With the start of the 2020 school year just around the corner, it is time to start preparing your back-to-school supplies. Introducing the Tombow pencil school stationery series, “ippo!”.
ippo! is a series of school stationery that incorporates the ideas and compassion of the guardians of school age children into the product. This year we have added pencils that will not slip with sweaty hands, are easy to grip and will help children learn the correct way to hold a pencil. The ippo! series also includes shorter pencils for small hands, red pencils that write clearly on recycled paper, colored pencils in an easy-to-open metal case, erasers designed specifically for dark pencils and easy-to-open glue sticks, etc. Stationery for children presented by Tombow, a top brand in the field of “writing, erasing and gluing”. ippo!-supporting your child’s first step (ippo in Japanese) to learning.
Back-to-school sales will reach their peak from mid February up until the end of March.
Sales of the 34 products in the “ippo!” series (including set products) for 2019 were up 120% on last year and have been steadily increasing over the past five years. While the number of students starting year 1 is showing a downward trend, the cost of raising a child is increasing. “ippo!” products have been designed with the user in mind and are receiving rave reviews.
ippo! - Writing
Slip resistant even with sweaty hands.
“ippo! Firm Grip Writing Pencil”
■Children can grip firmly and apply writing pressure thanks to an anti-slip coating. Multiple layers of micro particles are kneaded into the pencil coating producing fine surface irregularities.For dry hands about twice as resistant to slippage compared to our standard coating and about three times more resistant with sweaty hands (Internal test results).
■A guide for correctly gripping is printed on the pencil.For hexagonal pencils there are 3 colored guide dots on the pencil, and for triangular pencils, there are 2 colored guide dots. To grip correctly align your index finger with a guide dot and your thumb with the same colored guide dot on the opposite side. Your child can self-evaluate to learn if they are gripping correctly.By gripping correctly your child can write with ease and less fatigue.By gripping correctly your child can write with ease and less fatigue.
Comes in hexagonal and triangular types. 2 hardnesses, 2B and 4B. 2 box styles.
720 yen (792 yen including tax) per dozen paper box. Twin pack (hexagonal only) 120 yen (132 yen including tax).
Product range now includes HB to 6B pencils Plain pattern pencil that won’t affect concentration
– “ippo! Beginner Pencil”
■In addition to “B” and “2B” pencils commonly used by lower grades, ippo! now has a lineup of pencils with 5 different hardness levels, including “4B” and ”6B” pencils, recommended for the class of learning how to write (handwriting).
■Plain design won’t affect your child’s concentration. Our beginner pencil range comes in 6 designs, 3 plain, yet colorful designs, 2 trendy designs and 1 soft, natural design that accentuates the natural timber grain.
■Comes with a blank white space to write your name on the pencil shaft. Instructions on the “correct way to hold your pencil” are included on the package.
Comes in hexagonal type. 5 hardnesses,HB,B, 2B,4B and 6B. 6box styles.
600 yen (660 yen including tax) per dozen paper box.
Pack of 3 150 yen (165 yen including tax).
Shorter pencil for younger children Our new pencils respond to feedback from guardians that the pencils were “too long”
“ippo! Beginner Pencil for Kids”
■Slightly shorter pencil with a length of 161 mm Our new pencils are 15 mm shorter than standard pencils. The angles near the tip of the pencil have been cut to a round finish.
Our new pencils were designed in response to feedback from guardians stating that standard new pencils are “too long” for the small hands of first year students and that “they were worried children would hit their head on them when writing”
■Comes with a blank white space to write your name on the pencil shaft. Contains 1 red pencil necessary when starting school. Instructions on the “correct way to hold your pencil” are included on the package.
Comes in hexagonal and triangular types. 2 hardnesses, B and 2B. 5 box styles.
600 yen (660 yen including tax) per dozen paper box. 12 pencils per case (11 easy writing pencils, 1 red pencil).
“Red” that can be seen clearly on notebooks and recycled paper with low whiteness level
“ippo! Red/Red&Blue/Blue Marking Pencils”
■Red pencil that looks more like “red”. Clear, strong red color that shows up clearly on notebooks and recycled paper with low whiteness level. Red pencils to date have actually been closer to the color vermilion. The core of the pencil has been made to closer resemble the color “red” and made slightly brighter so that it shows more clearly on recycled paper and we have called it our “Marking Pencil”.
