100 years of history | PILOT's 100th anniversary

Chapter1

to 1918

Creation of Gold Fountain Pen Nib Made Entirely in Japan

From Beginnings aboard Ship to Creation of Gold Fountain Pen Nibs Made Entirely in Japan Against a backdrop of ruthless competition as Japanese manufacturers attempted to create a fountain pen, it was the two founders of what is now the PILOT Corporation, who overcame the numerous technological difficulties that stood in their way. They succeeded in developing a fountain pen that had been made entirely in Japan and that the world was proud to use, establishing Namiki Manufacturing, the forerunner of PILOT, to become industry pioneers.

The Story of PILOT's Establishment

1909

Ryosuke Namiki obtains patent for Namiki Ruling Pen (This ruling pen, a writing instrument used for drawing and cartography, is designed to store ink in the pen itself) Manufacture and sales of ruling pens commence

(Photo: Poster for the Namiki Ruling Pen)

1916

Namiki completes first 14-carat gold fountain pen nib made entirely in Japan

(Photo: Pen tips from the Taisho era [1912–1926])

Chapter2

1918–1930s

World-Renowned Maki-E Fountain Pens

Early in the Showa era (1926–1989), the Pilot maki-e (decorated lacquer) fountain pen, which was decorated using Japanese traditional lacquer craftsmanship on its shaft, attracted attention in many countries around the world due to its practicality and artistic beauty. In 1930, a contract was signed with Alfred Dunhill, Ltd., which gave rise to the Dunhill-Namiki fountain pen. With this, the endorsement of the maki-e fountain pen was realized in both name and reality and led to its dominance.

1918

With the aid of Masao Wada, Namiki forms Namiki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Manufacture and sales of fountain pens commence

(Photos: Ryosuke Namiki, Masao Wada)

Manufacture and sales of first fountain pen made entirely in Japan commence

(Photos: Head office at time of Namiki Manufacturing’s foundation, the first Pilot pen)

1925

Develops LACCANAITE lacquering method that prevents deterioration of fountain pen core materials and makes it possible to manufacture world-renowned, distinctly Japanese maki-e fountain pens

(Photo: 1926 leaflet)

1926

Namiki Manufacturing opens branches and sales offices in New York, London, Shanghai and Singapore
Commences sales of taka-maki-e (raised decorated lacquer) fountain pens, exports them when expanding into European and U.S. markets

(Photo: A taka-maki-e fountain pen from that time)

1927

Namiki Manufacturing starts manufacture and sale of mechanical pencils

(Photo: Mechanical pencil from that time)

1930

Enters into distributor contract with Alfred Dunhill, Ltd. for sales in Europe

(Photo: Dinner party after signing distributor contract with Dunhill)

Dunhill-Namiki fountain pen launched in Europe

(Photo: Dunhill-Namiki fountain pen)

1938

Namiki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. changes name to The Pilot Pen Co., Ltd.

(Photo: Logo from that time)

Chapter3

1940s to 1960s

Progress towards Becoming Comprehensive Writing Instrument Manufacturer

From Fountain Pen Manufacturer to Comprehensive Manufacturer of Writing Instruments Entering a period of high growth, the diversification of writing instruments in Japan progressed. The sales channels of a variety of writing instruments—such as ballpoint pens, felt pens and mechanical pencils, all imbued with Pilot Pen’s signature superior quality and performance—continued to spread out from Japan and across the whole world.

1948

Pilot Pen opens its Hiratsuka Plant on former Naval Explosive Ammunition Storage site

(Photo: Hiratsuka Plant at time of its opening)

Commences sales of stationery

1950

Establishes The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd. (formerly Nagoya Ink Plant)

1954

Establishes manufacturing and sales company, Pilot Pen Do Brasil S/A., in Brazil

1955

Pilot Pen launches the Pilot Super, the star of the stationery industry, which gains a solid following at home and abroad for its delicate writing feel and revolutionary desig

1959

Pilot Ink starts production of oil-based ink markers

1960

Jan. Pilot Pen establishes Mizuho Kiko Co., Ltd. for manufacture of mechanical pencils and other products
Oct. Changes same company’s name to The Pilot Kiko Co., Ltd.

