Terrific review, yet again. I've got one of these in my pencil mug, close at hand; with the size of my pencil collection, that's a place of honour. Absolutely sublime pencils.
Hi, Kevin! I love this pencil. It is indeed available as an HB! I have one I'm using today in honor of your video. It is a lovely handling and writing instrument. Although I also love and use pens, as well, pencils are my favorite by far. It think it's the feedback of the pencil on paper and the memories it brings that make me love them so much. Thanks for the video. Have a lovely day, Kevin!!
Hi Nancy! So glad you picked up your Tombow 8900! I agree with you about the feedback we get from pencils - it's a comforting sound and feeling. Thanks!
Not surprised to hear the B and 2B are distinct more in tactile feedback than in visual trace. Graphite can only ever be so dark to our eyes, but it can go a lot smoother. If you're comparing this Dragonfly to the Mitsubishi, may I ask you to also compare it to the MD Paper B? From the camera audio it is _by far_ the closest sound-alike, and it's not even a competition.
Hi DFT - this pencil and the MD Paper pencil are very, very close in performance. However, the MD Paper B is visually darker than the Tombow 8900 B and the graphite is one step smoother. Thanks!
Hi Jennifer - that was just a cheap Aspara sharpener. They work fairly well, but the blades dull after using it for a few pencils. I've not tried the NJK sharpeners, I'll have to try them! Thanks!
Also HOP stands for Harunosuke Ogawa Pencil, the original name of Tombow, the company. Tombow was originally their pencil brand before naming their company as such. Pretty fascinating company with a rich history and heritage
Oh wow, you made me realize that the illustration Kevin points to at 1:51 is actually katakana! I was suspicious of the last one at the bottom looking like a ホ、but the rest was so abstract that I couldn't be sure. Doesn't help that the dakuten (〝 ) sign of the ボ makes the ン look like a % sign, and the character at the top looking so much like a lowercase *k* that I never took it for a ト。
@@DinnerForkTongue Yeah, Im confused at first when I saw that originally. That is actually their caligraphy Japanese wordmark. Its been used a lot during the Showa era, but doesn't seem to be used a lot nowadays except for the 8900's box. Pentel has that too.
Hi CRxTRDud3 - thank you so much for the Japanese translations - and the HOP designation! This is good information for those of use who an unfamiliar with the Japanese language and characters! My thanks!
Thanks for the well made review. I just got a box of these 8900 in HB. On Amazon they specifically stated the country of origin as Japan. Even your box says 'Made in Japan'. I was expecting to get the same, but was slightly surprised to see 'Made in Vietnam' on the box. Your package is 2022 (V2201 on the pencil) production and so is mine (K2203 on mine; I know the quality should be as good, but then Amazon should have stated that). Can anyone tell when was production moved to Vietnam? Or maybe the B pencils were still made in Japan in 2022.
Hi UXD - I'm not sure when production was moved to Vietnam or if all pencil production was moved there or just certain products. I have a number of other Tombow pencils that were made in Vietnam and I find their quality to be the same. I've been told that the graphite cores are still made in Japan. I'm assuming that labor costs are cheaper in Vietnam - and perhaps other factors - so that's why manufacturing was moved there. Thanks!
I was at my usual office supply store today, and I saw my first Tombow pencil ever. It was the Homo-graph, a beige-and-black line, with a few core grades to pick from. It was so unbelievably tempting to snatch one for myself... but at R$20,00 apiece, it is _prohibitively_ expensive. Simply unjustifiable to spend that much on a single pencil in my economic condition. For the time being, unless Brazil and Japan establish a trade agreement that drastically lowers the cost of stationery imports, I'll be forced to experience Tombow products vicariously through your channel, Kevin. So, thank you very very much for your content.
Hi DFT - I'm sorry that the Tombows and other Japanese pencils are so expensive in your part of the world, because I think they are really beautiful pencils to use. Perhaps in the future there will be some opportunity for you to try them at a reasonable price. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog I certainly hope so, my friend, for writing with a Tombow is now on my bucket list. In the meantime I'm considering those wonderful Deli pencils that MAMO has been reviewing recently; if Aliexpress ever has a free shipping day, I will grab a whole bunch of them!
