Eraser

An eraser is a tool for rubbing out pencil lines. There are two main kinds: rubber erasers made from natural rubber, and plastic erasers made from materials such as PVC resin. Not every eraser is made of rubber, so in Japanese the more correct name is "jikeshi" (letter remover). A pencil line is made of graphite powder that has gone into the grain of the paper. An eraser lifts this powder off the paper and holds it on its surface. The powder then comes away with the eraser crumbs. There are other kinds as well. A sand eraser scrapes away the surface of the paper itself. A kneaded eraser is used for drawing and pastel work. An electric eraser uses a motor to move a small eraser tip. A sand eraser can tear thin paper.

Translated from the Japanese original.