1961

Drawing on technologies used in its luxury fountain pens, Pilot Pen commences manufacture and sales of premium ballpoint pens

1962

Construction of Hiratsuka General Plant completed

1963

Pilot Pen launches Capless, world’s first retractable fountain pen
(In 1964, wins Most Recommended Product Award at International Gift Fair held in Paris)

1964

Pilot Pen commences manufacture of stainless steel-tip ballpoint pens with outstanding wear resistance and expands market share
By carbon paper technology transfer approved by Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Pilot Kiko commences manufacture and sale of printer ribbons that will become computer industry mainstay

1965

Utilizing stainless steel tips, Pilot Pen succeeds in commercializing world’s first 0.5 mm ultra-fine ballpoint pen

1966

Pilot Pen commences manufacture and sales of whiteboards and whiteboard markers, Japan’s first writing system to replace blackboards

1968

Launches Elite S short fountain pen that embodies a range of Pilot Pen technologies (gains fame in 1969 through Happa Fumifumi commercial featuring TV personality Kyosen Ohashi)

Launches Super Ballpen pencil-type ballpoint pens

1969

Commences manufacture and sales of new whiteboards, succeeds in developing new business in educational supplies.

Chapter4

1970s to present day

Development of Original Hit Products towards100th Anniversary

As the personal market expanded from the 1980s onward, the production system at each factory was strengthened to keep pace with market demand. At the same time, the technological prowess and developmental capabilities cultivated over PILOT’s long history has continued to flourish in the form of a succession of original new Pilot writing instruments.

1971

Pilot Pen launches Custom series of fountain pens designed for contemporary Japanese users to write Japanese text

1972

Commences manufacture and sales of precious metal and jewelry products

Establishes Pilot Corporation of America as manufacturing and sales company in United States

1975

Establishes The Pilot Precision Co., Ltd. (by changing name from The Pilot Kiko Co., Ltd.)

Establishes The Pilot Pen (Europe) GmbH in Germany (name changed to Pilot Pen [Deutschland] GmbH in 2004)

1976

Pilot Pen commences sales of water-based rollerball pens that are lightweight and writes precise, solid line

1977

Pilot Pen develops magnetic panel writing system

Launches world’s first multifunctional writing instrument that combines black and red ballpoint pens and mechanical pencil in one body

1978

Opens Isesaki Plant, having relocated from former Tokyo Plant (in Higashi-Sakashita, Itabashi Ward, Tokyo)

Pilot Pen launches FureFure (The Shaker) mechanical pencil that just needs shake to extend the lead

1979

Establishes The Pilot Pen Company (U.K.) Ltd.

1980

Pilot Pen launches Hi-Tecpoint water-based ink rollerball pen with stainless steel tip

1984

Establishes Pilot Pen (S) Pte Ltd in Singapore

Establishes Pilot Pen Co., (Hong Kong) Ltd.

1987

Establishes Pilot Pen (France) S.A. (name changed to Pilot Corporation of Europe S.A. in 2001)

1989

Pilot changes company name from The Pilot Pen Co., Ltd. to PILOT Corporation

1991

PILOT launches Dr. Grip oil-based ink ballpoint pen designed to reduce neck, shoulder and arm fatigue

1993

Commences manufacture and sales of gel ink rollerball pens

Establishes Pilot Pen (Taiwan) Co., Ltd.

1994

Commences manufacture and sales of Hi-Tec-C 0.3 mm micro fine rollerball pens

Establishes PT. Pilot Pen Indonesia

Establishes Pilot Logitem Co., Ltd.

1997

Launches G-2 retractable rollerball pen with gel ink

1998

Establishes Pilot Pen South Africa (Pty) Ltd.

1999

Establishes Pilot Pen Sverige AB in Sweden (name changed to Pilot Nordic AB in 2011)

2002

PILOT establishes Pilot Group Holdings Corporation through stock transfer (listed on First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange), companies become wholly-owned subsidiaries

2003