Great review, as usual. I can always depend upon the consistency of your reviews. I have a box of the 2B pencils as my journals tend to be creme paper and the darker leads are more readable on that tint. My box says the pencils are made in Vietnam.
Hi bamajasper! I can see how the contrast of the dark graphite on the creme paper looks good. Tombow does make many of its pencils in Vietnam, although I'm told the graphite is made in Japan. This particular box said "Made in Japan," so I'm not sure if there are still certain Tombow pencils where production has not moved. Thanks!
Hi I am an avid watcher of your channel but this is the first time that I am commenting because I need your suggestion, while my semester exams are close i want a retractable pen that can be used for long hours of writing and I am confused between three parker pens: Jotter, Classic, Latitude can you make a comparison between these pen which is the best one for writing long durations in exams
Hi - thank you for watching my videos! I appreciate it! Regarding the different Parker pens, I really only have experience with the Jotter so I can't advise you on which might work best for your exams. I would suggest you also think of comfort if you are going to be writing for long periods of time. The Jotter has a more slender tapered barrel, which some people like and others don't like. Find a pen that fits comfortably in your hand. Good luck on your exams!
Tombow makes the best erasers! As for pencils, as an artist I use Faber Castell which I consider the No1 in the world.Japanese brands that I like, are Mitsubishi and Blackwing (I know it's a US brand but their graphite is Japanese). Honorable mention Staedtler.
I bought the pencils after watching your video (except got 2B). It writes so smoothly. I thoroughly enjoy it. Thank you!
Hi Lynnette - glad you enjoy the Tombow 8900 in 2B. This is really a quality pencil in all grades - so smooth! Thanks!
Terrific review, yet again.
I've got one of these in my pencil mug, close at hand; with the size of my pencil collection, that's a place of honour. Absolutely sublime pencils.
Hi MAMO - if this pencil is in your pencil mug, then I know it's one you love to use! They are sublime, indeed. Thanks!
Hi, Kevin! I love this pencil. It is indeed available as an HB! I have one I'm using today in honor of your video. It is a lovely handling and writing instrument. Although I also love and use pens, as well, pencils are my favorite by far. It think it's the feedback of the pencil on paper and the memories it brings that make me love them so much. Thanks for the video. Have a lovely day, Kevin!!
Hi Nancy! So glad you picked up your Tombow 8900! I agree with you about the feedback we get from pencils - it's a comforting sound and feeling. Thanks!
Degree of detail appreciated
Not surprised to hear the B and 2B are distinct more in tactile feedback than in visual trace. Graphite can only ever be so dark to our eyes, but it can go a lot smoother.
If you're comparing this Dragonfly to the Mitsubishi, may I ask you to also compare it to the MD Paper B? From the camera audio it is _by far_ the closest sound-alike, and it's not even a competition.
Hi DFT - this pencil and the MD Paper pencil are very, very close in performance. However, the MD Paper B is visually darker than the Tombow 8900 B and the graphite is one step smoother. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog Wow, what a treat 😍 Thank you for keeping me informed!
This pencil is very smooth and dark. Thank you for the content!🎉
You're welcome, Wei! I appreciate you watching! Thanks!
What kind of sharpener did you use? What are your favorite hand sharpeners? I really like NJK sharpeners, but I'm partial to Japanese stationary.
Hi Jennifer - that was just a cheap Aspara sharpener. They work fairly well, but the blades dull after using it for a few pencils. I've not tried the NJK sharpeners, I'll have to try them! Thanks!
Fun fact: Tombow is based on the japanese word for 'dragonfly': 'トンボ' (tonbo).
That's also the stylish text in the front cover says too.
Also HOP stands for Harunosuke Ogawa Pencil, the original name of Tombow, the company. Tombow was originally their pencil brand before naming their company as such. Pretty fascinating company with a rich history and heritage
Oh wow, you made me realize that the illustration Kevin points to at 1:51 is actually katakana! I was suspicious of the last one at the bottom looking like a ホ、but the rest was so abstract that I couldn't be sure. Doesn't help that the dakuten (〝 ) sign of the ボ makes the ン look like a % sign, and the character at the top looking so much like a lowercase *k* that I never took it for a ト。
@@DinnerForkTongue Yeah, Im confused at first when I saw that originally. That is actually their caligraphy Japanese wordmark. Its been used a lot during the Showa era, but doesn't seem to be used a lot nowadays except for the 8900's box.
