Tombow Irojiten: The Color Dictionary Pencils
Tombow Irojiten, Japanese for 'color dictionary', is a colored pencil line sold in book-style boxes of 30, grouped by tone. Tombow launched it in Japan in 1988; three volumes hold 90 colors, and the range now has 100. In the US, Tombow sells 90 colors as the Rainforest, Woodlands and Seascape sets, with cream enamel barrels and color-matched ends.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Tombow Irojiten colored pencils (US Woodlands set of 30, item 51526)
- Brand
- Tombow
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Not stated*
- Material
- Round wood-cased pencils with cream-white enamel finish and color-matched end; core described as wax-based by Tombow USA and as an oil-based colored pencil by Tombow Japan's 2026 press release
- Released
- 1988
- Price range
- $under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.. Country of manufacture not stated: Tombow's Japanese and US pages don't state a country of manufacture. Swiss retailer listings seen in search results disagree (Japan for a 36 set, Vietnam for some single pencils, China for a 30 set), so check the box. 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
- Tombow launched Irojiten in 1988; its three 30-color volumes hold 90 colors, and ten more bring the Japanese range to 100.
- In Japan each volume (CI-RTA, CI-RTB, CI-RTC) costs ¥3,960 (about US$25) and a single pencil ¥132 (about US$0.80), with tax.
- Tombow USA sells 90 colors in three 30-pencil sets, Rainforest, Woodlands (51526) and Seascape, plus every color singly.
- The 36-color Select Set, chosen by the colored-pencil artist Hitomi Kawai, won a Good Design Award in 2019.
- In August 2026 Tombow added watercolor Irojiten pencils in Japan, in sets of 12, 24 and 36.
What are Tombow Irojiten colored pencils?
They’re Tombow’s “color dictionary”: colored pencils sold in book-style boxes, each volume grouping 30 colors by tone. Tombow Japan describes the range as colors reproduced from nature, with names such as kawasemi (kingfisher), sakuragai (cherry shell) and tanpopo (dandelion).
Tombow launched Irojiten in 1988, and its 2026 press release credits it with leading Japan’s colored-pencil boom and, later, the adult-coloring boom of around 2015. In the US, the Woodlands set sat in Amazon’s colored-pencil top 100 on October 22, 2026, with 4.6 stars from 542 ratings.
Tombow Irojiten specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) |
| Launched | 1988 (Japan) |
| Colors | 100 in Japan; 90 in the US |
| Japanese sets | 3 volumes of 30 (CI-RTA, CI-RTB, CI-RTC); 36-color Select Set (CI-RSA36C) |
| US sets | Rainforest, Woodlands (51526), Seascape, 30 each; open stock |
| Barrel | Round, cream-white enamel with a color-matched end |
| Core | Medium, wax-based per Tombow USA; centered and bonded along the wood |
| Price in Japan | ¥3,960 (about US$25) per volume; ¥5,060 (about US$32) Select Set; ¥132 (about US$0.80) single |
| Price band | $ (under $5 per pencil) |
| Made in | Not stated by Tombow |
Tombow doesn’t publish a pencil length or core diameter in the sources we found, so the cover is drawn in proportion only.
How are the Irojiten sets organized?
In Japan, each of the three volumes holds three tone groups of ten colors; in the US, the same idea is sold as three themed sets. Tombow Japan’s page lists the tones, from pale and vivid to deep, dull and fluorescent.
Tombow USA describes Woodlands as muted reds, golden browns, mossy greens and neutrals; Rainforest as greens, earthy neutrals and tropical brights; and Seascape as blues, seafoam greens, soft neutrals and pastels, with fluorescent accents.
Which Irojiten set should you buy?
Start with the 36-color Select Set if you can find it, or with the US set whose palette suits what you draw. Tombow says the Select Set was picked by the colored-pencil artist Hitomi Kawai for drawing, including basic colors, pale colors that are hard to mix, and combinations that make smooth gradients; it won a Good Design Award in 2019.
