Sailor Manyo Ishi Pebble 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink

Sailor Manyo Ishi Pebble 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink

The Sailor Manyo Ishi Pebble 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink is a special edition released to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Sailor’s Manyo ink collection. Inspired by the Japanese word ishi (石), meaning “stone” or “pebble”, this delicate aquatic green ink evokes the appearance of smooth river stones beneath clear flowing water. Calm, mineral and reflective, it is a colour designed for writers who appreciate subtle shading, Japanese aesthetics and inks with poetic atmosphere.

Manyo and the spirit of Japanese poetry

Manyosyu is often considered the purest expression of the Japanese spirit, yet it actually refers to an ancient poetry anthology known as “The Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”, the oldest and most revered poetic compilation in Japan. Over a period of four centuries, 4,516 poems were written by people from every social class, from farmers to emperors, many of them anonymous or later attributed to more famous authors.

The final compiler is believed to have been Ōtomo no Yakamochi, and the last recorded poem dates from the year 759 AD. The anthology was organised into twenty books following traditions similar to Chinese poetic collections of the same era. The name “Manyo” itself is an abbreviation of Manyosyu and symbolises “people from every social rank”.

Nature and the changing seasons formed the emotional core of these poems, often used to represent love, longing, politics and mythology. For this special fifth anniversary edition, Sailor selected poems related to unrequited love and transformed the natural imagery found within them into ink colours.

Ishi and the poem behind the colour

The Ishi ink is inspired by a poem describing small river stones becoming precious because they were once touched by a loved one:

“Even the small stones in the river, if you have trodden upon them, let me pick them up thinking of them as precious gems.”

That quiet emotional sensitivity becomes here a soft mineral green with subtle translucent qualities that shift depending on light, paper and nib size. Sailor accompanies this anniversary edition with a special foil-stamped label exclusive to the collection.

Compatibility and writing experience

This ink is made exclusively for fountain pens and is compatible with any fountain pen, offering smooth flow and reliable performance while helping preserve the nib over time. The 50 ml bottle allows for comfortable and efficient filling, making it easy to enjoy every last drop. If you cannot find another colour currently in stock, feel free to contact us at inktraveler@inktraveler.com and we will do our best to source it for you.

How to appreciate the colour at its best

To fully enjoy the aquatic shading and mineral depth of Ishi, we recommend using high-quality Japanese papers such as the Midori Cotton Pad A5, where the subtle tonal variations and soft transparency of the ink become far more visible.

Frequently asked questions

Is this fountain pen ink?
Yes. It has been specifically formulated for fountain pens and should not be used with other writing systems.

Is it waterproof or permanent?
No. This is a non-pigmented water-based ink and is not designed to be waterproof.

Which nib sizes show the best shading?
Medium, broad and stub nibs usually reveal the most interesting shading and tonal variation.

Is the anniversary label exclusive?
Yes. This special edition features a unique foil-stamped label different from the standard Manyo collection.

Package contents

50 ml Sailor glass ink bottle with exclusive Manyo 5th anniversary label. Presented in a cardboard box. (Product photos are illustrative and slight variations may exist compared to the actual product).

Recommended reading

If you would like to explore the origins of the collection and discover other colours in the series, you can read our guide to the Sailor Manyo inks.

History and philosophy of Sailor

Founded in Hiroshima in 1911, Sailor is one of Japan’s great writing houses. For more than a century, the company has combined craftsmanship, technical innovation and Japanese aesthetic sensitivity to create fountain pens and inks admired worldwide. The Manyo collection reflects that philosophy particularly well, bringing together classical literature, nature and colour in a uniquely Japanese interpretation of writing culture.

"Even the smallest stones can become treasures when they are tied to memory."