Sailor Manyo Kaki 50 ml Fountain Pen Ink
The Sailor Manyo Kaki 50 ml fountain pen ink is part of the fourth edition of Sailor’s Manyo collection released in 2024. Inspired by the Japanese kaki, or persimmon fruit, this ink features a warm amber-orange tone reminiscent of ripe persimmons during the Japanese autumn season. Its colour conveys warmth and quiet elegance, evoking the calm atmosphere of rural Japan and the traditional image of persimmons slowly drying at the end of autumn.
Manyo and Japanese nature transformed into ink
The Manyo collection takes its inspiration from the Manyoshu, the oldest and most revered anthology of Japanese poetry. Through its different editions, Sailor transforms elements of Japanese nature found in these classical poems into distinctive fountain pen inks. In this fourth series, the brand focuses on fruits, plants and traditional vegetation associated with the seasons and everyday life of historical Japan.
Persimmons have occupied a special place within Japanese culture for centuries. People either waited patiently for the fruit to fully ripen or carefully dried it in order to enjoy its sweetness for longer periods. Besides being a seasonal food, persimmon tones were also traditionally associated with natural dyes and autumn textiles. Sailor captures that heritage in an ink that feels warm, organic and especially pleasant for daily writing.
Kaki and the colours of Japanese autumn
In the past, Japanese people patiently waited for persimmons to reach their perfect stage of ripeness or carefully dried them so they could enjoy their sweetness for longer. That traditional image of the Japanese autumn is reflected here in a warm and luminous orange tone with earthy nuances that shift delicately depending on the paper, lighting and ink flow used.
With broader nibs, especially attractive tonal transitions and natural shading appear, recalling the glossy skin of ripe persimmons under the soft light of late autumn. In Inktraveler, colours like this are often especially appreciated for journaling, creative writing and light sketching because of the warmth and depth they bring to the page without becoming excessively saturated.
Compatibility and writing experience
This ink has been specifically formulated for fountain pens, providing a stable and balanced flow. The elegant 50 ml glass bottle allows comfortable and efficient filling while making it easy to use the ink even at lower levels. Its behaviour becomes especially enjoyable on high quality Japanese paper, where the shading and tonal depth can be appreciated much more clearly.
Recommended paper for best results
To fully appreciate Kaki’s warm shading and natural tonal variations, we recommend using Japanese paper such as the Midori Cotton Pad A5 or Japanese fountain pen notebooks from Life and Apica.
Frequently asked questions
Is this fountain pen ink?
Yes. It is formulated specifically for fountain pens and should not be used with other writing systems.
Is this a permanent ink?
No. This is a water-based dye ink and is not designed to be waterproof.
Which nib sizes show the best shading?
Medium, broad and stub nibs usually reveal Kaki’s tonal variations and natural shading most effectively.
Is Kaki part of the regular collection?
No. Kaki belongs to the limited colours introduced in the fourth Manyo edition released in 2024.
Package contents
50 ml Sailor glass ink bottle presented in the original Sailor Manyo cardboard box. (Product photos are illustrative and slight variations may exist compared to the final product).
Recommended reading
If you would like to discover more colours inspired by Japanese nature, you can read our guide dedicated to Sailor Manyo inks.
History and philosophy of Sailor
Founded in Hiroshima in 1911, Sailor is one of Japan’s most respected writing instrument manufacturers. For more than a century, the company has combined traditional craftsmanship, technical innovation and Japanese aesthetic sensitivity to create fountain pens and inks appreciated worldwide by writers and collectors alike. The Manyo series represents especially well that connection between nature, literature and colour so characteristic of Japanese culture.
"Some colours seem to preserve the quiet warmth of a Japanese autumn long after the season has passed."
