Sailor Shikiori Yutsubame 20 ml Fountain Pen Ink
The Sailor Shikiori Yutsubame 20 ml fountain pen ink is part of the Japanese Shikiori collection, a series inspired by the four seasons of Japan and by the poetic sensitivity with which nature has been represented for centuries in Japanese literature, painting, and calligraphy. The name Yutsubame (夕燕) refers to swallows at dusk and can be translated as “swallow of the twilight”. Its soft burgundy tone with dusty pink undertones evokes the calm evening sky while swallows cross the horizon beneath the warm light of sunset.
Shikiori and the Japanese seasons
The SHIKIORI collection was officially introduced in 2017 as an evolution of several Sailor series inspired by the Japanese seasons. The aim of the collection was to create writing instruments capable of expressing the fleeting beauty of each moment of the year through colour, handwriting, and the visual experience of ink on paper.
The name Shikiori may be interpreted as “the colours of the four seasons”, and each ink seeks to capture not only a landscape, but also the emotion connected to it. Sailor describes the seasons as a continuous sequence of moments: scenes that have been sung, written about, and painted for more than a thousand years. Through this collection, the brand invites each person to imagine their own seasonal memories and scenery from the same colour.
Yutsubame belongs to the nine inks of the Spring series within the Shikiori range. This season is characterised by soft, floral, and luminous tones inspired by petals, gentle rain, clear skies, and migratory birds. The colour of Yutsubame perfectly reflects that calm and slightly nostalgic spring atmosphere so closely associated with Japanese aesthetics.
Yutsubame and the symbolism of swallows
In Japan, swallows are traditionally associated with the arrival of spring and with gentle seasonal transitions. Sailor describes Yutsubame as the image of swallows soaring across beautiful evening skies, a peaceful and luminous scene that inspires the tone of this ink. The result is a delicate burgundy colour with pink undertones and soft warm reflections that subtly change depending on the paper, lighting, and nib size used.
Compatibility and functionality
Sailor Shikiori Yutsubame is a Water-based dye ink, 20 ml, specially formulated for fountain pens. It offers balanced flow, good lubrication, and a smooth writing experience in both Japanese and Western fountain pens. The compact 20 ml bottle makes it easy to enjoy multiple colours from the Shikiori collection while saving desk space and encouraging regular ink rotation.
If a particular Sailor Shikiori colour is currently unavailable, feel free to contact us at inktraveler@inktraveler.com and we will do our best to source it for you.
How to appreciate the true colour
To fully appreciate the burgundy and pink nuances, soft shading, and chromatic depth of Yutsubame, we recommend using high-quality Japanese papers such as the Midori Cotton Pad A5, where the ink’s tonal transitions and texture become far more visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this fountain pen ink?
Yes. It is specifically designed for fountain pens and should not be used in other writing systems.
Is this a permanent ink?
No. This is a water-based dye ink and is not waterproof.
Which nib sizes show the best shading?
Medium, broad, and stub nibs allow the natural shading and tonal variations of Yutsubame to appear more clearly.
Which season does this ink belong to?
Yutsubame belongs to the Spring series within the Sailor Shikiori collection.
Package contents
20 ml Sailor Shikiori ink bottle. Supplied in a cardboard presentation box.
- Ink type: Water-based dye ink
- Capacity: 20 ml
- Bottle size: W34 × D34 × H58 mm
- Weight: 94 g
- Cardboard box size: 37.5 × 37.5 × 61 mm
Photographs are for reference only. Actual products may vary slightly from the images shown.
History and philosophy of the brand
Since its beginnings in Hiroshima in 1911, when Kyugoro Sakata founded Sailor, the company has been synonymous with excellence and passion for writing. From its earliest decades, Sailor developed gold nibs and fountain pens renowned for their precision and writing quality, eventually becoming one of Japan’s leading writing instrument manufacturers.
Over the decades, Sailor has continuously innovated: the famous “Naginata” nib became particularly admired for allowing line variation depending on the writing angle, offering a highly expressive writing experience appreciated by enthusiasts and calligraphers alike.
Today, Sailor is recognised by collectors and professionals around the world. Its limited editions featuring Maki-e lacquerwork and ebonite models reflect meticulous Japanese craftsmanship and a constant pursuit of balance between tradition, functionality, and aesthetic sensitivity.
Every stroke, every chromatic nuance, and every shading variation reflects a legacy of innovation and Japanese sensitivity that continues to inspire lovers of handwriting around the world.
"Spring swallows slowly crossing the evening sky inspire a calm and warm colour, suspended between the pink light of twilight and the quiet beauty of a fleeting moment."
