Pilot S20 vs Tombow Ki Monogatari: Wooden Pencils Compared
Choose the Pilot S20 if you want a more substantial wooden mechanical pencil with a drafting-style tip. Choose Tombow Ki Monogatari if you prefer a slim, light pencil with the familiar shape of a wooden school pencil. Both models compared here use refillable 0.5mm lead and conventional click advance.
Marukaku sells both pencils. This comparison uses our listed specifications and existing product photographs. The weights below are listed figures, not measurements from a new hands-on test.
The main differences
Pilot S20: contoured wooden barrel, extended drafting-style tip and a listed weight of approximately 18g.
Tombow Ki Monogatari: slim hexagonal wooden barrel and a listed weight of approximately 6g.
Both: 0.5mm lead and click advancement, without the automatic feeding of an Orenz AT or rotating lead of a Kuru Toga.
Why choose the Pilot S20?
The S20's body is shaped differently from a traditional hexagonal pencil. Its extended metal tip keeps the area near the point visible, which can be helpful for lining up a ruler or placing a mark in a detailed diagram.
At the listed weights, the S20 is around three times as heavy as the Tombow. That does not make it three times better: it makes the weight preference especially relevant. Choose it if you like a more substantial instrument and a contoured barrel, rather than assuming that extra weight guarantees greater control.
Why choose Tombow Ki Monogatari?
Ki Monogatari keeps the slim hexagonal profile associated with an ordinary wooden pencil. Its low listed weight makes it the first of these two to consider if heavier pens and pencils tend to feel distracting in your hand.
It is also the lower-cost route into a wooden mechanical pencil. You refill the lead instead of sharpening the body, while retaining a familiar barrel shape. It is a straightforward choice when simplicity matters more than an elaborate mechanism.
Which is better value?
On September 21, 2026, Marukaku listed the S20 at $23.99 and Ki Monogatari at $8.99, before tax and shipping. That is a $15 difference. Prices and available finishes may change; the product pages show the current offers.
The S20 makes more sense when its barrel shape, weight and drafting-style tip are the features you want. If your priority is a simple wooden pencil for daily notes, Tombow may meet the need at a lower price. Paying more will not change the fact that both use 0.5mm lead.
For school, sketching or a gift
For notes and calculations, start with the weight and grip shape you prefer. For sketching, consider whether you like a light pencil that is easy to reposition or a more substantial body. Neither model automatically changes line darkness: lead grade, pressure and paper still matter.
For a gift, look at what the recipient already uses. A person who likes traditional hexagonal pencils is a different buyer from someone who collects contoured wooden writing tools. Use the photos to compare the bodies and finishes, then check the current color options.
Carrying and choosing alternatives
Protect the tip when carrying either pencil in a bag, and store the S20's extended drafting-style tip where it will not be bent by loose items. A pencil case is useful for transport; wood alone does not make a writing tool immune to scratches or damage.
If your real priority is a soft grip, compare Alpha Gel Switch and THE Dr. GRIP. If you want fewer manual lead-advance interruptions, consider Orenz AT. Those are different buying decisions from choosing between two wooden click pencils.
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