■The color “indigo” is used in our blue marking pencil. Using the blue marking pencil the second time around, after checking answers with the red marking pencil makes it easier to see your mistakes for optimum learning.
■Hexagonal shaft to prevent rolling. Feedback we received stated that standard red and blue pencils are generally round, making it easier for them to roll off the desk.
720 yen (792 yen including tax) per dozen paper box.
Twin pack 120 yen (132 yen including tax).
Easy to open, more room on your desk
“ippo! Color Pencils in a Slide Case”
■Place your thumbs on the areas shown to slide the lid open. Our old cases had two areas in the corners that were pressed to open the case, however, guardians said that they were “hard for children to open”.
■The sliding lid can be removed and fitted under the case to save more room on small desks.
■A color band has been printed on the lid. By matching the colors you can keep the original order, making it easier to select the right color next time around.
■Both pencils and case come with a blank space to write your name.
Set of 12 colors：6 box styles,800 yen (880 yen including tax)
Set of 24 colors：3 box styles,1600 yen (1760 yen including tax)
Sharpener for plain and color pencils
“ippo! W Sharpener”
Twin sharpener for two types of sharpening. One sharpener with an angle to sharpen “standard pencils” to a point and one to properly sharpen “color pencils”. Strong and durable to survive most drops with blades that won’t lose their edge. We have selected good quality blades with an emphasis on blade durability. Simple sharpener that won’t distract your child during class.
The size is about the same as an eraser (44x31x22 mm) and can fit in most pencil cases.
4 color styles
200 yen (220 yen including tax)
ippo! -Correcting
Special dark pencil eraser
“ippo! Dark Pencil Eraser”
Eraser specially designed to erase text and lines drawn with dark pencils from B to 6B. Soft eraser that won’t smudge dark lines. Ideal for lower grade students who commonly use soft, darker pencils.
Comes with a raised ridge on the sleeve to prevent slipping.
2 color styles
100 yen (110 yen including tax)
ippo! -Gluing
Glue stick with easy-to-open cap
“ippo! Glue Stick”
We have added an Approx. 5 mm tab to the cap to make it easier to open. Standard glue sticks come with a round cap, making it difficult for children to open. The tab works to prevent a cap from rolling.
2 color styles
Volume: 10g
120 yen (132 yen including tax)
≪others≫
Say “congratulations” with pencils they will use
“ippo! Celebratory Pencils”
Collection of pencils (B or 2B) packaged in a gift box for children starting their first year of school. Comes in blue or pink adorned with cherry blossoms. Also includes two strips to write the name of the sender and receiver. Completed with a gold leaf ribbon printed in the center. Our Celebratory Pencils are a practical gift that say congratulations on starting school with a set of pencils they will actually use.
2 hardnesses, B and 2B.
2 box styles.
12 pencils per case (10 pencils, 2 red pencils) ,MONO eraser (1 eraser per case)
800 yen (880 yen including tax)
“ippo! Cap connectors”
100 yen (including tax 110 yen)
4 pieces per case
For ippo! series
School pencils to gift to environmentally conscious families
“Hello Nature.”
■Packaged in cute designs with a range of wild animals and their young, our Hello Nature range will nurture an interest in nature and the global environment.
■The shafts of the pencils and color pencils have been finished in a clear coat to bring out the warmth of timber and beauty of the grain.
■ Products are ECO Mark certified products, green Purchasing Law compliant products, GPN Eco products.
Pencils：600 yen (660 yen including tax)
Set of 12 color pencils：800 yen (880 yen including tax)
“Ki monogatari”
■Pencils with a natural design and artsy patterns that look hand-drawn or painted on. Finished in a clear coat to bring out the warmth of timber and beauty of the grain.
■Products are green Purchasing Law compliant products, GPN Eco products.
Pencils：600 yen (660 yen including tax)
(Hello Nature and Ki monogatari series)
■These pencils are PEFC* certified products using the certified materials for the pencil shafts.
By choosing to use products that are forest certified, you can help promote the management of sustainable forests. Tombow acquired PEFC certification in 2008. We only use PEFC certified materials in the manufacture of these products. The product packaging contains the PEFC certification mark and carries the following message. 
“By choosing pencils that bear this mark, you can help preserve the forests of the world. By using materials sourced from forests certified as being managed in an appropriate manner to make our pencils, we are helping to preserve the forests of the world.”
*For more information on the PEFC forest certification system, see the SGEC/PEFC Japan website: https://sgec-pefcj.jp/
