Uni-ball

{{Short description|Japanese pen and pencil brand}} {{Expand Japanese}} {{Infobox brand | name = Uniball | logo = Uniball logo, new.png  | logo_size = 200 | producttype = Ballpoint pens mechanical pencils Marker pens | currentowner = Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.<ref name=tm/><ref name=penguy/> | producedby = | country = Japan | introduced = {{start date and age|1979}} <ref name=vn/> | discontinued = | markets = Worldwide | previousowners = | trademarkregistrations = United States (Serial #73615530) <ref name=tm>[https://trademark.trademarkia.com/uniball-73615530.html Uni-ball, trademark of the Mitsubishi Pencil Co.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215084508/https://trademark.trademarkia.com/uniball-73615530.html |date=2021-12-15 }} on Trademarkia</ref> | ambassadors = | tagline = | website = {{Official website}} | module =  | module1 =  }}

{{nihongo|'''Uniball'''|ユニボール|Yunibōru}} (stylized as '''uniball''') and {{nihongo|'''Uni'''|ユニ|Yuni}} are brands of pens and pencils,<ref name=tm/> made by the {{nihongo|'''Mitsubishi Pencil Company Limited'''|三菱鉛筆株式会社|Mitsubishi Enpitsu Kabushiki Gaisha}} of Japan. The brand was introduced in 1979 as a rollerball pen model, then expanding to the rest of Mitsubishi Pencil products.<ref name=vn/>

Mitsubishi Pencil Company distributes over 3,000 core products in over 100 countries through subsidiaries, such as Mitsubishi Pencil Company UK. Distribution in the United States, Canada and Mexico is by Uni-ball's North American Corporation in Wheaton, Illinois. In Germany they are sold by Faber-Castell, in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East by Hoshan Pan Gulf,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hpgworld.com |title=Hoshan Pan Gulf}}</ref> in India by Linc Pen and Plastics Limited (LPPL),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincpen.com |title=Linc Pen & Plastics Limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uniball.in |title=Uni-ball India}}</ref> and in the Philippines by Lupel Corporation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uniball.com.ph|title=Lupel Corporation}}</ref> Despite its naming and the nearly identical logomarks, Mitsubishi Pencil Company is unrelated to the Mitsubishi Group,<ref>{{cite web|title=About Mitsubishi |url=http://www.mitsubishi.com/e/group/about.html |website=mitsubishi.com |access-date=8 May 2014}}</ref> and has never been a part of their keiretsu.<ref name="NYT-Vanderbilt">{{cite news |last1=Vanderbilt |first1=Tom |title=Letter of Recommendation: Uni-ball Signo UM-151 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/magazine/letter-of-recommendation-uni-ball-signo-um-151.html |access-date=17 July 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=21 May 2015}}</ref> The logo itself is a family crest, or kamon.

== History == {{Infobox company | name = Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. | former_names = Masaki Pencil Manufacturing Company | logo = Uni Mitsubishi Pencil logo.svg | logo_size = 150 | logo_caption = | image = Mitsubishi Pencil HQ Building March-2019.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Mitsubishi Pencil Co. headquarters in Shinagawa, Tokyo | native_name = 三菱鉛筆株式会社 | romanized_name = Mitsubishi Enpitsu Kabushiki Gaisha | traded_as = {{tyo|7976}} | type = Public KK | fate = | industry = Stationery | location = Higashioi | location_city = Tokyo | location_country = Japan | founded = {{start date and age|1925|04|15}} | founder = Niroku Masaki | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Shigehiko Suhara<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mpuni.co.jp/en/company/outline.html |title = Company |accessdate=2024-03-10}}</ref> (President) | products = Ballpoint pens mechanical pencils | owner = | subsid = | brands = Uniball Uni Lamy | website ={{url|www.mpuni.co.jp}} }}

thumb| Original Uni-ball logo The Mitsubishi Pencil company was founded in Tokyo by Niroku Masaki in 1887<ref name=uk>[https://uniball.co.uk/who-we-are/ Who we are] on Uni-ball UK</ref> as the "Masaki Pencil Manufacturing Company".<ref name=penguy/> After World War II, it was renamed "The Mitsubishi Pencil Company".<ref name=penguy>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepenguy.com/uniball.htm |title=Creating a Unique Advertising Tool with Uniball |website=ThePenGuy |access-date=8 May 2014 |archive-date=2 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302200734/http://www.thepenguy.com/uniball.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Masaki Pencil started to export its products, first to Mexico in 1927, then expanding to other markets including Belgium, Egypt, Portugal, Argentina, India and Netherlands. At the end of World War II, the company introduced the "9800" pencil. In 1959, Mitsubishi released its first ballpoint pen, while its first mechanical pencil was launched in 1961.<ref name=vn>[http://www.uni-ball.vn/en/about-us/ About us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128015202/https://www.uni-ball.vn/en/about-us/ |date=2020-11-28 }} on Uni Mitsubishi Pencil Vietnam</ref>

