Compiled from 3 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
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.
On this page11 sections
The T'GAAL at Kutsuwa's 65 × 49 mm, drawn to scale.
Product facts
Product
Kutsuwa STAD T'GAAL pencil sharpener (RS036; translucent blue RS036BL)
ABS and POM body; steel and PS blade unit (Kutsuwa)
Price range
$$$5–20 per item
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Notes on these facts
Made by Kutsuwa Co., Ltd.. Made in 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. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
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
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.
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.
