In November 2025, Wacom hosted a workshop in collaboration with KPD Co., Ltd. at its event Connected Ink 2025. The workshop focused on the circuit boards that support Wacom’s pen technology. By creating balance dragonflies using original PCBs designed by KPD, participants were introduced to the structure and characteristics of circuit boards in a hands-on way.

In addition, the KPD booth at the event showcased a new initiative featuring buttons, coasters, and bookmarks made from circuit boards previously used in Wacom products. Participants were invited to discover and share the beauty and uniqueness of circuit boards—an essential yet often overlooked element behind pen technology.

KPD’s deep passion for circuit boards has become a source of inspiration for Wacom. By looking at circuit boards from a new perspective, what new possibilities can emerge? Here’s a look back at the event, together with Wacom pen engineer Noboru Yamaguchi, who led the workshop.

Interviewer: Miki Amano (Social Initiatives)

— Looking back on the workshop at Connected Ink, how did you find the experience?

Yamaguchi: Before it began, I was honestly concerned about whether people would actually attend. In the end, a lot of people showed up, and it turned out to be a refreshing experience, especially since there aren’t many opportunities to talk about technology in this kind of setting.

Circuit boards are part of my area of responsibility and support the technology inside our products. They are usually hidden from view, so being able to share them with participants as a key element behind Wacom’s pen technology was genuinely gratifying.

— The “balance challenge,” where participants tried placing the balance dragonflies on various objects, was especially lively.

Yamaguchi: It was even more engaging than I had expected and it gave me some new insights as well. Although everyone used the same materials and process, each completed dragonfly had a different balance. Some even tilted to one side, which made the participants curious to explore further. They began experimenting—adjusting how the wings were inserted or trying light sanding—while asking themselves, “Why does this or that happen?”, while some of them also asked questions. Watching them test ideas with their own hands, raise questions, and make improvements felt very much like the fundamental process of engineering.

— The PCB display at KPD’s booth was also very well received. Could you tell us how it came about?

Yamaguchi: When I was discussing ideas for Connected Ink with Mr. Katogi from KPD, we talked about finding a way to use circuit boards that would otherwise be discarded, sometimes referred to as “scrap PCBs.”

During the assembly process, unused margins inevitably remain on a circuit board, and prototype boards are often difficult to reuse and end up being discarded as well. I found some circuit boards in the office disposal box that seemed suitable for reuse, obtained permission to use them, and then proposed the idea to KPD.

— What were your impressions when you saw the finished PCB buttons, coasters, and bookmarks?

Yamaguchi: I felt it was a meaningful initiative since circuit boards that would normally be discarded were transformed into something new. At the same time, seeing KPD’s strong passion for circuit boards sparked a sense that there might be something more we could do together.

For example, I would like to see items that, like the balance dragonfly, are playful but also experimental—objects encouraging people to improve performance, such as balance, by adjusting how they are cut or assembled. That kind of approach aligns closely with an engineering mindset. I feel that by combining the technologies of KPD and Wacom, we could create products that inspire people to want to make things better on their own.

— Through this event, we really felt KPD’s strong passion for circuit boards. Would you mind elaborating on that sentiment?

Yamaguchi: I have worked with KPD for many years, but without Connected Ink, I would never have known the depth of Mr. Katogi’s passion for circuit boards.

Engineers often see circuit boards purely in functional terms—as hard, thin, green boards with electronic components mounted on them. However, through my conversations with Mr. Katogi, I learned that circuit boards offer many possibilities for expression: flexible boards, boards in different colors, and even boards designed deliberately to focus on the design without mounting electronic components.

When work becomes the priority, we naturally focus on performance and efficiency. This experience reminded me of the pure enjoyment of engineering—the appeal of beauty and playfulness—and made me feel that there may be even more we can do.

— How do you think Wacom can respond to this passion going forward?

Yamaguchi: Our commitment to technology-driven initiatives remains unchanged. At the same time, by engaging with each other’s ideas and passions, I believe we can share new perspectives and feed those experiences back into technology.

Until now, most of our collaboration has focused on PCB prototyping. Going forward, however, we may be able to think and create together in new ways—for example, by exploring how discarded circuit boards can be repurposed. Through KPD’s flexible approach to circuit boards, I learned the importance of not viewing technology solely from a technical standpoint. Looking at technology from different perspectives can lead to new ways of using it and to the proposal of new use cases.

The same applies to the pen development that I am responsible for. If we look at each individual technology from a different angle, it does not necessarily have to take the form of a pen. By changing our perspective, I feel there is potential to discover technologies that lead to new “inking” experiences. By building on each other’s core technologies and incorporating a creative viewpoint, I hope those outcomes can ultimately be fed back into circuit board technology itself.

— What do you mean specifically by “not viewing technology solely from a technical standpoint”?

Yamaguchi: For example, some pens use haptic technology to convey tactile feedback through vibration. This technology conveys tactile feedback to the hand through the act of drawing or writing. By applying the vibration mechanism differently, it is possible to express the “scratch, scratch” writing sound when drawing with a pencil tool. This isn’t something described in the specifications, but while experimenting and asking, “What would happen if I tried using it this way?” I suddenly realized, “Could this play music?”

When I set it to the tune of the Electrical Parade and heard music coming from the pen, it was a delightful moment. The trigger was simply a slight shift in perspective, but by questioning and pursuing an idea, you sometimes find yourself arriving at completely unexpected places.

— What is the appeal of Wacom’s engineering for you?

Yamaguchi: It lies in continuously responding to the wide range of requests we receive from customers. We are always facing the challenge of how to incorporate new functions into a pen. The process of giving shape to ideas in unknown territory is fascinating. While thinking about combinations of technologies and having a place to test them can be challenging, it is also very enjoyable.

Simply implementing existing technology is something other companies can do, which makes differentiation difficult. That is why I believe the key lies in discovering unexpected uses and finding new ways to make the most of the same technologies. By slightly shifting our perspective, we can deliver entirely different experiences. In order to respond to the wide range of requests from our customers, I want to continue imagining new use cases and expanding my technological toolbox.

Related Article

You can find an overview of the circuit board workshop held with KPD at Connected Ink 2025 in this article.