View source for Ohto

{{Short description|Writing utensil company}}
{{distinguish|Rohto}}

{{Infobox company
| name = Ohto Co., Ltd.
| former_names = Nakata-Ohka-do (1919–49) <br> Auto (1949–74) <br> Ohto (1974–present)
| logo = Ohto pens logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
| type = [[limited company|Limited]]
| industry = [[Writing instrument]]s
| fate = 
| predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successor = <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founded = {{start date and age|1919}}
| founder = Nakata Touzaburo <ref name=cult>[https://www.cultpens.com/news/q/date/2014/10/27/meet-the-brand-ohto Meet the brand: Ohto] on Cult Pens</ref>
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| hq_location_city = 
| hq_location_country = [[Japan]]
| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| key_people = 
| products = [[Fountain pen|Fountain]], [[rollerball pen|rollerball]], and [[gel pen|gel]] pens, refills, and [[mechanical pencil]]s
| owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->
| num_employees = 
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| parent = 
| website = [https://www.ohto.co.jp/ ohto.co.jp]
}}

{{nihongo|'''Ohto Co., Ltd.'''|オート株式会社|Ōto Kabushiki Gaisha}} is a [[Japan|Japanese]] [[manufacturing company]] of [[writing implement]]s. The company was established in 1919 as a manufacturer of [[dyes]] and [[ink]]. In 1949, the company became a pen manufacturer after they manufactured the world's first ball point pen with a chrome ball. This was also Japan's first ballpoint pen.<ref name=cult/>

Current products manufactured by Ohto are [[Fountain pen|fountain]], [[rollerball pen|rollerball]], and [[gel pen|gel]] pens, their refills, and [[mechanical pencil]]s.

== History ==
The story of Ohto started when Nakata Touzaburo, an employee of the Ministry of Finance, invented a special ink, which he thought would be perfect for use in banknotes. After his idea was rejected by the Ministry, Touzaburo decide to establish a company by himself, establishing "Nakata-Ohka-do" in 1919 as a manufacturer of ink, setting up in [[Tokyo]].<ref name=cult/> 

When the [[United States Army]] (that had occupied [[Japan]] after the [[World War II]]) brought [[ballpoint pen]]s with them, Japanese people were amazed by them and their long-lasting ink system, since ballpoints did not need to be refilled as often as [[fountain pen]]s. Nakata took note of this, and in 1949 Nakata-Ohka-do released the first ballpoint pen made in Japan, named "Auto pencil". It also became the world's first pencil-shaped ballpoint pen with [[Chrome plating|chrome]] ball.<ref name=hist/> To match its own invention, the company also renamed to "Auto".<ref name=cult/>

In the 1960s, Ohto also released the first water-based ballpoint pen, thus establishing a new category of pens: [[rollerball pens]].<ref name=hist>[https://www.ohto.jp/index.php?main_page=page_3 History] on Ohto website</Ref> In 1974, the company realised that the word "Auto" was too closely associated with [[car]]s, and changed its name again to "Ohto".<ref name=cult/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.ohto.jp/ Official website]

{{Pen manufacturers}}
{{Fountain pen manufacturers}}

[[Category:Manufacturing companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Fountain pen and ink manufacturers]]
[[Category:Writing implement manufacturers]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1919]]
[[Category:Japanese stationery]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1919]]

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