This mechanical pencil made in Japan initially seems a little anachronistic, like the belated implementation of an unrealized, albeit obvious, step in the evolution of the pencil into a mechanical writing instrument. On closer inspection, and even more so in use, it quickly becomes apparent that the synthesis manifested in the "Ohto Sharp Pencil" is entirely appropriate (and by no means outmoded): it combines the advantages of the mechanical pencil (namely: a constant, fine line thanks to the 0.5 mm lead) with those of the wood-cased pencil (namely: ease of use and low weight), which should be welcomed not only by those whose fingers have grown around the classic hexagonal pencil. To insert a replacement lead, simply pull off the push button (please do not sharpen).

Lead holders, mechanical pencils and mechanical pencils have two main advantages over wood-cased pencils:
1. They are available with a wide variety of lead formats, which in turn are intended for a wide variety of purposes - from technical drawing to large-format sketching and signing - and
2. they can be used many times because they can be refilled.