Getting Started with Japanese Fountain Pen Inks
Like many kinds of Japanese writing instruments, Japanese fountain pen inks are considered some of the best in the industry. Not only is there a plethora of choice, there is also a quality that comes from using reputable Japanese inks. It will give you peace of mind when you’re filling your best and favourite pens!
Since Japanese fountain pens have thinner nibs than western fountain pens, the ink has to accommodate the smaller surface area for writing. As a result, Japanese inks tend to have excellent flow. The inks tend to write very balanced, keeping enough wetness to flow freely in a fine nib, but not so wet that it increases the size of the line.
Like many major pen brands, Japanese manufacturers often make their inks with their own pens in mind, but you can often mix and match inks using a converter. Just make sure to check the warranty for your pen to make sure you’re not voiding it by mixing brands, especially if it is a black-nibbed Sailor!
Sailor
Out of all the brands we carry for in-store browsing and on our online store, by far the best colour selection comes from Sailor. Sailor has several different collections of ink, so it is easy to find the colours or properties you are looking for. One of our favourite Sailor ink collections is the Sailor Ink Studio, which we detailed in a previous blog post. There are 100 different colours in the collection, and we carry them all!
The Manyo collection is another favourite among our staff members for the rich colours and unique properties. Many of these inks change colour where they pool while they dry, where others have unique sheen and shading properties! If neither of those are enough for you, travellers will love the North American exclusive 50 States inks, and the Sailor Shikiori inks are classic favourites!
Platinum
Though Platinum produces fewer colours than Sailor, the brand’s inks still pack a punch for their unique properties! For instance, the Platinum Mixable Inks are exactly what they sound like — mix the different colours to create your perfect hue. They come in a variety of colours, and there is even an empty bottle available for your mixing.
For a waterproof option, Platinum Carbon Black is one of our bestselling inks because of its archival quality. It is our top recommendation for the best waterproof ink because of its unique formula, and it is also one of our top picks for black inks in general. Just make sure to get into the habit of cleaning your pens before they dry out, otherwise waterproof inks are a pain to clean!
Pilot
The fountain pen inks from Pilot are one of the best options for a beginner, but they are just as beloved by collectors. The Iroshizuku line of inks is known for the balanced flow and beautiful colours. They are a low-maintenance option for any user, but they are also an excellent choice for high-quality pens that you want to make last. The Iroshizuku line is a staff favourite, and you may have even seen one of the colours like Momiji on a handwritten “thank you for your purchase” note!
Pilot also makes some classic colours like Blue, Blue-Black, and Black at affordable prices. These are perfect for the Metropolitan, one of our favourite beginner fountain pens, and they will fit in perfectly in a boardroom or classroom setting.
About Fountain Pen Ink
Most inks that you can find in Canada are dye-based inks, and the vast majority of brands (Pelikan, Lamy, Waterman, Monteverde, Sheaffer Skrip, Parker, to name a few!) use a dye formulation. This means that the base of the ink is water with floating dye particles, making them very easy to clean and use in a fountain pen. There are some other options for water resistant ink, like Iron Gall inks and pigment inks, but these are less beginner-friendly and require a lot more maintenance.
Remember that the notebooks you use will affect the writing experience of your pens and inks. Dry inks, especially in dry pens, may be able to be used on lower-quality paper, but with wet inks, you’ll want to be sure to use paper that can handle getting a little soaked! With so much ink going on the page, look for a paper that encourages qualities like sheen and shading.
Most of the time, nib size doesn’t really matter when you’re picking a colour or brand, but remember that different pens play better than others with a different flow of ink. Even if a pen doesn’t preform well with one particular ink, it will still likely work very well with a different combination. Part of the fun with fountain pens is finding what works best for your system, but you can also get a head start on your experimentation by picking a beloved ink with an excellent reputation — like those from Sailor, Platinum, or Pilot.