Sailor Manyo Fuji Dual Shade 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink
The Sailor Manyo Fuji Dual Shade 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink belongs to the third generation of Manyo inks released by Sailor in 2022 exclusively for international markets. This collection introduced a new chromatic concept based on dual shading, an effect that allows different colours to appear within a single line depending on the nib, paper, and ink concentration. Fuji is particularly appreciated for its delicate light violet tones that gradually transition into lavender, blue-violet, and deeper purple shades, creating a writing experience full of subtle variation.
Manyo and the Spirit of the Man'yōshū
The Manyo collection takes its name from the Man'yōshū, the oldest surviving anthology of Japanese poetry. Compiled over several centuries, it contains 4,516 poems dedicated to nature, the seasons, love, and human emotions. Flowers and plants play a central role throughout the anthology and have served as inspiration for many of Sailor's ink colours.
In 2022, Sailor introduced the third international Manyo series, consisting of only four dual-shading colours: Fuji, Ayame, Hinoki, and Koke.
Fuji and the Japanese Wisteria
Fuji (藤) is the Japanese name for the wisteria flower, one of the most admired flowering plants in Japan. Within the Man'yōshū, it appears under the names 藤 and 敷治 (ふぢ), and is mentioned in at least twenty-six poems. Its flowering season extends from mid-April to mid-May, when long clusters of violet blossoms transform gardens, temples, and parks throughout Japan.
One of the most famous places to admire these flowers is Kawachi Fujien Garden in Fukuoka Prefecture, renowned for its spectacular tunnels of hanging wisteria stretching for more than one hundred metres. The remarkable range of lavender, violet, and blue-purple tones found there closely mirrors the colours revealed by this ink.
The Dual Shade Effect
The Dual Shade series represents a new direction within the Sailor Manyo collection. Rather than displaying only conventional shading, these formulations reveal several colours simultaneously within a single word or stroke. At Inktraveler, we find it particularly fascinating to observe how Fuji reveals different violets, lavenders, and blue-purple tones depending on ink flow and paper absorbency.
To fully appreciate this behaviour, we recommend using high-quality, low-absorbency papers such as the Life Ginkouka Paper Pad or the Midori Cotton Pad A5, where the colour transitions become especially visible.
Compatibility and Performance
Fuji has been formulated specifically for fountain pens. Its water-based composition provides smooth flow and easy cleaning while allowing writers to enjoy its complex colour variations without demanding maintenance. The 50 ml glass bottle also offers convenient filling for both standard and oversized fountain pens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dual Shade mean?
It is a formulation designed to display multiple colours within a single stroke depending on paper, nib, and ink concentration.
Which colours appear in Fuji?
Primarily light violet, lavender, blue-violet, and deeper purple tones that interact through shading and colour transitions.
Which nibs show the effect best?
Medium, broad, stub, zoom, and music nibs generally reveal the dual-shading effect more clearly.
Is it water resistant?
No. This is a water-based dye ink and is not intended to be waterproof.
Is it part of the third Manyo collection?
Yes. Fuji belongs to the third Sailor Manyo Dual Shade series released internationally in 2022.
Package Contents
50 ml Sailor Manyo glass ink bottle presented in its official Sailor cardboard box. (Product photographs are for illustrative purposes only and slight variations may exist between the images and the actual product.)
Technical Specifications
• Volume: 50 ml
• Ink type: water-based fountain pen ink
• Collection: Sailor Manyo Dual Shade Series III
• Main colour: light violet with lavender and purple shading
• Bottle dimensions: 53 × 44 × 70 mm
• Approximate weight: 203 g
• Packaging: official Sailor cardboard box
• Box dimensions: 55 × 47 × 76 mm
Recommended Reading
If you would like to learn more about this generation of inks and discover the other colours in the series, you can read our guide to the Sailor Manyo III inks, where we explore Fuji, Ayame, Hinoki, and Koke together with their connections to the Man'yōshū.
History and Philosophy of Sailor
Founded in Hiroshima in 1911, Sailor is one of Japan's most respected writing instrument manufacturers. The company has developed some of the world's most distinctive fountain pen inks by combining technical research, artistic sensitivity, and a deep connection to Japanese culture. The Manyo collection perfectly reflects this philosophy by transforming flowers, trees, and landscapes from classical Japanese literature into colours capable of expressing emotion on paper.
"Like wisteria reflected upon clear water, some colours reveal new shades every time we look at them."
