5:14 NJK is a blade manufacturer tho. They are both an in house and an OEM. There are a couple of pencil sharpeners from Mitsubishi to Muji that use NJK sharpener blades. If you google them, you can find their various sharpeners too. They got a tendency to be good and reliable, but they do go out eventually, usually a month or two. My Mitsubishi uni Palette one kinda wore out longer.
Oh, those look magnificent. Did your brother purchase those in Japan, or is there a US (or online) source for them? They remind me of the old Richard Best "Press" pencils I reviewed a while back; those just might be my favorite pencil ever, in the history of graphite pencils. Thanks for introducing these to us, Kevin!
Thank you so much for the information of the NJK company and the products they made. Very interesting history! Although these might be designed to help children learn to hold a pencil and write, they are very comfortable for adults, too! I really like the triangle pencils. Thank you!
Kitaboshi will be Kitaboshi. What else can we describe them as? The fame of the brand speaks for itself. It's the Porsche of pencils. Speaking of which, the way you pronounce the name [ki-ta-BAW-shi] is catchy, it sounds almost like a vehicle manufacturer. The "proper" pronounciation [ki-ta-boe-SHEE] is much more of a mouthful outside of full Japanese speech. Finally, a shout out to triangular pencils. They feel so much less bulky than hex or round ones in the hand, sometimes I forget I'm not using a bridge pencil. Thank you again, Kevin, for cheering up my Wednesday.
Hi DFT! Thank you for letting me know the proper way to pronounce the company name. It's also a natural way of how those of us in the middle part of the US tend to speak - but it's good to know how it's supposed to sound. I love triangle pencils, too. They are always comfortable in my hand. Thanks!
Yeah, Kitaboshi tend to have a pretty nice dark core, so I do expect these pencils to make pretty nice and dark lines. That's why they compare them to Blackwings. (iykyk) Also, I got the hexagonal natural kitaboshi pencil in HB and its pretty good too. Their natural pencils sure are pretty nice in feel and looks. No wonder your brother likes em. Nice share! 😃
NJK, mat be a bearing manufacturer in Japan. I am not an e x pert. They may also be linked to a generator factory of Ww II BUTi am not certain. This is only speculation on my part. Nhk was a generator concern of author of Melia Earhart, The Search for by Fred Goerner formerly of CBs radio San Francisco California. Mind you, I am probably stretching things a bit with my associating all this, but it is just possible. They are probably very fine pencils, and only slightly darker than western pencils. Thank you for this interesting showcase of foreign made pencils.
What a lovely writing instrument! And I will add that I am in love with the Japanese block erasers. Great review!
Thanks, Sallie! Those Japanese erasers do a wonderful job!
That’s why I love natural pencils, they are smooth, easy to handle, and fun to use.
Yes - naturals are very nice to use! Thanks, Immanuel!
5:14 NJK is a blade manufacturer tho. They are both an in house and an OEM.
There are a couple of pencil sharpeners from Mitsubishi to Muji that use NJK sharpener blades. If you google them, you can find their various sharpeners too. They got a tendency to be good and reliable, but they do go out eventually, usually a month or two. My Mitsubishi uni Palette one kinda wore out longer.
Thanks for letting me know. I didn't know NJK made blades.
*Wow this pencil is SOOO QUIET!! (Ironic I used 'loud' font here..)*
Hi raccoon - it is a quiet one - even in all caps!
Oh, those look magnificent. Did your brother purchase those in Japan, or is there a US (or online) source for them?
They remind me of the old Richard Best "Press" pencils I reviewed a while back; those just might be my favorite pencil ever, in the history of graphite pencils.
Thanks for introducing these to us, Kevin!
Which one is the best, MAMO? The Richard Best Press or the Eagle Black Warrior!?
@@LouiesWorkshop as much as I love a No. 1 Black Warrior, I think the Press is best!
Knowing your collection, that's some high praise!
You can buy these pencils at St. Looks art supply. I picked up a box of the B grade and may also get a box of the HB.
These pencils came from St Louis Art Supply. One box of 12 with sharpener, $13.95.
NJKは「中島重久堂」が製造している刃物のブランドです! 1933年創業し、最初はペン軸・煙草パイプを製造してたが戦争により石油製品が手に入らないため製造終了。その後、日本で初めてプラスチック射出成形による鉛筆削りを開発し、現在では鉛筆削り専門メーカーとして営んでます。
「 かきかた 鉛筆」（Writing style pencil）は、日本で使われている子供用鉛筆の名前です。鉛筆の持ち方を学ぶために使われてます。そのため、三角形なんです。三菱鉛筆やトンボ鉛筆からも「かきかた鉛筆」という名で、各社製造し販売されてます。私もよく小学生の時、三菱鉛筆の「三角かきかたえんぴつ」を使ってました😊
Thank you so much for the information of the NJK company and the products they made. Very interesting history! Although these might be designed to help children learn to hold a pencil and write, they are very comfortable for adults, too! I really like the triangle pencils. Thank you!
Kitaboshi will be Kitaboshi. What else can we describe them as? The fame of the brand speaks for itself. It's the Porsche of pencils.
Speaking of which, the way you pronounce the name [ki-ta-BAW-shi] is catchy, it sounds almost like a vehicle manufacturer. The "proper" pronounciation [ki-ta-boe-SHEE] is much more of a mouthful outside of full Japanese speech.
Finally, a shout out to triangular pencils. They feel so much less bulky than hex or round ones in the hand, sometimes I forget I'm not using a bridge pencil.
Thank you again, Kevin, for cheering up my Wednesday.
Hi DFT! Thank you for letting me know the proper way to pronounce the company name. It's also a natural way of how those of us in the middle part of the US tend to speak - but it's good to know how it's supposed to sound. I love triangle pencils, too. They are always comfortable in my hand. Thanks!
Hi. What does the term “bridge pencil” mean?
@@GS-cg3yn A thinner pencil than average. Has that name because it was commonly used by women to play bridge in decades past.
@@DinnerForkTongue Oh. Well that makes sense. Thanks!
I love natural pencils. I have a lot of them in my bank bag that I use for a pencil holder. They all look very old because of there being no laquer.
Thanks, Louie! Using a bank bag for a pencil holder is a great idea!
Yeah, Kitaboshi tend to have a pretty nice dark core, so I do expect these pencils to make pretty nice and dark lines. That's why they compare them to Blackwings. (iykyk)
Also, I got the hexagonal natural kitaboshi pencil in HB and its pretty good too. Their natural pencils sure are pretty nice in feel and looks.
No wonder your brother likes em. Nice share! 😃
Thanks! I have enjoyed every Kitaboshi pencil I've ever tried.
Only hear the sound of a clock ticking lol
NJK, mat be a bearing manufacturer in Japan. I am not an e x pert. They may also be linked to a generator factory of Ww II BUTi am not certain. This is only speculation on my part. Nhk was a generator concern of author of Melia Earhart, The Search for by Fred Goerner formerly of CBs radio San Francisco California. Mind you, I am probably stretching things a bit with my associating all this, but it is just possible. They are probably very fine pencils, and only slightly darker than western pencils. Thank you for this interesting showcase of foreign made pencils.
Hi Chris - thanks for all the background information!
Have you ever tried Chinese pens/ pencils?
He has done so a few times, yeah.
Yes, I've reviewed a number of them here. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog Thanks, sir. Hi from Oman.
*Not a fan of natural pencils at all - but I LOVE that cardboard packaging!*
The design of the box is great. Thanks!