Mitsubishi Pencil Holds 19th Unique 'Pencil Sharpening Entrance Ceremony' - Collaboration with OIMACHI TRACKS for Sketching Event
Mitsubishi Pencil held its annual 'Pencil Sharpening Entrance Ceremony' on April 1st, where new employees sharpen 'uni' pencils with knives. The event aimed to foster attachment to tools and personal growth, featuring a sketching session in the new OIMACHI TRACKS park.
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- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 02:45
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 18:37
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Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Shigehiko Kasuhara) held its 19th 'Pencil Sharpening Entrance Ceremony' at its headquarters on Wednesday, April 1st.
The ceremony began in 2008 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 'uni' pencil, a world-class Japanese product launched in 1958. This tradition aims to deepen new employees' attachment to the writing instruments they will be closely involved with. The act of sharpening symbolizes the hope that employees will continue to refine themselves and excel after joining the company, just as even the highest quality pencil cannot write unless it is sharpened.
First, new employees of the 2026 class were given a dozen 'uni' pencils engraved with '2026.4.1 Welcome to Mitsubishi Pencil.' Since many had never used a knife before, they received a lecture and then sharpened the pencils—the origin of the company—under the guidance of senior employees. Despite the tension of using a knife on their first day as professionals, the new hires became absorbed in the task as they grew accustomed to it.
Following this, as a commemorative collaboration with 'OIMACHI TRACKS,' which opened on March 28th (Saturday), the employees experienced sketching the scenery of TRACKS PARK. Due to unstable weather, the employees captured photos of their chosen scenes at TRACKS PARK, returned to the headquarters, and completed their sketches using the pencils they had sharpened themselves. With advice from two special instructors from DessinLABO, they experienced the joy of expression, taking their first step toward becoming the 'World No.1 Expression Innovation Company' as outlined in the Long-term Vision 2036.
The ceremony began in 2008 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 'uni' pencil, a world-class Japanese product launched in 1958. This tradition aims to deepen new employees' attachment to the writing instruments they will be closely involved with. The act of sharpening symbolizes the hope that employees will continue to refine themselves and excel after joining the company, just as even the highest quality pencil cannot write unless it is sharpened.
First, new employees of the 2026 class were given a dozen 'uni' pencils engraved with '2026.4.1 Welcome to Mitsubishi Pencil.' Since many had never used a knife before, they received a lecture and then sharpened the pencils—the origin of the company—under the guidance of senior employees. Despite the tension of using a knife on their first day as professionals, the new hires became absorbed in the task as they grew accustomed to it.
Following this, as a commemorative collaboration with 'OIMACHI TRACKS,' which opened on March 28th (Saturday), the employees experienced sketching the scenery of TRACKS PARK. Due to unstable weather, the employees captured photos of their chosen scenes at TRACKS PARK, returned to the headquarters, and completed their sketches using the pencils they had sharpened themselves. With advice from two special instructors from DessinLABO, they experienced the joy of expression, taking their first step toward becoming the 'World No.1 Expression Innovation Company' as outlined in the Long-term Vision 2036.