OHTO

Founded in 1919 in Tokyo with the name “Nakata-Ohka-do,” this company began as a manufacturer of ink and later on released the first ballpoint pen made in Japan. They later rebranded in 1974 to “OHTO.” They are renowned for creating innovative pen technologies that have shaped today’s writing; some of their inventions were the top-plunger click mechanism for the retractable ballpoint pen in 1962, ballpoint pen refills with transparent pipes 1964, the rubber grip on the ballpoint pen in 1968, and more.