I’ve grown especially fond of Zebra’s multi-function ballpoint pen, the “Sharbo X.” Every now and then I’d pick up another one, and before I knew it… I’d built up quite a collection.
The carbon fiber one in the back was actually a commemorative gift for the launch of digital terrestrial broadcasting in Japan. Back then, it wasn’t just about the start of digital TV—it also meant the end of analog broadcasting and the move of the transmission site from Tokyo Tower to the Skytree. It was a time of challenges, but now hardly anyone talks about it anymore. Still, that one pen is what sparked my love for the Sharbo, so you never know where things will lead. The two in front are limited-edition Snoopy collaborations. I use them as if they were ordinary pens, but in reality, they might be pretty rare items. Come to think of it, I remember there being Star Wars collaboration models on sale too.
These are the ones I mostly use for work and everyday purposes. Some of the clips are a bit loose by now, but all in all, considering I’ve been using them for over ten years, they’ve held up remarkably well.
These days, though, even when I go to Hands or department stores, the original Sharbo isn’t often on display. Instead, I frequently come across this cheaper version called the “Sharbo nu.” Priced around 1.5K yen, its selling points are that you can refill the mechanical pencil lead from the top—no need to disassemble the pen as with the original. However, in practice, the feel isn’t quite the same. Whether writing or twisting the body, the rigidity and overall sensation fall short compared to the classic Sharbo X, and honestly, it doesn’t quite click for me. So, if I were to buy another one, I’d probably go back to the Sharbo X. Well, with the collection I already have, there’s no immediate need anyway.