10 Japanese Pencil Sharpeners With High Quality

Many people may think that pencil sharpeners are just for sharpening pencils, and there is no significant difference among them. Also, more and more people use ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils instead of pencils because of their ease of use.

But it’s actually very economical because one lead of a mechanical pencil can draw a line about 240 meters long. In contrast, one pencil can draw a line as long as 50 kilometers.

Moreover, many different companies sell a variety of pencil sharpeners with various innovations. So, I will introduce 10 high-quality Japanese pencil sharpeners and explain the points to consider when choosing a pencil sharpener.

Things To Remember When Choosing Japanese Pencil Sharpeners

At first glance, pencil sharpeners all look the same. But they all have different functions and features. So here are some points to consider when choosing the best Japanese pencil sharpeners for you.

Some pencils may not fit, so checking beforehand is a must

It is a mistake to think that all pencil sharpeners can sharpen any pencil. There are many different thicknesses and shapes of pencil shafts. So it is of utmost importance to choose a pencil sharpener that is the right size for your pencil.

Choose based on the characteristics of each type

There are three main types of Japanese pencil sharpeners: electric, manual, and portable. It’s essential to choose the one that best suits the situation in which you will use it.

Electric-type

The biggest advantage of the electric pencil sharpener is its convenience. You can sharpen your pencils quickly and effortlessly, and you can even share them with other people on your desk. In addition, many modern electric pencil sharpeners are equipped with a variety of special and unique features.

One of the drawbacks is that you can’t easily move it if you have to plug in a cable. There is also a battery-powered type. But you may have to pay a lot of money for batteries if you use them frequently.

Manual-type

The traditional pencil sharpener is the manual type. It is by far the most durable and can be used for a long time. Also, it is usually cheaper than electric ones. However, the disadvantage is that you have to sharpen them by hand, which can be a bit tedious.

Also, some of them are not very stable, and it isn’t easy to sharpen the pencils properly. So, when buying a manual one, I recommend a little heavier one to ensure stability.

Portable-type

The portable version is compact enough to fit in a pencil case. So it is recommended for people who want to carry it with them or keep it in a drawer when not in use. The price is low, and you don’t have to worry about space. So this is probably the best choice for those who are not particular about their needs.

Choose according to the purpose

Pencil sharpeners have a variety of functions for different purposes—for example, the function to adjust the thickness of the pen nib on your preference. In addition, you can use a sharp nib for writing and a rounded nib for drawing.

Electric pencil sharpeners also have a variety of unique features, such as

• Overheat prevention
• Safety auto-stop
• Oversharpening prevention
• Broken lead removal

Many other features would be useful to have, so please check those out as well.

Japanese Pencil Sharpeners

Here are some recommended Japanese pencil sharpeners for each type.

Electric pencil sharpener

Nakabayashi Electric Pencil Sharpener Slim

It has a simple design with one unified color. So, it will not look out of place anywhere. It is available in three colors: white, blue, and pink. Despite its simple appearance, it has many special functions that make it easy to use.

There are various features such as “Oversharpening prevention” that prevent sharpening more than necessary. And “Thickness adjustment” allows you to adjust the tip to your liking. There is also “Safety auto-stop” that will not operate unless a scrap container is set, and “Overheat prevention” will prevent overheating when used continuously. So you can use it with peace of mind.

Asuka Asmix Electric Sharpener

Aska, which sells many electric stationery products, also sells an electric pencil sharpener. The pencil sharpener is compact and can be left on a desk without getting in the way, making it convenient to use whenever you want. In addition, the feet of the central unit are equipped with suction cups, which make it resistant to shifting and prevent it from falling over if it is accidentally bumped.

It is equipped with convenient features such as “Oversharpening prevention”, “Safety auto-stop”, and “Overheat prevention”. Moreover, it has an eco-friendly design that does not require standby power even when kept plugged in.

