History

Chronology

Founded 1887 - 1952

1887 Masaki Pencil Manufacturing Company is established in Tokyo by Yotsuyaku.
1901 Masaki Pencil becomes the first company to deliver domestically manufactured pencils (postal-use No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 pencils) to the predecessor of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
1903 Masaki Pencil registers Mitsubishi—which means three diamonds - as a brand (Registration No.18865) to commemorate the three types of pencils delivered to the predecessor of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
1918 Yamato Pencil Co., Ltd., is established in Yokohama's Kanagawa district.
1925 Masaki Pencil Manufacturing and Yamato Pencil merge, forming Masaki Yamato Pencil Co., Ltd., with its head office in Yokohama's Kanagawa district.
1927 Direct exports begin.
1940 The Koyasu Factory (currently the Yokohama Factory) begins operations.
1944 The Komatsu Factory (currently the Yamagata Factory) begins operations.
1946 Marketing of No. 9800 model pencils begin
1950 Marketing of No. 9000 model pencils begins.
1952 The Company name is changed to Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd., thereby unifying the names of the Company and its products.

1953 - 1986

1957 Marketing of Mitsubishi pencil sharpeners begins.
1958 Marketing of "uni" high-quality pencils (originally 4H–4B) begins.
1959 Production of ballpoint pens begins.
1961 Marketing of mechanical pencils with a twist mechanism for lead advancement (for 0.7mm and 0.9mm leads) begins.
1962 The Company’s stocks are listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1965 Production of felt-tip pens begins at the Fujioka Factory (currently the Gunma Factory).
1966 Marketing of "Hi-uni" high-quality pencils begins.
1967 Marketing of the Company's first electric sharpener, the "ES-8," begins.
1971 Marketing of "uni color" color pencils begins.
1972 The Company's stocks are listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1973 Marketing of "uni cellophane tape" begins.
1975 Dia-Craft Co., Ltd., is established as a start of hobby-related business.
1979 Uni Industry Co., Ltd., is established to be operated as the Mitsubishi Pencil Group's largest cellophane tape factory.
Marketing of "uni-ball" roller balls begins.
1980 Marketing of "PAINT MARKER" pens with oil-based ink begins.
1983 Marketing of "Hi-uni" mechanical pencil leads begins. Marketing of "POSCA" marker pens with colored water-based pigment ink begins.
1985 Unicosmo Corporation, Ltd., is established as a start of cosmetics related.
1986 The 100th anniversary of the Company's founding is marked.
Marketing of "PROCKEY" marker pens with colored water-based pigment ink begins.