In 1966, they began creating performance pens and by 1979 they developed the first "Uniball" rollerball pen,<ref name=uk/> which was the first ballpen with water-based ink and metallic tip. This pen would be a great success in Japan and North America. One year later, the company launched the "Paint", an oil-based marker.<ref name=vn/>

While mainly focused on making pens, in 2008 they developed a new mechanical pencil that rotated the graphite lead every time it is lifted from the page to sharpen it into an even cone shape. This line of pencils is named as ''Kuru Toga''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uniball-na.com/Pages/our-story.aspx |title=Our Story |website=Uni-ball |access-date=8 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405060701/http://www.uniball-na.com/pages/our-story.aspx |archive-date=5 April 2014 }}</ref> The name ''Kuru Toga'' is a portmanteau of the two Japanese words 'kuru' (turning) and 'togaru' (to be sharpened).

In August 2020, Uni-ball announced a partnership with Starline.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Central|first=A. S. I.|date=2020-08-25|title=Starline Partners With uni-ball|url=https://www.asicentral.com/news/newsletters/promogram/august-2020/starline-partners-with-uni-ball/|website=www.asicentral.com|language=en}}</ref> Beginning in January 2021, Starline became the exclusive supplier of the Uni-ball brand for the promotional products industry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Starline Announces Exclusive Partnership With uni-ball|url=https://pubs.ppai.org/ppb-newslink/starline-announces-exclusive-partnership-with-uni-ball/|website=PPAI Media|language=en}}</ref>

In February 2024, the company announced it was acquiring German fountain and ball point pen company Lamy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mitsubishi Pencil set to take over German fountain pen maker Lamy {{!}} The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15182945 |website=The Asahi Shimbun |language=en}}</ref> The acquisition was completed in the same month.

== Products == Although Mitsubishi Pencil started as a wooden pencil manufacturer, the company is no longer specialized in that product, focusing on mechanical pencils instead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Innovative Writing Tools {{!}} High Quality Pens |url=https://uniballco.com/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=uni-ball}}</ref> Uni-ball's writing implements brands include ''Jetstream'' (hybrid-ink ballpoint pens); ''Air'', ''Eye'' (marketed as ''Vision'' in the United States) rollerball pens, ''Signo'' (pigment ink gel pens); ''Onyx'', ''Kuru Toga'' (mechanical pencils);<ref>[https://uniballco.com/all-products/ All products] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206161609/https://uniballco.com/all-products/ |date=2020-02-06 }} on Uni-ball USA</ref> ''Paint'', ''Posca'' (paint marker pens), ''Chalk'', and ''Prockey'' (marker pens).<ref>[http://uniball.com.au/catalog/ Catalog] on Uni-ball Australia</ref>

Wood-cased pencil brands include ''Hi-Uni'', ''Uni'' and ''Mitsu-Bishi''. Some other pen lines (mainly intended for the Japanese market) under the Uni brand are ''Power Tank'' (pressurised ink-cartridge ballpoint pen), ''R:E'' (erasable ink pens), ''Laknock'', ''Clifter'' (ballpoints), ''α(Alpha)-GEL'' (various types of pens with soft gel-like grips), ''Style Fit'' (multi-pen system), ''Shift'', ''M-552'' (mechanical pencils), and ''Propus'' (highlighters). Product lines under the Uni-ball brand are ''One'' (gel pens), and ''Zento'' (rollerball pens).<ref>[https://catalog.mpuni.co.jp/index_h5.html#90 Web Catalog] on Uni-ball Japan</ref>

The brand is often listed best or one of the best pens in gel pen rankings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best Gel Pens {{!}} JetPens |url=https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Gel-Pens/pt/459 |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=www.jetpens.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Best Gel Pens of 2022 {{!}} Unsharpen |url=https://unsharpen.com/the-best-gel-pens/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=unsharpen.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-09 |title=The Best Gel Pens for Writers, Artists, and Students |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/product-recommendations/best-gel-pens-1234636917/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=ARTnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Pencils === ; Uni Released in October 1958, it was created to be used for drafting and drawing, and was the pioneer of high quality pencils in Japan.

