Sailor Manyo Ukikusa - Ink Sample
2ml sample of Sailor Manyo Ukikusa green fountain pen ink, in a labeled plastic vial.
About the Sailor Manyo collection:
Flowers have always been a popular poetic subject dating back to ancient Japanese history. This is the theme for Sailor's Manyo bottled ink series. Based on popular flowers frequently mentioned in Japanese “Manyoshu” – an anthology of compiled ancient poems – Sailor has chosen eight dye-based ink colors to best represent this vibrant palette range.
"Manyosyu" - Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves - is the oldest (c.759) and most revered anthology of Japan's poetic compilations. Over a period of four centuries, 4,516 poems were written by every class of person ranging from Emperors to merchants and farmers. "Manyo" is an abbreviation of "Manyosyu" and its meaning indicates people of all ranks.
"Manyosyu" is often regarded in Japan as a true expression of the Japanese spirit. The themes of the poems relate to love, elegies, nature, the seasons, and so on. Flowers are especially relevant in Japanese culture and about 1,500 of the poems in "Manyosyu" cover some 160 species of plants and 50 different flowers.
- Condition
- New
- Brand
- Sailor
- Type
- Ink Samples
- Color
- Blue
- Fast Drying
- No
- Fluorescent
- No
- Shimmer
Whether or not the ink contains glittery particles.
- No
- Freeze Resistant
Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to better withstand freezing temperatures.
- No
- Volume
- 2ml
- Iron Gall
Ink made from iron salts and tannic acids. Though quite permanent and waterproof, these inks are typically known for causing chemical corrosion to metal pen parts (especially the nib) and should be used sparingly or with less-valuable pens.
- No
- Lubricated
Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to increase flow in your pen.
- No
- Pigmented
Whether or not the ink contains finely-ground solid particles in liquid suspension.
- No
- Scented
- No
- Water Resistant
Whether or not the ink, once dried on the paper, will resist being washed away with water.
- No
Customer Reviews
COLOR: Pleasant green, like a fresh mint leaf (see photo).- Much greener (less yellow) than Colorverse "Walk the Dog."- Brighter and more yellow than Sailor Ink Studios "967."FLOW: Good. Quickly dries.SPECIAL QUALITIES: Moderate shading. Despite heavy application, I saw no sheening or change in color (e.g., darkening) at the outer edges of ink drops. Although Tomoe River paper is known to let ink sit on the surface and thus dry slowly, ink drops of Ukikusa dried more quickly than my other inks.READABILITY: Good.Don't know if outside links are allowed, but this is the most complete review of the Manyo inks I've seen (https://macchiatoman.com/blog/2020/12/12/ink-overview-sailor-manyo-series-ii-part-2); I have no affiliation to the person or to the blog.
Color is true to the photo and ink feels very lovely. I think it would be wonderful to have not only a sample of how the ink looks (as above), but how it looks when you write a sentence with it. Service was lovely and it's always fun to search for new colors.
Was one of the best buys
This ink is on the wetter side, which I like, and dries pretty quickly. However I was a little surprised at how bland the color looked, and also how light and translucent it was on the page. I probably won't spring for a full bottle, but it's still nice to have the sample.
FAQ about Ink Samples
How do I fill my fountain pen from an ink sample vial?
It depends on the fountain pen's filling mechanism.
Check out our blog post on How to Fill a Fountain Pen from an Ink Sample Vial.
How much writing can I do with 2ml of ink?
It really depends on how big or small you write, and the nib size you’re using. We find that usually you can get 2 good fills for a typical converter with our Ink samples, or one good fill with a piston-filling pen. How much writing depends on you more than anything else, so we recommend experimenting with different nib sizes to find what works best for you.
What is shading, sheening, or shimmering ink?
Shading - A common (and often desired) result of a fountain pen ink pooling in certain parts of a letter when writing, so that the color and saturation of the ink appears different within a single letter or word. This characteristic cannot be achieved with ballpoint or rollerball pens and is a very appealing aspect of fountain pen use for those particularly drawn to all the pretty ink colors.
Sheen - Characteristic of a fountain pen ink where when ink pools another color can be seen on top of the ink, especially when looked at in different light angles using certain paper types. There is no way to guarantee an ink will sheen, but using a larger nib on a pen will help obtain sheening results in your writing.
Shimmering - Fountain pen ink that has small particles of glitter mixed in.
Is shimmering ink safe to use in fountain pens?
Yes! Shimmering ink is a great way to add some flare to your writing. We have found that a larger nib will showcase more shimmering particles while writing, but you can use any nib size and shimmering ink. All the ink we sell is safe for use in fountain pens.
You can learn more in our blog: How to Write with Shimmering Ink.
What's your return policy for ink samples?
We do not accept returns for ink that has been used. Otherwise, we accept returns on unused ink products for up to 30 days from purchase. You can read all our Return Policies here.
To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.