---
title: "Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL: The 5-Angle Pencil Sharpener"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kutsuwa-stad-tgaal-pencil-sharpener/"
description: "Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL pencil sharpener explained: a dial with five point angles for graphite and colored pencils, 65 × 49 × 27 mm, 26 g, colors, price and origin."
category: "Accessories"
type: "Pencil sharpener"
published: 2026-10-22
updated: 2026-10-22
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 3
products:
  - name: "Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL pencil sharpener (RS036; translucent blue RS036BL)"
    brand: "Kutsuwa"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "ABS and POM body; steel and PS blade unit (Kutsuwa)"
    price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Kutsuwa Co., Ltd."
    model: "T'GAAL RS036"
    mpn: "RS036BL"
    url: "https://www.kutsuwa.co.jp/products/product-163695823/"
---

# Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL: The 5-Angle Pencil Sharpener

> The Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL is a small Japanese hand sharpener with a dial that changes the sharpening angle in five steps, from a short, sturdy point to a long, sharp one. Kutsuwa lists it at 49 × 65 × 27 mm and 26 g, in black, blue or purple, for ¥506 (about US$3.20) in Japan.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kutsuwa-stad-tgaal-pencil-sharpener/
- Category: Accessories
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-22
- Updated: 2026-10-22

![Translucent blue Kutsuwa T'GAAL sharpener drawn to scale with its 1 to 5 angle dial, beside a short and a long pencil point](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/kutsuwa-stad-tgaal-pencil-sharpener-16x9.png)

*The T'GAAL at Kutsuwa's 65 × 49 mm, drawn to scale.* Original drawing (SVG): <https://stationerytimes.com/images/kutsuwa-stad-tgaal-pencil-sharpener-cover.svg>. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Product facts

| Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL pencil sharpener (RS036; translucent blue RS036BL) | Kutsuwa (by Kutsuwa Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | ABS and POM body; steel and PS blade unit (Kutsuwa) | – | $$: $5–20 per item |

- Made in (Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL pencil sharpener (RS036; translucent blue RS036BL)): Japan. The Amazon US listing for the translucent blue RS036BL says made in Japan. Kutsuwa's Japanese product page doesn't state the country. Source: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4SPM4ZP

## Key takeaways

- A dial sets five sharpening angles, so the same sharpener gives short points for soft colored pencils and long ones for HB, per Kutsuwa.
- Kutsuwa lists the RS036 at H49 × W65 × D27 mm (1.9 × 2.6 × 1.1 in) and 26 g.
- It sells in Japan for ¥506 (about US$3.20) including tax, as RS036BK, RS036BL or RS036PU.
- The body is ABS and POM with a steel blade unit, per Kutsuwa.
- Its translucent blue Amazon US listing had 1,274 ratings on October 22, 2026 and says made in Japan.

## What is the Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL?

**The T'GAAL is a pocket-size pencil sharpener from Kutsuwa, a Japanese school and office stationery maker, with a dial that changes the point angle in five steps.** Its name plays on the Japanese word for "sharp".

Most hand sharpeners cut one fixed cone. The T'GAAL lets one sharpener give a stubby point for a soft colored pencil and a long, fine point for a graphite pencil.

## How does the angle dial work?

**Turning the dial changes how steeply the blade meets the pencil, so the cone comes out short and blunt at 1 or long and slender at 5.** Kutsuwa says the point comes out sharp at every one of the five settings.

The Amazon US listing explains the trade-off: low settings make a sturdier tip that breaks less, and short points suit soft leads and short pencils such as golf pencils. High settings give a long, fine point for writing and drawing with harder graphite.

## Kutsuwa T'GAAL specs

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Kutsuwa Co., Ltd. (Japan) |
| Model | RS036 (STAD range): BK black, BL blue, PU purple |
| Size | H49 × W65 × D27 mm (1.9 × 2.6 × 1.1 in) |
| Weight | 26 g (0.9 oz); 32 g in its blister pack |
| Settings | 5 point angles |
| Materials | ABS and POM body; steel and PS blade unit |
| Japan list price | ¥506 (about US$3.20), tax included |
| Made in | Japan (Amazon US listing) |
| Price band | $$ ($5–20) as a US import |

