Uni Mitsubishi Kuru Toga Advance Upgrade Model: A Sharper Spin with a Stylish Twist

Introduction

The Kuru Toga Advance Upgrade Model is Uni Mitsubishi Pencil’s refreshed take on its popular self-sharpening mechanical pencil, and this particular release arrived in February 2022 as a limited-quantity run of 0.5 mm limited-color editions. The sample here is the 0.5 mm Khaki limited color.

The series is best known for the Kuru Toga engine, a mechanism that rotates the lead each time it touches the paper, so the tip never wears down into a flat wedge and you keep writing with a sharp edge. With the Upgrade Model, that engine gets a meaningful revision: the rotation now completes in 20 strokes instead of the original 40, which should let the tip re-sharpen itself noticeably faster. The question is whether that faster spin, plus the new chassis, actually makes for a better writing experience.

Design and Build

Out of the box, the limited-edition packaging makes the special status of this color clear at a glance. The khaki finish is restrained and mature, and the other limited colors, including teal and yellow variants in the lineup, are notably vivid; it was genuinely a tough choice between them.

Physically, the Upgrade Model inherits the dual Kuru Toga engine from the Advance, refines the styling, and drops the centre of gravity for a more stable feel. The punch grip, with its perforated metal surface, is the signature change: it is easy to hold, does not slip, and looks sharp, especially with a hint of the inner mechanism visible at the edge of the grip.

Details are well executed throughout. The guide pipe retracts for storage, the two-tone clip is printed with model markings, the clip is firm yet reasonably easy to use, and the knock has a solid, weighty feel. A small eraser sits under the cap, and there is a quiet bit of metal presence near the tip that gives the pencil a grown-up look. Notably, if you remove the grip section and re-close the barrel, you can use it in a skeleton configuration and watch the Kuru Toga engine rotate as you write.

Specs are compact and light: 141 mm long and 16 g in weight, with a genuinely low centre of gravity. Compared with the standard Kuru Toga Advance, the design here is cleaner and simpler, since the engine is no longer fully visible through the body. It is a matter of taste, but the reduced window treatment reads as elegant rather than a loss.

Writing Performance

Comparing the Advance and the Advance Upgrade Model side by side, the signature Kuru Toga feel is unmistakable in both. But the Upgrade Model is where things get complicated.

The faster rotation is clearly real: the lead re-sharpens noticeably quicker than on the regular Advance. However, the Upgrade Model feels more prone to lead sinking under pressure, and the writing feel does not vary much whether you write with a light or a heavy hand. In direct comparison, the Advance actually felt better to write with. Its strength is writing lightly with minimal pressure, which feels excellent, though pressing hard degrades the stroke considerably, with a scratchy, catching sensation.

That sinking sensation is the crux of the whole Kuru Toga mechanism. Because the lead rotates as you write, the tip is never perfectly rigid, and this engine-driven play is what divides opinions sharply. Drawing a horizontal stroke can introduce odd pressure feedback, force disperses, and letters come out less clean. For one reviewer here, the effect was strong enough that illustrations simply did not come out as intended. The rotating mechanism, for all its cleverness, is the single biggest compromise in how these pencils write.

Who Should Buy It

If the Kuru Toga mechanism’s characteristic sinking feel does not bother you, this is an easy pencil to recommend. The design is handsome, the limited colors are genuinely appealing, the punch grip works as well as it looks, and the faster-rotating engine is a real, tangible upgrade over the standard Advance. Even someone who finds the mechanism itself unsuited to their handwriting keeps being drawn back by the technology and the looks, which says a lot about the product’s charm.

If you are sensitive to tip feedback, prefer a rock-stable lead, or want a pencil for illustration work, consider whether the Kuru Toga concept fits your style before committing. For fans of the series, the Upgrade Model is a stylish, well-built evolution worth picking up, especially while the limited colors are available.

Conclusion

The Kuru Toga Advance Upgrade Model is a beautifully designed mechanical pencil with a faster-sharpening dual engine, a comfortable punch grip, and a low centre of gravity. Its writing feel inherits the characteristic Kuru Toga play that will delight some writers and frustrate others, so try it with your own hand before deciding. For series fans and design lovers, the limited khaki edition is a lovely desk companion.