Pentel has that too.
Hi CRxTRDud3 - thank you so much for the Japanese translations - and the HOP designation! This is good information for those of use who an unfamiliar with the Japanese language and characters! My thanks!
Thanks for the well made review. I just got a box of these 8900 in HB. On Amazon they specifically stated the country of origin as Japan. Even your box says 'Made in Japan'. I was expecting to get the same, but was slightly surprised to see 'Made in Vietnam' on the box. Your package is 2022 (V2201 on the pencil) production and so is mine (K2203 on mine; I know the quality should be as good, but then Amazon should have stated that). Can anyone tell when was production moved to Vietnam? Or maybe the B pencils were still made in Japan in 2022.
Hi UXD - I'm not sure when production was moved to Vietnam or if all pencil production was moved there or just certain products. I have a number of other Tombow pencils that were made in Vietnam and I find their quality to be the same. I've been told that the graphite cores are still made in Japan. I'm assuming that labor costs are cheaper in Vietnam - and perhaps other factors - so that's why manufacturing was moved there. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog Yes thank you. I know that the quality is the same. I wanted to know when was production moved to Vietnam.
I was at my usual office supply store today, and I saw my first Tombow pencil ever. It was the Homo-graph, a beige-and-black line, with a few core grades to pick from. It was so unbelievably tempting to snatch one for myself... but at R$20,00 apiece, it is _prohibitively_ expensive. Simply unjustifiable to spend that much on a single pencil in my economic condition.
For the time being, unless Brazil and Japan establish a trade agreement that drastically lowers the cost of stationery imports, I'll be forced to experience Tombow products vicariously through your channel, Kevin. So, thank you very very much for your content.
Hi DFT - I'm sorry that the Tombows and other Japanese pencils are so expensive in your part of the world, because I think they are really beautiful pencils to use. Perhaps in the future there will be some opportunity for you to try them at a reasonable price. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog I certainly hope so, my friend, for writing with a Tombow is now on my bucket list.
In the meantime I'm considering those wonderful Deli pencils that MAMO has been reviewing recently; if Aliexpress ever has a free shipping day, I will grab a whole bunch of them!
Great review, as usual. I can always depend upon the consistency of your reviews. I have a box of the 2B pencils as my journals tend to be creme paper and the darker leads are more readable on that tint. My box says the pencils are made in Vietnam.
Not surprising. Most Japanese companies outsource production to Vietnam.
Hi bamajasper! I can see how the contrast of the dark graphite on the creme paper looks good. Tombow does make many of its pencils in Vietnam, although I'm told the graphite is made in Japan. This particular box said "Made in Japan," so I'm not sure if there are still certain Tombow pencils where production has not moved. Thanks!
Hi I am an avid watcher of your channel but this is the first time that I am commenting because I need your suggestion, while my semester exams are close i want a retractable pen that can be used for long hours of writing and I am confused between three parker pens: Jotter, Classic, Latitude can you make a comparison between these pen which is the best one for writing long durations in exams
Hi - thank you for watching my videos! I appreciate it! Regarding the different Parker pens, I really only have experience with the Jotter so I can't advise you on which might work best for your exams. I would suggest you also think of comfort if you are going to be writing for long periods of time. The Jotter has a more slender tapered barrel, which some people like and others don't like. Find a pen that fits comfortably in your hand. Good luck on your exams!
HOP Home Office Pencils???
No. It means Harunosuke Ogawa Pencils.
Hi ebodaman - yes, we discovered the HOP honors the original name of the company, "Harunosuke Ogawa Pencils." Thanks!
Tombow makes the best erasers! As for pencils, as an artist I use Faber Castell which I consider the No1 in the world.Japanese brands that I like, are Mitsubishi and Blackwing (I know it's a US brand but their graphite is Japanese). Honorable mention Staedtler.
Hi greekveteran! It's always nice to hear an artist's perspective on pencils. The Tombow erasers are excellent! Thanks!