![Kutsuwa T'GAAL front view drawn to scale at 65 × 49 mm, with depth, dial, materials and price notes](https://stationerytimes.com/images/kutsuwa-stad-tgaal-pencil-sharpener-size.svg)

*The T'GAAL front at 1 mm = 3 px, with Kutsuwa's specs.*

## Which setting should you use?

**Use 1 or 2 for colored pencils and soft graphite, the middle settings for everyday HB writing, and 4 or 5 when you want a long, fine point.**

| Setting | Point | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Short, sturdy | Colored pencils, soft 2B and darker, short pencils |
| 3 | Medium | Everyday HB and B writing |
| 4–5 | Long, sharp | Fine lines, harder grades, sketching with a long point |


## How does the T'GAAL compare with other sharpeners?

**It's the only one here with an adjustable angle; the others each make one point, and the desk crank does it faster.**

| Sharpener | Type | Point | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL | Hand, closed | 5 angles | $$ |
| [KUM Long Point](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kum-long-point-sharpener/) | Hand, two steps | One long point | $$ |
| [CARL Angel-5 Classic](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-angel-5-classic-sharpener/) | Desk, crank | One fixed point | $$$ |
| [Blackwing One-Step](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/blackwing-one-step-long-point-sharpener/) | Hand, metal | One long point | $$$ |

For a full list, see our [best pencil sharpeners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pencil-sharpeners/).

## Who is the T'GAAL for?

**It suits anyone who sharpens both colored pencils and graphite pencils and wants one small sharpener for both.** Students who color diagrams, journal keepers who switch between a 2B and colored pencils, and sketchers who like a long point for line work and a short one for shading all benefit.

If you only ever sharpen one kind of pencil, a fixed sharpener does the job, and a dedicated long-point model such as the KUM is built for the longest points. The T'GAAL's strength is the choice in one pocket-size body, at a price that stays low even as an import.

## What are the downsides?

**It's a small hand sharpener, so it suits standard-size pencils, and replacement blades aren't listed in the sources we read.** Kutsuwa's page gives no blade refill, so plan to replace the whole sharpener when it dulls.

US availability is mostly through importers, which is why it lands in our $$ band rather than the under-$5 price it sells for in Japan.

## Where is the Kutsuwa T'GAAL made?

**In Japan, according to its Amazon US listing.** Kutsuwa's own product page lists size, weight and materials but not the country of manufacture.

## Frequently asked questions

### What do the numbers on the Kutsuwa T'GAAL dial mean?

They set how long and steep the point is. Lower numbers give a short, sturdy point that breaks less; higher numbers give a long, sharp point, according to the Amazon US listing's instructions.

### Is the T'GAAL good for colored pencils?

Yes. Kutsuwa says you can match the angle to the lead, such as colored pencil or HB, and the Amazon listing recommends a shorter point for soft cores like colored pencils.

### How do you pronounce T'GAAL?

Like the Japanese "togaru" (尖る), to be sharp or pointed. Kutsuwa writes it トガール in Japanese.

### Does the T'GAAL catch the shavings?

Yes, it is a closed sharpener: shavings collect inside the body, and the translucent versions let you see when it needs emptying.

### What is the difference between the STAD and HiLiNE T'GAAL?

They are the same five-angle sharpener in different Kutsuwa ranges. The STAD RS036 comes in black, blue and purple for ¥506 (about US$3.20); the HiLiNE RS028CL is clear, in a PP case, for ¥594 (about US$3.80).

### Is the Kutsuwa T'GAAL made in Japan?

Yes, according to its Amazon US listing. Kutsuwa's Japanese product page doesn't state the country of manufacture.

## Sources

- [鉛筆削り トガール RS036BK/RS036BL/RS036PU (Kutsuwa: five angles for colored pencil or HB, H49 × W65 × D27 mm, 26 g, ABS/POM, steel blade unit, ¥506; read October 22, 2026)](https://www.kutsuwa.co.jp/products/product-163695823/)
- [【透明鉛筆削り】トガール RS028CL (Kutsuwa HiLiNE clear version: H65 × W49 × D27 mm, 26 g, ¥594)](https://www.kutsuwa.co.jp/products/product-152318576/)
- [Amazon US: KUTSUWA STAD T'GAAL Angle Adjustable Pencil Sharpener, RS036BL Translucent Blue (dial use, made in Japan; ratings read October 22, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4SPM4ZP)