--- title: "Tombow MONO Graph: The Shaker Pencil With an Eraser" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-graph/" description: "Tombow MONO Graph shaker mechanical pencil explained: shake-to-advance lead, clip lock, twist-out MONO eraser, 147 mm size, 4 mm sleeve, refills and variants." category: "Pencils" type: "Mechanical pencil" published: 2026-10-20 updated: 2026-10-20 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 13 products: - name: "Tombow MONO Graph shaker mechanical pencil (DPA-132, 0.5 mm)" brand: "Tombow" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Acrylic resin barrel, brass tip, polycarbonate clip, olefin styrene elastomer eraser (Clear Colours version, per The Journal Shop)" released: "2014" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd." model: "MONO Graph" mpn: "DPA-132" url: "https://www.tombow.com/products/mono_graph/" --- # Tombow MONO Graph: The Shaker Pencil With an Eraser > The Tombow MONO Graph is a Japanese shaker mechanical pencil: shake it tip down and the lead advances, or press the clip to click it out. It has a twist-out MONO eraser at the top, a 4 mm fixed sleeve, and the 0.5 mm DPA-132 is listed at 147 mm long. It won a 2014 Good Design Award. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-graph/ - Category: Pencils - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-20 - Updated: 2026-10-20 ![Black Tombow MONO Graph 0.5 mm shaker mechanical pencil drawn to scale at 147 mm (5.8 in), with the blue, white and black MONO stripe, long clip, ribbed grip and 4 mm sleeve; inset: the white MONO eraser twisting out of the cap](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/tombow-mono-graph-16x9.png) *The DPA-132 at its listed 147 mm, drawn to scale.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/tombow-mono-graph-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Tombow MONO Graph shaker mechanical pencil (DPA-132, 0.5 mm) | Tombow (by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | Acrylic resin barrel, brass tip, polycarbonate clip, olefin styrene elastomer eraser (Clear Colours version, per The Journal Shop) | 2014 | $$: $5–20 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Tombow MONO Graph shaker mechanical pencil (DPA-132, 0.5 mm)): Japan. The Journal Shop gives Japan as the country of origin for the MONO Graph, its All Black Edition and the MONO Graph Fine, and says made in Japan for the MONO Graph One. Tombow's Japanese product page doesn't state a country. Source: https://www.thejournalshop.com/en-us/products/tombow-mono-graph-mechanical-pencil ## Key takeaways - The 0.5 mm MONO Graph (DPA-132) is listed at 147 mm (5.8 in) long with a 10 mm body; Amazon lists the silver DPA-132G at 0.64 oz (about 18 g). - Shake it with the tip pointed down to advance the lead; the clip works as a knock button and locks the shake mechanism. - The twist-out MONO eraser has about 18 mm (0.7 in) of usable length (Weee) and is refilled with ER-MG erasers, 3 for ¥132 (about US$0.80) in Japan. - Tombow Japan lists the 0.5 mm (DPA-132) and 0.3 mm (DPA-131) pencils at ¥440 (about US$2.80) each with tax. - The Journal Shop lists MONO Graph pencils as made in Japan; Tombow's own pages don't name a country. ## What is the Tombow MONO Graph? **It's a Japanese mechanical pencil whose lead advances when you shake it, with a full-size MONO eraser in the top.