Nakabayashi Pencil Design Electrical Pencil Sharpener

This is a cute electric pencil sharpener in the shape of a pencil. The unique and impactful design is sure to be popular among small children. There are three colors to choose from: blue, pink, and yellow, all vibrant. So even if you leave it on your desk, it will have a big presence.

The pencils can be easily sharpened by simply inserting them from the top, making it easy for children who are not good at detailed work. Design, function, and safety are all part of the appeal of this product. It is a two-way type, can be operated by either AA batteries or AC adapter, and can be used on desks away from electrical outlets.

Manual pencil sharpener

MUJI Manual Pencil Sharpener

MUJI, a world-famous brand of accessories and clothing with simple design and functionality, also has pencil sharpeners. This manual pencil sharpener has a clean, MUJI-like appearance in white color. The back of the pencil sharpener has a non-slip surface to ensure stability while sharpening. It is recommended for pencils for writing, as it can sharpen quite sharply.

Uni KH-20 Hand Crank Wooden Pencil Sharpener

A simple, compact, manual pencil sharpener for office and school use with thickness adjustment. It is lightweight and small yet feels stable and easy to use. It has a chic glossy body that blends in stylishly in a child’s room, office, study, or kitchen.

The handle part moves lightly and provides very smooth movement. It also has a knock-off thickness adjustment function that allows you to adjust the sharpening to your liking. This ensures that you always have a consistent and comfortable pencil and allows for stress-free writing. It is available in black, red, and blue colors.

Carl Pencil Sharpener, CC-2000

This pencil sharpener uses iron for its body, which not only looks massive but is also highly durable and hard to break. A rubber chuck is used to hold the pencil softly and firmly so that the surface of the pencil is not scratched when sharpening.

The lead thickness can be adjusted in five levels (0.5 mm to 1.0 mm) to suit the user’s preference. A desk clamp is included in the package. It can be screwed into the desk to make it more stable than holding it by hand and prevent it from tipping over and scattering shavings.

Portable pencil sharpener

Tombow Ippo Pencil Sharpener

It has two holes, one for pencils and one for colored pencils. So you can sharpen pencils for both writing and drawing with this pencil sharpener. Typically, it is difficult to differentiate the features of portable pencil sharpeners. Still, the Tombow Ippo Pencil Sharpener has a very high-quality blade, and it is very popular for its comfort to use.

Kutsuwa Pencil Sharpener T’GAAL

“Kutsuwa Pencil Sharpener T’GAAL” has a dial that allows you to adjust the sharpness. So you can change it depending on the type of pencil you use. The body of the pencil sharpener comes in five colorful colors. And it is highly functional, making it a pencil sharpener that you will want to take with you on your trips.

The product name “T’GAAL” comes from the Japanese word “とがる(togaru)”, meaning “sharp,”. As the name suggests, the length and angle of the lead can be adjusted in one to five different ways to suit the pencil.

 Also, the shavings compartment has a sliding shutter that can be closed tightly to prevent shavings from spilling out during use. So even if you carry it with shavings in it, you can rest assured that it will not open easily.

Kutsuwa Pencil Sharpener K’ZOOL

There is another portable pencil sharpener sold by Kutsuwa, the same manufacturer as the above T’GAAL; it is “K’ZOOL”. Similar to “T’GAAL”, the name comes from the Japanese word “けずる(Kezuru),” which means “sharpen,” and this one has the same adjustable lead length function.

The pen tip design is attached in a small window on the sharpener’s body so that you can see at a glance how well it is sharpened. In addition, it has a one-push cleaner function that allows you to remove the broken lead with just one push, making it very comfortable to use.

MUJI Small White pencil sharpener

If you want a compact and simple pencil sharpener, I recommend MUJI’s portable pencil sharpener. It is a very simple pencil sharpener without any unnecessary decoration or functions.

Summary

Here is a shortlist of the Japanese pencil sharpeners introduced above.

It’s only a pencil sharpener, but there are many different functions and features among the ones I have introduced. So please use this as a reference when choosing the best pencil sharpener for you.

Also, if you are planning to buy one for your child, you may check Japanese school notebooks as well.