Namiki Manufacturing Company was founded in 1918. The name Pilot was adopted in 1938. Today Pilot Corporation is the largest pen manufacturer in Japan and the world's number 2.

Since its inception, Pilot has placed great importance on innovation in order to always offer its customers the best writing tools.

In the range of high-end writing instruments, Pilot maintains the brand of the surname of its founder, Namiki. Capless (also known as Vanishing Point in the United States), Iroshizuku pen pens and inks are among the most sought-after Namiki objects.