** Tombow calls the shake feature Frenock, and English-language shops sell the pencil as the MONO Graph Shaker. The blue, white and black stripe near the clip is the MONO stripe, the same flag Tombow prints on its MONO erasers; the [MONO 100](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-100/) pencil is the line's top graphite pencil. Tombow's Japanese page lists a 2014 Good Design Award and a 2016 Red Dot award, and Yoseka Stationery dates the launch to 2014. ## Tombow MONO Graph specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) | | Model | DPA-132 (0.5 mm; Japan suffixes A standard, B black, D blue, E lime; DPA-132G silver in the US); DPA-131A (0.3 mm) | | Lead sizes | 0.5 mm and 0.3 mm | | Lead advance | Shake tip down (Frenock), or press the clip down | | Shake lock | Yes: push the clip up (Fure-lock) | | Lead sleeve | 4 mm, fixed (The Journal Shop) | | Eraser | Twist-out MONO eraser, about 18 mm (0.7 in) usable (Weee); non-PVC, phthalate-free (Tombow) | | Eraser refill | ER-MG, 3 per pack, ¥132 (about US$0.80) | | Price in Japan | ¥440 (about US$2.80) with tax | | Length | 147 mm (5.8 in) | | Body | 10 mm across | | Weight | 0.64 oz (about 18 g), silver DPA-132G on Amazon | | Made in | Japan (per The Journal Shop) | Codes, prices and the mechanism come from Tombow's Japanese product page, which gives no length or weight. Length and body width come from Yoseka Stationery; Goldwings lists 147 × 16 mm, which likely includes the clip, and the weight is Amazon's figure for the silver US version. ## How does the shake mechanism work? **Point the tip down and give the pencil a short, firm shake; each shake feeds a little lead.** A sliding weight inside does the clicking for you, so you don't have to move your fingers off the grip. If you prefer clicking, press the clip down and it works as a side knock. To stop lead creeping out in a pencil case, push the clip up: Tombow calls this the Fure-lock. Tombow adds that if the shake doesn't feed lead, you should first click some out with the clip. ![Tombow MONO Graph DPA-132 drawn to scale at 147 mm (5.8 in), with callouts for the twist-out MONO eraser, the clip used to knock and lock, the shake-to-advance barrel, the MONO stripe and the 4 mm fixed sleeve](https://stationerytimes.com/images/tombow-mono-graph-parts.svg) *Every control on the MONO Graph, drawn to scale.* ## How good is the MONO Graph eraser? **It's a real MONO eraser in a twist-up holder, so it erases far more than the usual small cap eraser.** Weee lists about 18 mm (0.7 in) of usable length; Tombow recommends twisting out only 3–4 mm at a time so it doesn't snap. When it runs out, buy ER-MG refills, 3 for ¥132 (about US$0.80) in Japan: pull the old stub out, push in the new one and twist the unit counterclockwise. To add lead, pull the whole eraser unit out and drop lead in from the back. For precise erasing between lines, the [Tombow MONO Zero](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-zero-eraser/) is a separate 2.3 mm pen-style eraser. ## Which MONO Graph should you buy? **Buy the standard shaker for everyday notes; pick a variant only if you need its one feature.** | Model | What's different | |---|---| | MONO Graph (DPA-132) | Shaker, twist-out MONO eraser, 4 mm sleeve | | MONO Graph Zero | 2.3 mm precision eraser instead | | MONO Graph One | Side knock button and MONO One eraser; no shaker | | MONO Graph Fine | Slim tapered tip, 3.6 mm lockable eraser | | MONO Graph Tune | All matte black, metal tip, 5.3 × 26 mm black eraser (ER-MGT refill), ¥715 (about US$4.50) | Variant details come from Tombow Japan (Fine, Tune), The Journal Shop and Yoseka Stationery. ## How does it compare to other popular pencils? **The MONO Graph's selling points are the shaker and the big eraser; its rivals focus on the lead.** The [uni Kuru Toga](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-kuru-toga/) rotates the lead to keep the point even, and the [Zebra DelGuard](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-delguard/) uses springs to stop it breaking. If you mainly draft along a ruler, the lighter [Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-graph-1000-for-pro/) has the same 4 mm fixed sleeve but no shaker and only a small eraser. ## Where is the Tombow MONO Graph made? **The Journal Shop lists the MONO Graph, its All Black Edition and the MONO Graph Fine as made in Japan.