{"id":4871,"date":"2021-07-13T15:09:48","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T14:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/?p=4871"},"modified":"2021-07-13T15:09:48","modified_gmt":"2021-07-13T14:09:48","slug":"tombow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/tombow\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the brand: Tombow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4873\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TPC-MTB-tombow-1024x682.png\" alt=\"Meet the brand title for blog post: Tombow\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TPC-MTB-tombow-1024x682.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TPC-MTB-tombow-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TPC-MTB-tombow-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TPC-MTB-tombow-150x100.png 150w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TPC-MTB-tombow.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/tombow\/\">Tombow<\/a> was founded back in 1913 in Japan by 28-year-old entrepreneur Harunosuke Ogawa.<\/p>\n<p>Originally manufacturing pencils only, the company has since branched out and now manufactures many of the world&#8217;s favourite art, design, school and office stationery products.<\/p>\n<p>Each Tombow product is a blend of beauty, function and precision, and the quality that Tombow delivers is ideal for anyone with exacting standards to meet.<\/p>\n<h2>The meaning behind the Tombow name<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_4874\" style=\"width: 660px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4874\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-4874 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/red-dragonfly-japan-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up photo of a red dragonfly in a Japanese park\" width=\"650\" height=\"488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/red-dragonfly-japan-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/red-dragonfly-japan-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/red-dragonfly-japan-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/red-dragonfly-japan-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/red-dragonfly-japan.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4874\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A red dragonfly in a Japanese park<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The name Tombow comes from the Japanese word &#8220;tonb\u014d&#8221;, which means dragonfly; the word &#8220;tonb\u014d&#8221; was adjusted to &#8220;Tombow&#8221; to give the brand a more international appeal.<\/p>\n<p>The name is reflected in the brand&#8217;s logo, and the dragonfly was chosen because it is important in Japanese culture and represents success, luck, bravery, and courage. In modern Japan, the dragonfly has also come to represent a healthy habitat and longevity.<\/p>\n<p>The Japanese islands form the shape of an elongated dragonfly body, and the ancient name for Japan, Aketushima, meant &#8220;dragonfly island&#8221; \u2014 so, as you can see, the bond between Japan and dragonflies runs deep.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, the name Tombow represents the country\u2019s culture, the company\u2019s traditions and values, and also its commitment to the future.<\/p>\n<h2>The history of Tombow<\/h2>\n<p>At the start of the 20th century, Japan introduced compulsory schooling and a demand for quality writing pencils was born \u2014 as was Tombow.<\/p>\n<p>English was later added to the Japanese national curriculum, and the demand for pencils rose again, as traditional Japanese brushes and inks weren&#8217;t suited to producing Latin characters.<\/p>\n<p>By 1927, Tombow integrated the production of its pencils, meaning no parts were manufactured elsewhere anymore \u2014 giving Tombow complete control over its products&#8217; quality.<\/p>\n<p>In 1958, Tombow expanded its range to include its first ballpoint pens. With such a good reputation for the quality of its pencils, the ballpoint pens were immediately well-received by customers, and Tombow still sells ballpoint pens today.<\/p>\n<p>The brand&#8217;s first felt-tip pens were introduced in 1964, which were instantly popular exports to Europe and the USA.<\/p>\n<p>Later that decade, in 1969, Tombow released the MONO eraser, which was included in each 12-pack of MONO 100 pencils. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/product\/tombow-mono-zero-eraser\/\">MONO eraser<\/a> has since become one of the most popular erasers globally, and the MONO sub-brand now includes fine liners, correction tapes and glues alongside pencils and erasers.<\/p>\n<h2>Popular Tombow products<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_4875\" style=\"width: 660px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/product\/tombow-abt-dual-brush-pen-pack-of-twelve\/7772\/\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4875\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-4875 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tombow-ABT-Dual-Brush-Pens-12-Pack-Blue-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pens - pack of 12 in the Ocean colourway\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tombow-ABT-Dual-Brush-Pens-12-Pack-Blue-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tombow-ABT-Dual-Brush-Pens-12-Pack-Blue-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tombow-ABT-Dual-Brush-Pens-12-Pack-Blue-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tombow-ABT-Dual-Brush-Pens-12-Pack-Blue-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tombow-ABT-Dual-Brush-Pens-12-Pack-Blue.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4875\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A pack of 12 Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pens in the Ocean colourway<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Tombow is best known for its celebrated\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/product\/tombow-abt-dual-brush-pen\/\">ABT Dual Brush Pens<\/a>, which are much loved by artists, designers, crafters, those who journal, and anyone with a creative streak.<\/p>\n<p>The ABT Dual Brush Pens are double-ended and feature a fine tip at one end and a flexible brush tip at the other \u2014 perfect for both colouring a large area and engaging in precise line work.<\/p>\n<p>Being water-based, the ink in these pens can be successfully blended with the blender pen. With so many colours already available in the range, your options become almost limitless when blending is introduced \u2014 meaning the only limit is the user&#8217;s imagination.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/product\/tombow-abt-dual-brush-pen\/\">ABT Dual Brush Pens are available individually<\/a>\u00a0and also in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/product\/tombow-abt-dual-brush-pen-pack-of-six\/7767\/\">packs of six<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/product\/tombow-abt-dual-brush-pen-pack-of-twelve\/7774\/\">12<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/product\/tombow-abt-dual-brush-pen-pack-of-eighteen\/7778\/\">18<\/a>. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/product\/tombow-abt-dual-brush-pen\/7664\/\">blender pen<\/a>\u00a0is available separately.<\/p>\n<p>Other Tombow favourites include the Zoom 707 collection of ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You can explore\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/tombow\/\">the Tombow range<\/a>\u00a0in our online store.<\/p>\n<p>Discover the rest of our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/category\/meet-the-brand\/\">Meet the Brand<\/a>\u00a0series on the blog and learn about other great stationery manufacturers such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/faber-castell-brand\/\">Faber-Castell<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/meet-the-brand-a-t-cross-company\/\">Cross<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tombow was founded back in 1913 in Japan by 28-year-old entrepreneur Harunosuke Ogawa. Originally manufacturing pencils only, the company has since branched out and now manufactures many of the world&#8217;s favourite art, design, school and office stationery products. Each Tombow product is a blend of beauty, function and precision, and the quality that Tombow delivers&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[276],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.7.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Meet the brand: Tombow - The Pen Company Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn all about Tombow in this blog post \u2014 the brand&#039;s history, where its name originated, and what its most popular stationery products are.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/tombow\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meet the brand: Tombow - The Pen Company Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn all about Tombow in this blog post \u2014 the brand&#039;s history, where its name originated, and what its most popular stationery products are.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/tombow\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Pen Company Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ThePenCompany\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-07-13T14:09:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/TPC-MTB-tombow.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1066\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lucy Williams\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@thepencompany\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@thepencompany\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lucy Williams\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/tombow\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/tombow\/\",\"name\":\"Meet the brand: Tombow - The Pen Company Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-07-13T14:09:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-07-13T14:09:48+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b621584a04332c39a493182f2dca6376\"},\"description\":\"Learn all about Tombow in this blog post \u2014 the brand's history, where its name originated, and what its most popular stationery products are.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/tombow\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/tombow\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/meet-the-brand\/tombow\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Meet the brand: Tombow\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"The Pen Company Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b621584a04332c39a493182f2dca6376\",\"name\":\"Lucy Williams\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f251747ed7a120404b73c37c381c4c96?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f251747ed7a120404b73c37c381c4c96?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Lucy Williams\"},\"description\":\"Lucy is our lead editor and has been passionate about stationery since childhood. 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