OHTO

“The history of the ballpoint pen is the history of OHTO” — Kashimura Tomoaki, President, OHTO.

Founded in 1919, OHTO is one of the oldest stationery manufacturer in Japan. Back in 1949, OHTO were the first in the world to commercialise  ballpoint pen. They manufactured world’s first pencil shaped ballpoint pen with chrome ball, which is the first Made In Japan ballpoint pen. Later on, they launched water-based ink ballpoint pen(present day it is called Roller Pen), attaching a rubber cushion to the pen’s grip, etc. Other development and inventions include, the world’s first non-smudged ballpoint pen (1960), revolutionary ballpoint pen using water-based ink (1964), Ceramic Roller Pen (1981), Free Ink Roller Pen (1991), Single Blocked Needle Tip (1999), Gel Ink Ceramic Roller Pen (2006), Non-dry Ceramic Roller Refill (patented 2013), the world’s boldest Free Ink Roller Pen in the world FUDE BALL 1.5mm (2013),  etc. OHTO have developed many technologies that are now common. Today, OHTO remains as one of most innovative stationery manufacturer both in Japan and around the world.