but this one has by far the most useful one. I’d say it’s a must-have; one of those things you didn’t realize you needed until you tried it.

 

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Pentel Sharp Kerry:

Build Quality: 8/10

Grip: 7/10

Balance And Feel: 8/10

Durability: 7/10

Function: 8/10

Ah, the revered Sharp Kerry. It’s been around for a very long time, as the cap states: “since 1971.” It’s unusual in being a capped pencil. After all these years and so much popularity, it doesn’t seem like people are out to copy the Sharp Kerry. It’s still one of a kind. The pencil is reminiscent of the 70’s era long-short Japanese pens, and indeed it is shorter than the other pencils when capped. It can be used posted or unposted, but it’s a little short when it’s not posted. The metal bit on the back of the main body is the button that advances the lead, and the cap to the lead chamber. Kudos to Pentel for not putting one of those useless tiny erasers on this pencil. Anyway, once you post the cap, the inside of the cap connects with the lead advance button, and a button pops out on the top of the cap so you can advance lead with the pencil posted. You don’t have to worry about pushing the lead back into the pencil or being careful about the guide pipe because capping the pencil when you’re done covers the tip. The build quality is good, but I’m not sure how durable the crimping is that keeps the cap on. It seems like it could wear out pretty easily. The grip is nondescript, but the balance is good and the feel is nice. Overall, it’s a great user pencil with no aspirations beyond writing well. I like it; it’s unpresumptuous and does its job. But with the modern pencil offerings out there, I’m starting to think that the user can get more for a lower price by turning to other companies like Uni. At the low prices that these pencils are offered at, though, you can’t go wrong picking up one of these.

 

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Uni Shift Pipe:

Build Quality: 10/10

Grip: 8/10

Balance And Feel: 10/10

Durability: 9/10

Function: 10/10

The unique feature of this pencil is that it locks in a forward or back position. Just twist the grip, push down, and twist again. It clicks into place. Then do the same thing backwards to lock it closed. This both protects the guide pipe and prevents you from advancing lead when you’re not using it. Maybe it’s not as spectacular a feature as the Kuru Toga’s “engine,” but it works very well. Whatever is clicking the assembly into place might wear out eventually, but out of all the pencils here, this one has the most secure and solid feel to it. Nothing wobbles, everything looks solid, and the design is simple and bulletproof. It has a drafting pencil’s grip, which keeps it from slipping. The clip has rounded edges so it’s not uncomfortable against your hand when you rotate the pencil. This one is the most versatile user of the group to me. It’s light, comfortable, reliable, and solid. What more could you ask for?

 

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Ohto Super Promecha:

Build Quality: 9/10

Grip: 10/10

Balance And Feel: 6/10

Durability: 8/10

Function: 8/10

As soon as I saw this pencil, I was sold. It has the most technical and gadgety look of the bunch, and pretty much everything can be adjusted. The clip can be removed, the lead indicator can be changed, the length of the guide pipe can be adjusted, and most interestingly, the amount of lead one click advances can be dictated. Ohto has a newer version of this pencil that does away with the little gear piece at the tip, which regulates the maximum amount of guide pipe that goes out. I can see why Ohto nixed this feature, since it’s redundant and doesn’t work well anyway. But I really like the way it looks with that one extraneous feature, so I hunted around for the old model. This pencil in general is the odd one out of the group, since it’s harder to find than the others and costs a little more. It was worth the search for me, though. It works well and is built well. One thing that annoys me about it, though, is that it makes odd springy noises when I advance the guide pipe, and that doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in its durability. The grip is very finely knurled and wide, so it’s definitely the most comfortable here. The adjustable advance feature is neat because it can push out up to 2mm of lead at a time. The main detractor of the pencil is its weight. It’s very heavy around the grip. So while it’s very comfy short-term, a lighter pencil would be better for long-term use.

 

[dandelion]

Tsujigiri, what an enjoyable and entertaining review with great photos! I'm also a fan of mechanical pencils (even though I don't collect them in any way) because of the precision when writing with them and their - often - modern and technical design. I especially like your red Unipipe and the Othto Super Promecha...very good looking pens. Thanks!

Edited September 9, 2009 by dandelion

[MOVIESTAR]

nice review

[rdh]

Hmmm.

 

My Sharp Kerry has an eraser. You can only get to it when the cap is posted. It is under the lead advance button above the clip. It is a little eraser, and is only useful for small errors. For the big boo boos, get out the Mars plastic eraser.