; Hi-uni Released in 1966, it included all the hardness scales of 9H - 6B stipulated by JIS. The technology was developed to make the particle size very small in Hi-uni pencils. In 2008, 10H and 7B - 10B outside JIS standards were added, resulting in 22 hardness scales. The "Hi-Uni Art Set" with a set of 22 hardnesses is available.

; Mitsu-Bishi 9800 series No. 9800: Released in 1946, for general writing. Available in many grades.

No. 9850: A red-brown pencil with a hexagonal cross section, and attached eraser.

No. 9852: A yellow pencil with a hexagonal cross section, and attached eraser.

=== Mechanical Pencils === ; Uni SHIFT It is a mechanical pencil ("sharp") used for drafting. The grip is made of aluminum and is knurled.

; Kuru Toga Released in 2008, the Kuru Toga mechanical pencil the "Kuru Toga engine"—that rotates the lead slightly each time it touches the paper.

In 2017, Uni launched the “Advance,” which doubled the rotation angle of the lead.

In February 2020, the Kuru Toga Dive was released in limited quantities.

=== Ballpoint and rollerball pens === ; Signo Released in 1994, the Signo is a gel-ink ballpoint pen. In 2015, the "Signo 307" was introduced which used "cellulose nanofiber" ink.

; Power Tank The Power Tank is a pressurized oil-based ballpoint pen. It was introduced in 2001. It can write in conditions where conventional ballpoint pens typically fail, such as when writing upward, on wet paper, or in temperatures below freezing.

; Jetstream The Jetstream line was introduced in 2006. It is a low-viscosity oil-based ballpoint pen.

; Uni-ball One Released in 2020, the Uni-ball One uses a proprietary "BeadsPack" pigment ink in which pigments are firmly enclosed within the particles, reducing absorption into paper fibers. The Uni-ball One series includes three models — Uni-ball One, Uni-ball One F, and Uni-ball One P.

; Uni-ball Zento The Uni-ball Zento is a water-based ink ballpoint pen featuring Uni’s distinctive "Zento Ink," that was introduced in 2025. It uses a polyoxyalkylene (POA) surfactant, along with pigment ink .

There are four models: ''Basic'', ''Standard'', ''Flow'', and ''Signature''.

=== Other writing instruments ===

; Uni α(Alpha)Gel First introduced in 2003, this series uses a shock-absorbing material, called ''αGEL'' for the grip. There are models of mechanical pencils, oil-based ballpoint pens, and multi-functional pens.

; Style Fit Style Fit, released in 2009, is a customizable pen system that allows users to combine various body designs with different types of refills.

; Posca {{Nihongo|Posca|ポスカ|lead=yes}} (sometimes stylised as POSCA) are Japanese paint markers created by Uni Mitsubishi Pencil in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kemsley |first=Saskia |date=2025-01-31 |title=Best paint pens for creating artwork on any surface |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/shopping/esbest/home-garden/home-accessories/best-paint-pens-artwork-surface-b1208067.html |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref>

