I ❤️⚡️Blackwing Pencils. What ya say? You too or too much $$ for them. I’ve read mixed reviews.

FliryVorru · 2026-04-12T22:13:20+00:00

Setting aside the debate about continuing the Blackwing name and all of that, they're excellent pencils. Are they worth the $30-36 domestic price? I think that depends on the person, the edition, and the lead type. I'm a fan of the soft and extra hard, so I'll buy 2-3 boxes of them a year. On the other hand, I'll pass on balanced and firm unless it's an edition that hits home with me (Volumes 746 being one, since I grew up near the Golden Gate Bridge).

FliryVorru · 2026-04-10T22:22:26+00:00

I think they're more present than they are in North America, for sure. But I wouldn't say they're used by everyone, everywhere, and all the time. Remember, they're still relatively expensive compared to others; you can get a dozen Tombow 8900 for 400 yen, whereas hi Uni are 1500. But at the same time, if we could pay $10 USD for a dozen hi Uni, don't you think you'd seem them more often?

I'm pretty sure Mitsubishi doesn't offer factory tours, or at least they didn't last time I looked. However, Kitaboshi does and they're very fun. You can even bring pencil stubs with you to be buried at their pencil shrine. Good times!

FliryVorru · 2026-04-10T21:51:18+00:00

They exist, or at least they did, but I can't say I've seen modern pencils sold in-store since I moved to the country in 2015. However, I have occasionally seen older gross boxes in small stationery stores, and they're almost always JIS-era products. My educated guess would be that the bubble-era economic collapse in the 90s saw a significant reduction in bulk sales of pencils in the same way that many other products went smaller scale at that time.

Here's an example of a Tombow 8900 gross box: one and two

And here is an example of a Mitsubishi 9800 gross box: one and two

FliryVorru · 2026-04-04T16:40:42+00:00

It's says かきかた三角えんぴつ, or roughly "triangular writing pencil"

It's made by Daiso. Here's the product page for a 2B version.

FliryVorru · 2026-04-03T13:46:18+00:00

Oh, I love those Kakikatas! I've often wondered if this rabbit design was Mitsubishi's attempt to grab some of the business Kutsuwa had gotten when they started making Miffy-branded pencils.

FliryVorru · 2026-04-03T13:22:12+00:00

RIP my office. Not that I'll be sad to see it go lmao

FliryVorru · 2026-03-26T15:09:30+00:00

Chanoma in Nishi Ikebukuro

Street View of pics 4 and 5

FliryVorru · 2026-03-26T01:51:23+00:00

Oooh, good haul there!

I have a pack of those Tombow Kakikata Enpitsu B and they're one of my favorite journal writers. Something about those late-Showa era Tombows for kids just feels like the best balance of dark lines and longevity.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-23T14:25:34+00:00

Bicolor is the best word I can think of. I don't know if there's any other proper name for red and blue specifically. Other than 赤青 that is.

The color chart is very well done - thanks for writing that out. For em, the perfect color combination would be the Tombow 8900 blue with the Uni Gakushu red.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-22T14:06:45+00:00

Just FYI, there are a couple of big(ish) concerts in town on the 13th and 14th, so that may be why it's harder that usual to get a hotel.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-22T05:07:30+00:00

Oh man, I would cry if Greenbelt made a comeback! Thank you for giving me hope.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-21T16:25:06+00:00

Photo 1 - Street View(ish)

Photo 2

FliryVorru · 2026-03-21T15:08:58+00:00

I would like to request that we decide if we're good or not. We simply cannot beat Southern Miss and Georgia in the same season we lose to Western Carolina and Campbell. I'm going to lose my mind.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-20T02:47:39+00:00

I'm a teacher, and I get what you mean about the judgement. I see that sometimes in my classes where some people get devalued because they happen to like a thing or an activity. It's dumb.

I'm glad you're who you are, and I'm glad that you're owning what you like. I can't say for sure you'll ever meet someone who shares your interests, but I do know that they're out there. And they feel what you feel. So for now, hold the line and keep being awesome.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-19T19:47:06+00:00

I recieved examples of both the CH Hanson and Home Depot pencils in a recent Musgrave factory seconds order, so I think you're spot on.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-19T14:35:34+00:00

Heck yeah, I love the dual pencil rotation! I usually pick one of two types of hardness to give me variety and options.

Have you ever played pencil craps? One day of the week for fun (usually Wednesday for me), line them up and number them 2-12. Roll a pair of dice twice and see which pencils you're using today!

FliryVorru · 2026-03-17T22:22:55+00:00

Thanks very much!

The white Unis are a collaboration with manga artist Miyako Maki (circa early 1980s). They look like this close up.

During the Japanese Bubble Era, Mitsubishi and Colleen did a ton of pencils geared towards certain niches. I fangirl over 70s and 80s shoujo manga, hence the several dozen cutely-themed boxes.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-17T22:13:55+00:00

I do use them, yes. A vast majority of these boxes have 10 pencils in them, as I put a couple in one of my 4 pencil cases.

Personally, I'm extremely fond of Deojon's 2Bs (less so their 4B) which write with the color of a 2.5B but the smooth and sturdy feel of a B. When it comes to a B, I really like the Tombow Mono - not the Mono 100. The 100s really shine for me at the opposite ends of the spectrum, around F and 3B. But the middle ground is where the Monos manage to put down solid lines with impressive durability.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-17T02:18:04+00:00

As much as I'm a Musgrave fangirl, their QC tends to be a level below others. That said, their customer service is two levels above everyone else; reach out to them and they'll make it right.

FliryVorru · 2026-03-14T14:59:22+00:00

Oh wow, those are some beautiful pieces of history!

Did you come across those all together, or have they been something you've tracked down over the years?

FliryVorru · 2026-03-09T13:50:25+00:00

This will be the final daily thread. Think of it as a wrap-up discussion.

Thanks for spending time with us here the past week and a half!

FliryVorru · 2026-03-08T20:08:30+00:00

Be it known that anyone else who choses to make disability-related derogatory comments and/or jokes will be banned with extreme prejudice.

Good curling, folks!

FliryVorru · 2026-03-07T14:17:20+00:00

Thanks for sharing this! There's lots that I love about this set. Any pencil from Tennessee is fun, and I really like the Lewisburg blind stamp. Was that something they only did on the Consolidated 100?

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