Pentel

Founded in Tokyo in 1946 by Yukio Horie, Pentel Co., Ltd. (ぺんてる株式会社) began with a mission to make bright, affordable art supplies for Japanese schoolrooms before expanding into writing tools. The company’s name combines "pen" with "tell," reflecting an early focus on drawing and expression. Over the decades, Pentel pioneered several desk items still seen today, including the world’s first acrylic resin pencil lead, early mechanical pencil mechanisms, and the fiber-tipped Sign Pen. Known today for reliable drafting tools and quick-drying liquid gel inks like EnerGel, Pentel designs practical, long-lasting instruments built for everyday writing and sketching.