Mitsubishi Pencil Holds 19th Annual 'Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony' – Also Hosts 'OIMACHI TRACKS Machibiraki Collaboration Special Project in TRACKS PARK'

Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Shigehiko Kazuhara) held its 19th 'Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony' at its headquarters on Wednesday, April 1. The 'Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony' began in 2008 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of 'uni,' a 'Japanese pencil to be proud of worldwide,' launched in 1958. This induction ceremony is an annual event for our company, aiming to deepen new employees' attachment to writing instruments, with which they will be deeply involved. No matter how excellent the quality of a pencil, it cannot write unless it is sharpened. Through the act of sharpening a pencil, we convey our wish for new employees to continue self-improvement and succeed after joining the company. First, new employees joining in fiscal year 2026 were each given a dozen 'uni' pencils, engraved with '2026.4.1 Welcome to Mitsubishi Pencil.' Many new employees were handling a utility knife for the first time. After receiving a lecture, they sharpened pencils, the origin of our company's founding, under the guidance of senior employees. While struggling with the difficulty and tension of sharpening a pencil with a utility knife on their first day as working adults, they gradually relaxed and seemed to enjoy themselves enthusiastically. Afterward, as a special collaborative project with 'OIMACHI TRACKS,' which just opened on Saturday, March 28 this year, new employees experienced drawing a landscape sketch of TRACKS PARK. Due to unstable weather conditions, new employees first took photos of the desired scene at 'TRACKS PARK,' then returned to the company headquarters to complete their sketches using the pencils they had sharpened themselves. Receiving advice from two special instructors from DessinLABO, they realized the joy of expression, taking the first step towards becoming the 'world's leading expression innovation company' as stated in our 'Desired State 2036 (Long-Term Vision).' [Excerpt from President Shigehiko Kazuhara's Address] Congratulations on joining the company. This Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony began in 2008, marking the 50th anniversary of uni, and this year is its 19th iteration. It was conceived by young employees who launched a project to think, 'What can we do that is unique to our company?' to commemorate uni's 50th anniversary. There's something I find very good about this Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony. A pencil cannot write unless it is sharpened. No matter how good a product is, it must be polished. This is just like self-improvement. I hope you will take this as the first step in polishing yourselves today and enjoy this Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony. [Voices of New Employees] ・Recently, I often used ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils, but sharpening a pencil with my own hands again and sketching made me realize many things, which was a very good experience. I want to work hard as a Mitsubishi Pencil employee to connect this to good ideas and create excellent products, just as pencils create unique lines and shades. ・While feeling the difficulty of sharpening a pencil with my own hands, I also enjoyed it. I remembered my grandfather, who became a painter after retirement, and how we used to sharpen pencils and enjoy coloring together. I want to remember this beginner's spirit and continue to work hard. [Messages of Encouragement from Senior Employees to New Employees] ・After joining the company, my first assignment was to develop the pen tip for the 'JETSTREAM' brand, which I had known since my student days. I remember feeling anxious about whether I, as a first-year employee, could accomplish it. From that experience, I want to tell you not to keep anxieties or questions to yourself, but to actively share them with those around you. I myself have been helped many times by advice and encouragement from my seniors. I feel that one of our company's charms is being involved in products close to consumers. When I see products I've worked on lined up in stores and used by many people, I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Let's work together to create writing instruments that users feel are their partners. ・At our company, even young employees are entrusted with work that offers significant discretion. While I sometimes struggled with how to proceed, I remember working with a sense of intentionally stepping on the accelerator. Looking back, I realize it was also important not to try to do everything perfectly, to rely on others, and to approach tasks with a bit more ease. Let's balance absorbing from those around us with approaching work in our own way, challenge various things, and work hard together. [Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony Outline] ■Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 11:00 - 13:20 ■Venue: Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. Headquarters 2F Seminar Room 〒140-8537 5-23-37 Higashi-Oi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo TRACKS PARK 〒140-0005 2-2-9 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo ■Attendees: 26 new employees [Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony Program] ✏ Part 1 of Pencil Sharpening Induction Ceremony Begins ✏ Address by Shigehiko Kazuhara, President of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. ✏ New Employee Pencil Sharpening Challenge New employees sharpened the distributed pencils with utility knives. ✏ After senior employees demonstrated, new employees sharpened pencils with utility knives again. ✏ Message from Senior Employees to New Employees ◆OIMACHI TRACKS Machibiraki Collaboration Project ✏ Sketching Lesson External instructors lectured on how to sketch landscapes. ✏ 'TRACKS PARK Landscape Sketch' Collaborated with OIMACHI TRACKS, which opened on March 28, 2026, to sketch the landscape of TRACKS PARK. ✏ Part 2 Closes https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/index.html * For product inquiries, please contact the Mitsubishi Pencil Customer Service Center. Toll-free number: 0120-321433