Uni Wooden Pencil - HB - Box of 12 (UHB)...

The pencil writes very smoothly and leaves a dark mark even with light pressure. It erases extremely easily and well too.

They are just the right softness for writing and holding a point.

Japanese graphite and pencils are the best in the world. Nothing beats the quality of brands like Mitsubishi or Tombow. The graphite/clay mixture is super smooth, super dark and without any kind of residue or impurity. I use them since many years and they are highly recommended for pro artists and amateurs too.

These pencils rule. They are a little pricey but they are definitely worth the money. The paint is premium, there are no manufacturing defects, and the wood smells tremendous.

My selection of the Mitsubishi Hi Uni started with a search to replace what had been my all time favorite wood case pencils Berol Mirado No. 1.5. Needless to say, while I could find 1 and the ubiquitous No. 2, no mainstream pencil maker uses a 1.5 lead anymore for their wood case pencils. Fortunately, it only took a little research to establish that a B lead is about the same as a 1.5. This research also led me into the world of high end pencils such as the Palomino Blackwing. At first I thought that spending almost two dollars on a pencil was ridiculous, after all, that will almost get you a box of regular pencils. However, after thinking about it and realizing that it would take quite some time to use up an entire box I decided to take the plunge. Since I liked their backstory I was all set to order the reproduction Blackwing 602 but then read that its leads came from Japan. I loved the look of the Hi Uni box, it was a few dollars less, the reviews seemed legitimate, and so I decided to give these a try. So how is it? Easily the best pencil I have ever used. The lead is amazingly strong it does not break even at a fine point while leaving a very nice smooth mark. The lacquer on the pencil is very heavy and has not worn off with constant handling like mainstream pencils do. While it is a minor thing, the heavy plastic box itself is remarkable, each pencil has its own slot, Ill use it for colored pencils when Im done. The only downside is no eraser. But is it worth ten times a regular pencil? That I dont know. If you love wood case pencils these are excellent. I keep reminding myself that a pencil that will last me for a few weeks is less expensive than a gallon of gasoline, but then I really like wood case pencils. As long as I can afford it I will be using these and exploring the world of high end pencils! Note: This pencil has a B lead and is clearly labeled that it is made in Japan.