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BRAND STORY

since 1963

To be the one and only.

The MONO brand was born in 1963.
The launch of our top ranked high quality MONO pencil marked the beginning of the brand.

The brand name MONO originates from the Greek word “monos” whose meanings include “only” and “unique”.
The name characterizes the innovative pencil lead containing 8 billion particles per square millimeter created in a project launched for the improvement of pencil leads in 1949.

The initial logo has a cross section of hexagonal pencil.

The eraser initially came with pencils as a free gift.

In 1967 Tombow released MONO 100, the highest quality MONO pencil, to commemorate its 55th anniversary.

MONO 100 has the touch, strength, and depth that match Tombow’s ideal features. One plastic eraser, a very rare item at that time, was included in the box of a dozen of pencils to demonstrate its ability to completely erase pencil marks.
This eraser gained popularity for its superb erasing performance. After many requests were made for the MONO easer to be sold, Tombow decided to sell the eraser separately on its own.

Plastic eraser provided with the high quality MONO 100

The birth of MONO Eraser.

In 1969 the MONO Eraser in a tricolor sleeve of blue, white, and black was launched.
The tri-color flag design was intended to draw attention to the little eraser.
The beautiful and memorable stripe design, which has not changed for over 50 years, has become an icon of erasers used by many people in Japan as well as the rest of the world.

The unique MONO series, including the MONO eraser, is in a constant state of evolution o keep pace with the changing times while reflecting the original concept of being the one and only pencil and eraser.

MONO消しゴムの商品化第一号

BRAND HISTORY

The current MONO family
MONO was initially a brand for pencils and erasers.
The product line has been expanded and currently includes correction tape and other writing instruments.

MONO collaboration products

A variety of products have been developed in collaboration with MONO Eraser, popular and used nationwide.

BRAND TOPICS

The strip pattern in blue, white and black of MONO registered as “a trademark consisting only of colors”

AWARDS

2021 reddot design award

2018 Good Design Award

2017 Good Design Award

2018 iF Design Award

2016 Good Design Award

2016 Good Design Award

2014 Good Design Award

2016 reddot design award

2013 reddot design award

2014 iF Design Award

2013 Good Design Award

2014 iF Design Award

2014 Best 100 of Good Design Award

2005 Good Design Award

2011 iF Design Award

2011 Long Life Design Award of Good Design Award

2008 Good Design Award

2010 reddot design award

2010 iF Design Award (EH-KUR、EH-KUR04/11EH-KUS、EH-KUS04/11)

2003 Good Design Award

MONO PL

2003 Good Design Award

2001 Good Design Award

MONO White YT4

1996 iF Design Award

1996 Design Innovation Award

MONO White YT/YN

1994 Good Design Award

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