i got these pencils for my friend. i bought them cuz i knew they were great and would make an elegant gift for him. it was a little jarring when he made a joke of what it must have taken to assemble them (something along the lines of California cedar being shipped to japan to be shipped back to the U.S.). the pencils themselves work great tho, and i love the replaceable erasers. my gift giving experience was just a bit jarring in addition to joyful~