9 Best Japanese Inks for Fountain Pens

When we talk about fountain pens, we're not just talking about the pen itself. There's something equally important: the ink. It's what makes each stroke smooth and full of life. People tend to overlook the ink and only focus on the beauty of the pen. Japanese manufacturers are known for making some of the best and most beautiful pens in the world, but you’ll also find that they make some of the best ink for fountain pens too. In this exploration of fountain pen magic, we're shining a spotlight on the Best Japanese Ink for Fountain Pens. Get ready to explore colors, textures, and performance, and find out why Japanese ink is a must-have for writers and artists everywhere.

• 1. Iroshizuku Ink by Pilot
• 2. Kobe Ink by Nagasawa
• 3. Sailor Manyo Ink
• 4. Kyo-Iro by Kyoto Ink
• 5. Sailor Jentle Ink
• 6. Taccia Ukiyo-e Fountain Pen Ink
• 7. Platinum Fountain Pen Ink
• 8. Bungu Box Fountain Pen Ink
• 9. Sailor Dipton Shimmering Ink

Iroshizuku Ink by Pilot

Iroshizuka is Pilot’s luxury fountain pen ink collection. Iro means coloring in Japan, and Shizuku means water droplet, so the name embodies the product. The ink has zero bad reviews, and it is praised for its high quality. The ink gives a wet flow, shiny sheen, and shades, which means that the color may change depending on how much ink you use. Unfortunately, the ink is not waterproof, but it only takes around 8 seconds to dry, so that’s a win.

Packaged in elegant glass bottles that can be cleaned and reused, Iroshizuku inks not only deliver exceptional performance but also present a visual delight on any desk. It is available in over 20 colors inspired by the beauty of nature, so you can get very unique hues. In fact, PILOT Iroshizuka has one of the most beautiful blue inks on the market. One bottle of the 50 ml version of the ink costs around $30, but if you are not ready to pay that much, you can get it in smaller 15 ml bottles and 0.8 ml cartridges to try out before fully committing. 

Kobe Ink by Nagasawa 

Nagasawa stationery store is very popular in Kobe city in Japan. The company released their ink line made by Sailor company to represent towns in Kobe city in Japan. There are over 80 colors available for this, so you can have your pick of colors. It is a wet, non-water-resistant ink with medium shading that takes around 30 seconds to fully dry. What's interesting is that this ink has a unique sheen. For instance, the Shioya blue color ink has a pink sheen, while the Nada brown color ink has a green sheen. This unique sheen is not present for every color, but it is definitely cool. Whether used for everyday writing, creative projects, or artistic endeavors, the ink's reliability makes it a favorite among fountain pen enthusiasts.

Sailor Manyo Ink

Sailor Manyo Inks are made with floral themes, each ink named after a flower and capturing the essence of nature. It is based on Man’yoshu, or the collection of Ten Thousand Leaves, a series of Japanese classical poems released in the Nara period. The ink colors are floral pastel warm colors. One of the darkest shades, called “chigaya,” is very close to black but not exactly black. This ink series may be better for people who love painting or using pastel colors with their fountain pens. Sailor Manyo ink is wet, has a smooth flow, and has moderate shading properties. Many of the ink in this collection are dichromatic which means that it shows two colors. This is to mimic certain flowers that have different color shades. The Kikyou, Akebi, Nekoyanagi, and Kuzu colors have this unique feature.

Kyo-Iro by Kyoto Ink

Kyo-Iro by Kyoto Ink is more than an ink; it's an homage to Kyoto's rich cultural heritage. The ink is made in Kyoto using dyeing techniques from the Heian period in Japan. The ink is not too dry and not too wet. It has a balance that makes it a favorite for many people. It only has minimal shading and all colors in the series are monochromatic, so you don't get any interesting sheen. One downside is that the bottles are 40ml rather than 50ml used by other brands, but these inks offer a visual journey through Kyoto's historic beauty with exquisite colors. 

Sailor Jentle Ink

Sailor Jentle Inks, a product of Sailor's nano pigment technology, has vibrant colors with quick-drying properties. These inks are made for dip pens and fountain pens. It has remarkable shading, and some ink colors have dichromatic properties. For instance, the seemingly teal Yamadori color has a burgundy sheen, providing dynamic variations in color intensity with each stroke. The glass bottle is not a favorite because it is difficult to fill pens because they are short. On the bright side, a refill lasts for a long time. The colors of Sailor Jentle fountain pen ink are vibrant, and it is a very reliable ink that can work for many fountain pens.

Taccia Ukiyo-e Fountain Pen Ink

Taccia is a recent Japanese pen company that is only 20 years old; however, they have released many outstanding pens in the last few years. Their fountain pen ink collection is inspired by Ukiyo-e, which are Japanese paintings made in the Edo period. These paintings were usually landscapes paintings or women in colorful kimonos. The ink series is inspired by the colors used in the paintings. The inks are not too wet, so they dry fast, and they are very saturated, causing less shading. The colors don’t have much of a sheen or any dichromatic features, so what you see is what you get. If you are looking for bold pigmented colors, then it’s perfect.

Platinum Fountain Pen Ink

Platinum Classic Ink introduces a touch of antiquity to modern writing. Made with iron gall, this ink is one of the few with water-resistant properties. Over time, the ink undergoes subtle color changes, evolving into a slightly different color when it completely dries. The original color becomes a bit bright before drawing to it’s final color when you write with it. Platinum Ink can be used for dips and fountain pens, but the outstanding feature is that it is water-resistant. 

Bungu Box Fountain Pen Ink

Bungubox is a Japanese stationery store in Tokyo that created its own fountain pen ink line. They have different colors of ink in regular bottles and their unique heel bottles. This ink is wet but flows smoothly, has minimal shading and some colors have a different colored sheen. It dries a bit slowly at 25 seconds, but writing with this ink is unbelievably smooth, so it makes up for the slow drying. If you’re looking to try an underdog company that’s producing high-quality products, Bungubox fountain pen ink is just the one for you.

Sailor Dipton Shimmering Ink

If you love anything that sparkles and glitters, then this fountain pen ink is for you. Coming in a small 20ml bottle, the Sailor Shimmering Ink will give everything you write the Midas touch. The Coral Humming color, for instance, has a light coral shade, but in the right lighting, it turns to gold. It has menial shading properties, and it is not water-resistant, but it’s perfect for glitter lovers!

Choosing the right ink for your fountain pen is a personal journey, and Japanese inks offer a kaleidoscope of options to suit every taste and preference. Whether you prioritize vibrant colors, shading properties, or archival quality, the world of Japanese fountain pen inks is a captivating realm waiting to be explored.

Have you been looking to buy some high-quality Japanese stationery? You can check out our ZenPop stationery store for the best deals from Japan. 

This article was originally written by our freelance writer Umm-Kulthum Abdulkareem and edited by us.