In the US, choose Woodlands for landscapes and botanicals, Seascape for water and skies, and Rainforest for leafy greens and bright accents. Tombow Europe’s 36 set adds a sharpener, a color chart and a technique guide.
Are Irojiten pencils soft or hard?
Medium. Tombow Japan calls the core smooth and balanced between writing and drawing, and Tombow USA describes a medium wax-based core that keeps crisp details, blends and layers.
Tombow’s own sources disagree on the binder: the 2026 Japanese press release calls Irojiten an oil-based colored pencil series. If you want the softest possible laydown, Prismacolor Premier is sold on its soft wax core.
| Tombow Irojiten | Faber-Castell Polychromos | Holbein Artists’ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors | 100 (JP), 90 (US) | 120 | 150 |
| Core | Medium; wax-based (US) | 3.8 mm, oil-based | 3.8 mm, oil-based |
| Sold as | Book-style volumes of 30 | Tins of 12–120 | Sets of 12–150 |
| Price band | $ | $ | $ |
Our best colored pencils roundup compares more artist sets, and our Tombow history explains the company behind them.
Where are Irojiten pencils made?
Tombow doesn’t say on the pages we read. Tombow is a Tokyo company founded in 1913.
Swiss retailer listings seen in search results disagree, giving Japan for a 36-color set, Vietnam for some single pencils and China for a 30 set, so check the box you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Irojiten mean?
Color dictionary. Tombow designed the boxes to look like book volumes, each grouping its pencils by tone, and gave the colors names taken from nature, such as kingfisher, cherry shell and dandelion.
Are Irojiten pencils wax- or oil-based?
Sources differ. Tombow USA describes a wax-based core, while Tombow Japan's 2026 press release calls the original Irojiten an oil-based colored pencil series.
Why does the US have 90 Irojiten colors and Japan 100?
The original three volumes held 90 colors; Tombow Japan later added ten more. Tombow USA sells the 90 as three 30-pencil sets and as single pencils.
Can I buy single Irojiten pencils?
Yes. Tombow Japan lists all 100 colors singly at ¥132 (about US$0.80) each, and Tombow USA sells its 90 colors as open stock.
Are there watercolor Irojiten pencils?
In Japan, yes. Tombow launched watercolor Irojiten pencils from August 12, 2026, in sets of 12, 24 and 36, each set with a water brush.
Are Irojiten pencils made in Japan?
Tombow doesn't say on the pages we read. Retailer listings in Switzerland give Japan, Vietnam or China depending on the item, so check the box.
Sources
- トンボ鉛筆: 色辞典 (Tombow Japan product page: 100 colors named after nature, book-type package by tone, CI-RTA/RTB/RTC ¥3,960, CI-RSA36C ¥5,060, singles ¥132, round barrel, 2019 Good Design Award)
- トンボ鉛筆: 『水彩色鉛筆 色辞典』発売 (Tombow press release, August 2026: Irojiten launched 1988 as an oil-based colored pencil series, 90 colors in three volumes plus 10 more for 100; watercolor sets from August 12)
- トンボ鉛筆: IROJITEN スペシャルサイト
- Tombow USA: Irojiten Colored Pencils Dictionary, Woodlands (51526; medium wax-based lead, centered core, white enamel finish)
- Tombow USA: Irojiten Colored Pencils, open stock (all 90 colors individually)
- Tombow Europe: IROJITEN Colored pencil 36 pcs. set (CI-RSA36C; creamy white finish, color-matched lead end, sharpener, color chart and guide)
- Amazon US: Tombow 51526 Irojiten Colored Pencil Dictionary Set, Woodlands (B005IQHCAW; UPC 085014515269, 4.6 stars from 542 ratings, #73 in Wooden Colored Pencils, read October 22, 2026)
- Amazon US Best Sellers: Wooden Colored Pencils, page 2 (October 22, 2026)