OHTO Wooden Mechanical Pencil 2.0 (WN03) Explained
The OHTO Wooden Mechanical Pencil 2.0 looks like a sharpened wood pencil but holds 2.0 mm lead fed by a click button. The current WN03 has an incense cedar body and brass parts; OHTO lists it at 136.5 mm long, 11 mm across and 11.2 g, made in Japan, with a pink eraser under the cap.
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Product facts
- Product
- OHTO Wooden Mechanical Pencil 2.0 (WN03-SP20), yellow
- Brand
- OHTO
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Japan*
- Material
- Incense cedar body, brass knock and tip
- Released
- November 2024*
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by OHTO Co., Ltd. (Japan). Made in Japan: OHTO's Japanese WN03 product page says MADE IN JAPAN. Source. Price: example listing. Released: OHTO's Japanese news list dates the WN01, WN02 and WN03 to November 8, 2024. The earlier wooden 2.0 mm pencil (APS-680E) was sold before that; Yoseka Stationery says it won a Good Design Award in 2016, which we couldn't confirm on the award's site.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- OHTO's Japanese site lists the WN03 at 136.5 mm (5.4 in) long, 11 mm across and 11.2 g, with 2.0 mm lead.
- The body is incense cedar, the wood used for many pencils; the knock and tip are brass.
- It lists at ¥880 (about US$5.60) before tax in Japan; 2.0 mm HB leads are ¥150 (about US$0.90) for 5.
- OHTO launched the WN03 with the WN01 and WN02 on November 8, 2024; it replaces the older APS-680E wooden 2.0 pencil.
- OHTO's Japanese page says made in Japan, and it sells in our $$ band ($5–20) in the US.
What is the OHTO Wooden Mechanical Pencil 2.0?
It is a mechanical pencil that looks like a sharpened wood pencil: an incense cedar body, a brass ferrule with a pink eraser, a bare wood cone and a 2.0 mm lead fed by the click button. OHTO sells the current version as the WN03 and calls it a thick-body type that keeps the retro feel of a pencil.
OHTO launched the WN03 on November 8, 2024, with two 0.5 mm siblings, the WN01 and the mini WN02. It replaces OHTO’s earlier wooden 2.0 mm pencil, the APS-680E, which US shops still list as the OHTO Wooden Mechanical Pencil 2.0.
OHTO WN03 specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | OHTO Co., Ltd., Japan |
| Model | WN03-SP20 |
| Lead | 2.0 mm |
| Length | 136.5 mm (5.4 in) |
| Diameter | 11 mm (0.43 in) |
| Weight | 11.2 g |
| Body | Incense cedar |
| Knock and tip | Brass |
| Colors | Natural, brown (EN), green, yellow, blue |
| Japanese list price | ¥880 (about US$5.60) before tax |
Figures are from OHTO’s Japanese WN03 page. Yoseka Stationery lists the older APS-680E at 13.3 cm (5.25 in) and 1 cm across, close to the WN03.
Who is a 2.0 mm wooden pencil for?
People who like the look and feel of a wood pencil but not the sharpening of the wood, and artists who want broad graphite lines. OHTO says the thick body suits heavy-handed writers and pitches it for sketching and other creative work.
A 2.0 mm lead writes a bold line on its own and can be pointed in a lead sharpener for detail. It is heavier than a wood pencil at 11.2 g but still light in the hand.
What leads, sharpeners and erasers does it use?
Any 2.0 mm lead fits; OHTO’s own leads, sharpeners and erasers are listed on the WN03 page.
| Accessory | OHTO code | Japanese list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 mm HB lead, 5 pieces (90 mm) | SL-152/HB5P | ¥150 (about US$0.90) |
| 2.0 mm B lead, 3 pieces | SL-152/B3P | ¥150 (about US$0.90) |
| Lead sharpener | SPN-70 | ¥70 (about US$0.40) |
| Brass lead sharpener | SPN-400 | ¥480 (about US$3.00) |
| Brass lead case | SPC-350 | ¥420 (about US$2.70) |
| WN03 erasers, 2 pieces | ER01 | ¥170 (about US$1.10) |
OHTO says the old APS-680E erasers also fit, but they aren’t pierced like the new ER01.
What are the WN01 and WN02?
They are the 0.5 mm members of the same wooden family: the WN01 is a full-length pencil shape and the WN02 is a mini.
The WN01, at ¥460 (about US$2.90), is 163 mm long, close to a new wood pencil, and OHTO says it is popular with children who want a pencil look. The WN02, at ¥500 (about US$3.20), is 105 mm and 2.7 g, with a clip for A7 planners.
How does it compare with wood and drafting pencils?
It sits between a wood pencil and a lead holder: wood-pencil looks, a 2.0 mm lead and no wood to sharpen.
| Pencil | Lead | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHTO WN03 | 2.0 mm | 136.5 mm (5.4 in) | Cedar body, click feed |
| Ticonderoga #2 | 2.2 mm core, wood | 190 mm (7.5 in) new | Needs sharpening |
| Blackwing 602 | Wood pencil | about 205 mm (8 in) new | Flat ferrule, pink eraser |
| Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro | 0.3 to 0.9 mm | about 145 mm (5.7 in) | Drafting pencil |
Figures for the other pencils come from our guides to them. For more drawing options, see our best mechanical pencils for drawing.
Where is the OHTO wooden pencil made?
In Japan: OHTO’s Japanese WN03 page says MADE IN JAPAN. OHTO is based in Yuki, Ibaraki; our OHTO history covers the company.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to sharpen the OHTO 2.0 mm pencil?
The wood doesn't need sharpening, but the 2.0 mm lead does if you want a point. OHTO sells a ¥70 (about US$0.40) lead sharpener and a ¥480 (about US$3.00) brass one for it.
What lead does the WN03 take?
Standard 2.0 mm lead. OHTO's own SL-152 leads are 2.0 × 90 mm, in HB (5 per tube) and B (3 per tube).
What is the difference between the WN03 and the APS-680E?
The APS-680E is the earlier OHTO wooden 2.0 mm pencil. OHTO says the old APS-680E erasers fit the WN03, which now has its own ER01 eraser; the WN series replaced it in November 2024.
Is the OHTO wooden pencil real wood?
Yes. OHTO says the WN body is incense cedar, a fast-growing wood widely used for pencils.
Are there thinner OHTO wooden pencils?
Yes: the WN01 is a 0.5 mm pencil-shaped mechanical pencil at 163 mm, and the WN02 is a 105 mm mini for small planners.
Is it good for sketching?
OHTO pitches the WN03 for sketching and creative work. A 2.0 mm lead gives broad lines and shading, and a sharpened point gives detail.
Is the OHTO wooden mechanical pencil made in the USA?
No. OHTO's Japanese site says made in Japan.
Sources
- OHTO Japan: 木軸シャープ WN03 (MADE IN JAPAN, 136.5 mm, 11 mm, 11.2 g, ¥880, JAN codes, leads and accessories)
- OHTO Japan: 木軸シャープ WN01 (0.5 mm, 163 mm, 5.5 g, ¥460)
- OHTO Japan: 木軸シャープ WN02 (0.5 mm mini, 105 mm, 2.7 g, ¥500)
- OHTO Japan: home page news list (WN01/02/03 launched November 8, 2024; wooden 2.0 new colors August 31, 2018)
- OHTO (English): WN (incense cedar natural wood)
- Yoseka Stationery: OHTO Wooden Mechanical Pencil 2.0 mm (APS-680E, 13.3 cm, 1 cm, Good Design Award 2016)
- Hunter Paper Co.: OHTO 2mm Mechanical Pencil Yellow