Make products that others want to imitate—these are the words of Sharp founder Tokuji Hayakawa. Ever since the company was established over 100 years ago in 1912, the spirit of these words has been the guiding force behind Sharp development of industry- and world-First products. One such innovative product, the Ever-Sharp Pencil invented by Hayakawa in 1915, was the worlds First mechanical pencil and the origin of the company name.