Japanese pencils tend to be softer and darker than their American counterparts. From your post, I can infer that you might be more inclined towards firmer pencils with better point retention. In that regard, I can highly recommend these Faber Castell Grip pencils: https://www.amazon.com/Faber-Castell-Grip-Graphite-EcoPencils-Eraser/dp/B001ANVUBY/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Faber+castell+grip+pencil&qid=1608077218&sr=8-1 or if you prefer not to have an eraser on top, these: https://www.amazon.com/Faber-Castell-Pencil-Drawing-pencils-sharpener/dp/B003GEZP1G/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=Faber+castell+grip+pencil&qid=1608077218&sr=8-14

Now, for good old American pencils, you can try these: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Musgrave-Pencil-Company-Incense-Cedar/dp/B083ZNM8XT/ref=sr_1_7?crid=GP8JDX4GU3D3&dchild=1&keywords=musgrave+pencil+company&qid=1608077468&sprefix=musgrave%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-7

Or these: https://www.amazon.com/Wood-cased-Hexagonal-Pencil-Musgrave-Company/dp/B086359R6R/ref=sr_1_13?crid=GP8JDX4GU3D3&dchild=1&keywords=musgrave+pencil+company&qid=1608077468&sprefix=musgrave%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-13

The Musgrave pencils have straight hex bodies, which some people find unappealing, but they perform quite well for writing.

Caran d’ Ache also makes and extraordinarily smooth and point-retentive pencil, the Swiss Wood 348, but it is not available for sale on Amazon and is also quite expensive at almost $6 a pop! Thou, if you want to try it, I can point you in the right direction.