** Tombow Pencil is based in Tokyo, and its Japanese product page doesn't name a factory or country. ## Frequently asked questions ### How does the Tombow MONO Graph shaker work? Hold it with the tip pointing down and give it a short shake; a weight inside advances the lead a little each time. You can also click the lead out by pressing the clip. ### How do you lock the shake mechanism on the MONO Graph? Push the clip up. Tombow calls this the Fure-lock (フレロック): it fixes the shake mechanism so lead doesn't creep out in a pencil case. Pushing the clip down clicks lead out instead. ### What eraser refill does the MONO Graph use? The standard MONO Graph uses Tombow ER-MG eraser refills, 3 to a pack, listed at ¥132 (about US$0.80) in Japan. The all-black MONO Graph Tune uses a black refill, ER-MGT. ### What lead sizes does the MONO Graph come in? Tombow Japan sells the standard shaker in 0.5 mm (DPA-132 and other DPA codes by color) and 0.3 mm (DPA-131 and others). ### Does the Tombow MONO Graph have a retractable tip? No. Tombow calls the tip a fixed, drafting-style pipe that gives a clear view of the line; The Journal Shop gives it as 4 mm. Like any fixed sleeve, it can bend if the pencil is dropped on its point. ### What is the difference between the MONO Graph and the MONO Graph Zero? The MONO Graph Zero swaps the standard eraser for a 2.3 mm precision eraser, like the MONO Zero. The MONO Graph One uses a side knock button instead of a shaker. ### Where is the Tombow MONO Graph made? The Journal Shop lists it as made in Japan. Tombow Pencil is a Tokyo company, and its Japanese product page doesn't state a country. ## Sources - [モノグラフ (Tombow Japan product page, "MONO Graph": Frenock shake and Fure-lock clip lock, clip knock, fixed drafting tip, 0.5 and 0.3 mm codes, ¥440 with tax, ER-MG refills, 2014 Good Design Award, 2016 Red Dot)](https://www.tombow.com/products/mono_graph/) - [モノグラフ チューン (Tombow Japan product page, "MONO Graph Tune": all black, 5.3 × 26 mm black eraser, ER-MGT refill)](https://www.tombow.com/products/monograph_tune/) - [モノグラフファイン (Tombow Japan product page, "MONO Graph Fine": 3.6 mm eraser)](https://www.tombow.com/products/monograph_fine/) - [The Journal Shop: Tombow MONO Graph mechanical pencil (4 mm fixed pipe, materials, country of origin Japan)](https://www.thejournalshop.com/en-us/products/tombow-mono-graph-mechanical-pencil) - [The Journal Shop: Tombow MONO Graph 0.5 mm All Black Edition (made in Japan)](https://www.thejournalshop.com/en-us/products/tombow-mono-graph-mechanical-pencil-0-5mm-black-edition) - [The Journal Shop: Tombow MONO Graph Fine 0.5 mm (made in Japan)](https://www.thejournalshop.com/en-us/products/tombow-mono-graph-fine-mechanical-pencil-0-5mm) - [The Journal Shop: Tombow MONO Graph One 0.5 mm (side knock, MONO One eraser, made in Japan)](https://www.thejournalshop.com/products/tombow-mono-graph-one-mechanical-pencil-0-5-mm) - [Amazon: Tombow Monograph 0.5 mm, Silver (DPA-132G), 18.14 g](https://www.amazon.com/Tombow-Mechanical-Pencil-Monograph-DPA-132G/dp/B00TTZZ9QM) - [Yoseka Stationery: Tombow MONO Graph Neutral Colors 0.5 mm (147 mm, 10 mm body, launched 2014)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/tombow-mono-graph-mechanical-pencil-neutral-colors-0-5mm) - [Weee: Tombow MONO Graph Shaker 0.5 mm (clip lock, eraser about 1.8 cm usable)](https://www.sayweee.com/en/product/Tombow-Mono-Graph-Shaker-Mechanical-Pencil-0-5mm/84557) - [Goldwings: Tombow DPA-132 Standard (147 × 16 mm)](https://goldwings.com.ph/products/standard/) - [Yoseka Stationery: Tombow MONO Graph Zero 0.5 mm (2.3 mm eraser)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/tombow-mono-graph-zero-mechanical-pencil-0-5mm) - [Wikipedia: Tombow (MONO Graph, MONO Graph Zero, MONO Graph One)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombow)