Kitaboshi 9606 Pencil

Kitaboshi 9606 writing pencils will look familiar to Japanese pencil connoisseurs, as they are quite similar in appearance to the Mitsubishi 9850. They feature darker-than-average HB leads, and are aimed at comfortable use for long writing sessions. The smooth lead glides over paper without requiring a lot of pressure. Kitaboshi's choice of gold foil stamping on one side and silver on the other creates a unique look. The lacquer is a brownish maroon, darker and less red than the Mitsubishi 9850. The unusually high-quality wood used for the 9606 is also noteworthy, with lovely reddish color and pronounced grain.

Manufacturing pencils in Tokyo since 1951, Kitaboshi is a fifth-generation company that celebrates the "charm and potential" of traditional wood-cased pencils. The company's mission is to follow the "pencil principle". The pencil principle was inspired by how a pencil sacrifices its own body to let everyone write -- and to do so, the core/lead is required to be centered precisely.

Kitaboshi traces its roots to an early 20th century lumber processing company, which was the first supplier of domestically manufactured pencil slats. The family turned to manufacturing finished pencils during the midcentury boom in Japanese pencil production, and Kitaboshi Pencil has been making high-quality pencils ever since.

• Sold individually
• For a box, add 12 to your cart
• HB graphite
• Made in Japan