Sailor Manyo Hinoki Dual Shade 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink
The Sailor Manyo Hinoki 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. Hinoki is particularly appreciated for its unusual transitions between blue-grey, green, and soft purple tones, creating a writing experience full of depth and 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. Many of the flowers, plants, and trees mentioned throughout the anthology have inspired the colours of the Manyo ink collection.
In 2022, Sailor introduced the third international Manyo series, consisting of only four dual-shading colours: Fuji, Ayame, Hinoki, and Koke.
Hinoki and Japan's Sacred Cypress
Hinoki (檜 or 桧) is the Japanese name for Chamaecyparis obtusa, commonly known as the Japanese cypress or hinoki cypress. Native to central Japan, this tree belongs to the cypress family and occupies a unique place in Japanese architecture, craftsmanship, and cultural history.
Its wood is highly prized for its distinctive citrus-like fragrance, pale pinkish-brown colour, and exceptional resistance to moisture and decay. For centuries it has been used to construct palaces, temples, shrines, traditional Noh theatres, baths, and a wide variety of fine wooden objects.
Some of Japan's most important historical buildings, including Hōryū-ji Temple and Osaka Castle, were built using hinoki timber. Trees from the Kiso region selected for the reconstruction of the Grand Shrine of Ise are even known as Go-Shin-boku (御神木), meaning “the tree where God once dwelled”.
Beyond its historical significance, hinoki remains a popular ornamental tree in parks and gardens throughout Japan and other temperate regions of the world, including Europe and North America. It is also frequently cultivated as bonsai. Sailor translates this rich cultural heritage into a complex ink whose shifting colours evoke the subtle variations found in Japanese forests under changing light.
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 Hinoki reveals blue-grey, green, and purple areas 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
Hinoki 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 Hinoki?
Primarily blue-grey, green, and soft 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. Hinoki 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: blue-grey with green and purple undertones
• 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 the hinoki forests that change beneath the daylight, some colours never reveal themselves in quite the same way twice."