1987 -

1987 Marketing of "PROPUS" highlighting pens with fluorescent ink begins.
1989 Start of stamp and seal business
1990 Marketing of "PiS" markers with oil-based ink begins.
1991 Marketing of "uni water color" water-based color pencil begins.
1993 Marketing of "Lakubo" ballpoint pens with rubber grips begins.
1994 Marketing of "uni-ball Signo" gel ink roller balls begins.
Marketing of "Sha-raku" mechanical pencil with rubber grips begins.
Marketing of "uni-ball eye" roller balls begins.
1996 Marketing of "uni-ball Signo ultrafine" gel ink roller balls begins.
1997 Marketing of "uni-ball Signo" click-type gel ink roller balls begins.
1998 Marketing of "uni-ball Signo broad" gel ink roller balls begins.
1999 The Company's Head Office and Yokohama Factory obtain ISO 9001 certification for quality assurance in the design and production of roller balls.
2000 The Company obtains ISO 9001 certification for quality assurance in the design and production of writing instruments.
Marketing of "PROPUS WINDOW" highlighting pens with fluorescent ink begins.
2001 MITSUBISHI PENCIL VIETNAM CO., LTD., is established.
Marketing of "POWER TANK" ballpoint pens with pressurized refills begins.
2002 Marketing of "uni-ball Signo Erasable" ballpoint pen with erasable gel ink roller balls begins.
2003 Marketing of "uni α-gel" begins.
2004 Marketing of "Oshira-sensor" whiteboard markers with ink level indicators begins (marketed overseas under the brand name "Ink-View").
2005 Launching of "uni-ball Signo bit" boasting 0.18mm-diameter super-ultrafine ball begins.
2006 Marketing of “JETSTREAM” oil-based ballpoint pen begins.
Marketing of“ uni” brand colored pencils called “PERICIA” begins.
2008 The 50th anniversary of the first sales of "uni" pencils is marked.
Sales of "hi-uni" bringing the total to 22 degrees of hardness.
Sales of "KURU TOGA" mechanical pencils with automatic lead core rotation function begins.
Sales of "uni nano-dia" mechanical pencils begins.
2009 Marketing of "Ponky Pencil" (difficult to break and can even write on glass) begins.
2011 Marketing of "Blackboard POSCA" begins (marketed overseas under brandname of Chalk Marker) .
Marketing of "KURU TOGA Refill Leads" easily sharpened smooth leads begins.
2012 Marketing of uni Nano-Dia for Textbook begins.
2014 Marketing of a newly developed rollerball "uni-ball AIR" begins.
Marketing of Uniball Signo 307 featuring Cellulose Nano Fiber technology begins in Europe and U.S.A.
2015 Marketing of "Hi-uni" mechanical pencil leads begins. Marketing of "POSCA" marker pens with colored water-based pigment ink begins.
2016 Mitsubishi Pencil sponsors Pencil Factory Pavilion at Kidzania Tokyo.
Mitsubishi Pencil sponsors G7 Ise Shima Summit with uni-ball Signo 307
2017 Marketing of R:E, erasable and retractable gel pen, begins.
Marketing of Advance mechanical pencil which enables neat writing begins.
Marketing of uni Color mechanical pencil loaded with erasable colors leads begins.
2020 Marketing of“ uni-ball one” click-type gel ink roller balls begins.
Marketing of 0.28mm ball point pen "Jetstream EDGE 3" begins.

Trademark and Brand

About the Mitsubishi Pencil Trademark

Masaki Pencil Manufacturing Company, the forerunner to Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. was established in Naito Shinjuku (now the Naito area of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward) in 1887 by Niroku Masaki. It was at the 1878 Paris World Fair that Mr. Masaki observed a pencil for the very first time, and he immediately was inspired to create one for himself. He began performing extensive research and eventually succeeded in producing Japan’s first pencil. In 1901, after numerous setbacks and repeated experimental mistakes, he finally persuaded the Ministry of Communications (the current Ministry of Internal A f fairs and Communications) to purchase pencils that he had designed especially for government agency use. 　Relieved that his days of frustration were now behind him, Mr. Masaki searched for a way to mark this momentous occasion and eventually came up with the idea of registering a commemorative trademark. As his pencils for government agency use were produced in three grades of hardness (lead core density)— appropriately termed No.1, No.2, and No.3 — he decided to engrave them with the Mitsubishi "three-diamond" mark, derived from the "three fish scales" of the Masaki family crest. Both the Mitsubishi mark and trademark were registered in 1903, preceding the registration of the trademark of the Mitsubishi industrial conglomerate by 10 years.
The Mitsubishi mark has been handed down and exists to this day as a symbol of the tradition and pride of the Company’s founder.

Niroku Masaki
The Masaki family crest
The Mitsubishi "three-diamond" mark
The pencils that he had designed especially for government agency use

Corporate Brand for a New Era

For most people, uni probably conjures up the image of a uniquely reddish brown colored pencil. The uni pencil has been a highly popular and long-standing product since its launch over 50 years ago, in 1958. In recent years, the logo has transcended being merely the name of a pencil and become recognized as the brand for all our innovative new products. Today, the logo is the corporate brand of Mitsubishi Pencil Co.,Ltd. Both in Japan and elsewhere throughout the world, the mark (derived from the word "unique") symbolizes a unique company that consistently develops products based on fresh ideas and continues to enrich and brighten the lifestyles of its customers.

Corporate Brand "uni"