 

IMHO, the Sharp Kerry is an outlier in this group. The others are pencils intended more for technical drawing. That is not the case with the Sharp Kerry. It is a pencil for doing Math, sketching, doodling or writing that may need to be modified. Of course, you can use technical pencils for this as well. Two other pencils in the Kerry's class are the Lamy Scribble and the Faber Castell e-Motion. I have all 3 and use them for different purposes. I think all are excellent, but if I had to choose 1 to do everything, it would be the Lamy Scribble.

 

Dave

[wvbeetlebug]

Excellent review and pics! Thanks for sharing!

[rhodes]

A very interesting review, especially for those of us who like to use mechanical pencils. I've been trying a Kuru Toga myself recently, and I am actually somewhat disappointed by it. Mainly because I've obviously subconsciously gotten in the habit of constantly rotating my pencil, so I end up rotating it without realizing it, thereby defeating the point.

[mejdrich]

While I can't argue with your conclusions, I am an committed Kerry user.

 

In fact, I purchased my first Sharp Kerry back in 1989 (black - 0.5)... Without a doubt, it acquitted itself very well. With the exception of a well earned patina, it has proven to be a well built and durable pencil (withstanding book bags, backpacks, briefcases, suits, etc.).

 

RDH makes a valid point, it seems less of a drafting pencil, and more or a writing pencil - in fact, I was so happy with it, I purchased 4 more to assist in my CFA level 2 campaign two years ago... (Just need one more, the bronze color to match a brown Bexley Simplicity)

 

Also, the ability to cap the pencil opens it up to placement in suit and shirt pockets without the threat of bodily harm...

 

[Nikolaos]

very very nice review! thank you so much for posting. Japanese mechanical pencils are really awesome. I have a couple of vintage ones and really enjoy using them

 

nikolaos

 

[Doug C]

I agree with most of your comments. I had the Kerry for years and loved it.

 

I also own the Ohto, the newer version, and although I'm also a fan of the gadgety aspect of it, I feel it is made a little more cheaply than most others. It seems to be that the lead size indicator on the top of the pen is paper glued on. Not what I would expect from a Japanese pencil.

 

I do intend to pick up one of the Uni Shift Pipe. That seems like a great little design, and you comments about it being very sturdy confirm my suspicions.

 

Good review. Thanks.

[Pen2009]

I blame this thread for making me spend today at Itoya in Shinjuku.

After reading this thread, I had to get this pen. I ended up getting a leather pen tray (Somes Saddle) as it was displayed near the check out counter.

[publius]

I have to get one of those Kuru Toga things. As a long-time user of mechanical pencils, rotating the pencil to keep the lead from going flat has always been one of my biggest distractions & discomforts.

[michael_s]

Interesting review. The only nifty MP I have is a Pilot Vanishing Point pencil, which supposedly has been recently discontinued.

 

-Mike

[Silvermink]

I love the wacky Kuru Toga display. I've got a regular model in blue, white, and orange. Might pick up one of the High Grade ones sometimes. I admit I don't use it that much, but I carry it around in my pen wrap because it's just cool.

Edited September 12, 2009 by Silvermink

[rollerboy]

I've tried the Kerry and the Kuru Toga and the winner is ... the Pilot S3 ... but honourable mention to the Kerry and the Kuru Toga.

 

The funny thing I discovered using the Kuru Toga is that while I can see the auto-rotation being handy if doing math or drawing, for text I miss the line variation you get as the flat spot forms, and then you manually rotate. However, definitely a good idea and the mechanism works well. I have enough lifts in my "cursive" that it worked fine for me.

[Tsujigiri]

Thank you, all for the comments! Just looked under the cap, and there is an eraser on the Sharp Kerry. *smacks head* Thanks for pointing that out.

[HenryLouis]

I think if I owned the super promecha I'd be too busy fiddling with it all the time.

 

I also suspect that the joints and other things will wear over time as well.

 

Nevertheless, good review.

[Mrsal]

nice review! i like the sharp kerry, looks kinda like the M90, ill have to see if i can get one...

[noctrl02]

nice review! i like the sharp kerry, looks kinda like the M90, ill have to see if i can get one...

 

Check out Office Depot. I picked one up yesterday for $16.00.

 

Andy

[a m a r g o]

Great reviews... and Japan is the paradise of drafting pencils indeed!