Sailor Manyo Chigaya 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink
The Sailor Manyo Chigaya 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink joined the second Manyo release introduced around July 2020 for the international market. It writes as a deep charcoal black, with warm grey and occasionally very subtle green undertones appearing in lighter strokes. Highly legible without looking completely uniform, Chigaya is a practical choice for everyday writing, professional notes, correspondence and journaling.
Manyo and the spirit of Japanese poetry
The Manyo collection takes its name from the Manyōshū, or “Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”, the oldest and most revered anthology of Japanese poetry. Its 4,516 poems were written by people from many levels of society and frequently use plants, landscapes and the changing seasons to express personal feelings and everyday experiences.
Sailor carries this relationship between literature and nature into a contemporary series of writing inks. Chigaya belongs to the second group of Manyo colours, released alongside Sakura, Ume, Nadeshiko, Konagi, Kakitsubata, Ukikusa and Shirakashi.
The plant behind Chigaya
Chigaya is the Japanese name for Imperata cylindrica, a perennial grass that forms colonies in open, sunny ground. Its cylindrical flower heads are covered with fine silky hairs that give them a distinctive silvery-white appearance. The plant is mentioned in twenty-six poems within the Manyōshū, reflecting its familiar place in the Japanese landscape and literary tradition.
Sailor does not officially associate this ink with one particular poem or state that its dark colour represents a specific part of the plant. The connection lies in the Manyo concept itself: transforming plants found throughout classical Japanese poetry into a varied palette for modern fountain pen writing.
A deep charcoal black with quiet variation
Chigaya produces a dark, highly readable line. Fine nibs make it appear close to a conventional black, while medium, broad and stub nibs provide enough ink to reveal its warmer charcoal base and occasional muted green nuance. Its shading is restrained rather than dramatic, allowing the colour to remain suitable for professional writing while still offering more character than a completely uniform black.
At Inktraveler, its ability to work as a versatile near-black without losing all tonal variation is particularly interesting. Paper, nib width, pen flow and lighting can each affect how the colour appears, so the same ink may look almost black in one pen and noticeably softer or warmer in another.
Fountain pen compatibility and writing experience
This water-based dye ink is specifically formulated for fountain pens. It provides balanced flow and can be removed during normal pen maintenance with water. The generous 50 ml glass bottle is suitable for regular use and works with converter, piston and other bottled-ink filling systems. If another Manyo colour is unavailable, contact us at inktraveler@inktraveler.com and we will do our best to source it for you.
How to appreciate the colour
Use fountain pen friendly Japanese paper to see Chigaya’s charcoal undertones and controlled shading more clearly. The Life Ginkouka Japanese Paper Pad provides a smooth surface that helps preserve the definition of the line. Fine nibs create a darker and more uniform result, while medium or broad nibs reveal more of the ink’s grey warmth and subtle tonal movement.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chigaya designed for fountain pens?
Yes. Sailor specifically formulates it for fountain pens and their standard bottled-ink filling systems.
What colour is Chigaya?
It is a deep charcoal black. Depending on the paper, nib and ink flow, lighter areas may show warm grey and a very subtle muted green undertone.
Is this a permanent or waterproof ink?
No. Chigaya is a non-pigmented, water-based dye ink and is not intended to provide permanent or waterproof writing.
Is Chigaya a limited edition?
No. Although it belongs to the second Manyo release introduced in 2020, Chigaya is part of Sailor’s regular ink collection.
Package contents
One glass bottle containing 50 ml of Sailor Manyo Chigaya fountain pen ink, supplied in its official Sailor paperboard box. (Images are for guidance only and minor variations may occur in the original product).
Explore more Sailor inks
Discover further colours inspired by Japanese nature and culture in Inktraveler’s selection of Sailor fountain pen inks.
Technical specifications
• Capacity: 50 ml
• Ink type: water-based dye fountain pen ink
• Bottle dimensions: 53 × 44 × 70 mm
• Approximate weight: 203 g
• Packaging: official Sailor paperboard box
• Box dimensions: 55 × 47 × 76 mm
Sailor history and philosophy
Sailor was founded in 1911 in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. Since then, the company has combined Japanese manufacturing with continuous research into fountain pen nibs and inks. The Manyo collection expresses another side of this philosophy by drawing on classical literature and the natural world to create colours with a meaningful cultural background. Chigaya shows how an understated shade can remain practical while offering depth, character and a distinct connection to Japan.
"Sometimes the quietest colours give writing its clearest voice."