Poscas are known for their ability to write on a wide variety of surfaces.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Macchia |first1=Andrea |last2=Colasanti |first2=Irene Angela |last3=Barbaccia |first3=Francesca Irene |last4=Zaratti |first4=Camilla |last5=Franchino |first5=Giuseppe |last6=Scarpelli |first6=Jessica |last7=Damiano |first7=Miriam |last8=Valentini |first8=Federica |date=2025-05-11 |title=Preservation of Money Art: Material Degradation and Evaluation of Biopolymer Coatings as Protective Strategies |journal=Applied Sciences |volume=15 |issue=10 |page=5355 |doi=10.3390/app15105355 |doi-access=free }}</ref> They work well on glass, metal, textiles, and stone, but do not work well on acrylic paint or wax crayons.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kickz |first=Xavier |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zx2yEAAAQBAJ |title=Art of Custom Sneakers: How to Create One-of-a-Kind Kicks; Paint, Splatter, Dip, Drip, and Color |date=2023-09-12 |publisher=Rockport Publishers |isbn=978-0-7603-8181-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=K |first=Alex |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XPqVDwAAQBAJ |title=Light up Your Soul: Healing from Anxiety and Depression Through Art |date=2019-04-26 |publisher=Balboa Press |isbn=978-1-5043-1756-6 |language=en}}</ref> They are more permanent on porous surfaces.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kadakia |first=Minjal |date=2023-01-03 |title=Posca Markers Test - Inky Memo |url=https://inkymemo.com/posca-markers-test/ |access-date=2025-08-05 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Poscas use water-based paints with pigments that is highly opaque, and semi-waterproof when dry.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grey |first=Caylee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oG1OEAAAQBAJ |title=Get Messy Art: The No-Rules, No-Judgment, No-Pressure Approach to Making Art - Create with Watercolor, Acrylics, Markers, Inks, and More |date=2021-11-02 |publisher=Quarry Books |isbn=978-0-7603-7117-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Style |first=Sarah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sgmKEAAAQBAJ |title=Marvelous Metallic Watercolor: Beginner Painting Projects to Create Shimmering Art |date=2023-10-31 |publisher=Page Street Publishing |isbn=978-1-64567-941-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Board |first=Alison C |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_b5IEAAAQBAJ |title=Beginner's Guide to Watercolour with Mixed Media |publisher=Search Press Limited |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-78126-625-0 |pages= |language=en}}</ref>

There are slight variations in colours available between the Japanese and International pens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=「ポスカ」親子をターゲットに拡販！三菱鉛筆ニュースイッチ by 日刊工業新聞社 |url=https://newswitch.jp/p/627 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=ニュースイッチ by 日刊工業新聞社 |language=ja}}</ref>

Posca pens are popular with graffiti artists<ref>{{Citation |last=Mazenc |first=Loïc |title=Le street-art, ou l'institutionnalisation problématique d'une pratique contre-culturelle |date=2017 |url=http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.2.13935.94886 |access-date=2025-08-05 |publisher=Unpublished |doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.13935.94886}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Souza |first=Fabiana Rodrigues de |title=Arte urbana underground: arte e derivações em São Paulo |date=2019-04-22 |degree=dissertação |publisher=Universidade de São Paulo |url=http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/93/93131/tde-16102019-153729/ |language=pt-BR}}</ref> and had their origins in graffiti culture.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kempster |first=Chloe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hmgcEQAAQBAJ |title=Better Than New: Tips for Upcycling and Refinishing Furniture |date=2024-09-12 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-78994-158-6 |language=en}}</ref> Posca have collaborated with Japanese clothing brand Wasted Youth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=TEAM |first=TOKION EDITORIAL |date=2021-08-01 |title=TOKION x Wasted Youth Vol.2 VERDY's sentiments etched in the collaboration between Wasted Youth and POSCA - TOKION |url=https://tokion.jp/en/2021/08/01/tokion-x-wasted-youth-vol2/ |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=TOKION - Cutting edge culture and fashion information |language=en-US}}</ref> The collaboration items were displayed in a pop-up gallery in Miyashita Park.<ref>{{Cite web |last=加藤貴大 |date=2021-07-17 |title=「トキオン」がVERDYのポップアップイベント開催「ポスカ」「ハーゲンダッツ」とのコラボアイテムも |url=https://www.wwdjapan.com/articles/1237596 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=WWDJAPAN |language=ja}}</ref> Painter Ken Hamaguchi held an exhibition "Posca: The Opacity of Love 2022" (ポスカ、その愛の不透明度 2022) showcasing Posca artwork.<ref>{{Cite web |last=tamazawa |date=2022-01-13 |title=写実画家・濱口健、POSCAを用いたドローイング作品の個展＜ポスカ、その愛の不透明度 2022＞開催 - StoryWriter |url=https://storywriter.tokyo/2022/01/13/5361/ |access-date=2025-08-05 |language=ja}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{commons cat}} * {{Official website}} * [https://www.mpuni.co.jp/ Corporate website] of the Mitsubishi Pencil Company {{in lang|ja}}

Category:Office supply companies of Japan Category:Manufacturing companies based in Tokyo Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1887 Category:1887 establishments in Japan Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Category:Shinagawa Category:Pen manufacturers Category:Japanese brands Category:Japanese stationery Category:Pencil manufacturers