Sailor Shikiori Wakauguisu 20 ml Fountain Pen Ink
The Sailor Shikiori Wakauguisu 20 ml Fountain Pen Ink belongs to Sailor's Shikiori collection, a series inspired by the landscapes, sounds, and emotions associated with Japan's changing seasons. Wakauguisu (若鶯), meaning “young uguisu”, features a bright fresh green colour that evokes the first shoots of vegetation and the renewed energy of early spring.
The Shikiori Collection
Nature has inspired Japanese poetry, art, and literature for centuries. Sailor captures this tradition through the Shikiori collection, a range of inks designed to represent seasonal scenes through colour. Each ink reflects a particular moment of the year, allowing writing to become a way of experiencing the atmosphere of the seasons.
Rather than simply reproducing colours found in nature, Shikiori inks seek to convey the emotions associated with specific landscapes and moments in time.
Wakauguisu and the First Song of Spring
The uguisu (鶯), known in English as the Japanese Bush Warbler, is one of the birds most closely associated with the arrival of spring in Japan. Its distinctive song has long been considered one of the first signs that winter is ending and appears frequently in classical Japanese poetry as a symbol of renewal and new beginnings.
The character waka (若) means “young”, so Wakauguisu refers specifically to a young bush warbler learning its first songs at the beginning of spring.
Sailor's official inspiration for this colour is:
Young nightingale heralding spring with a newly learned song.
A young uguisu announces the arrival of spring with a newly learned song.
The image of a young bird practising its first melodies while the landscape begins to turn green perfectly captures the feeling of growth and renewal associated with spring. Sailor translates this scene into a vivid green shade reminiscent of fresh leaves, young shoots, and newly awakened forests.
Wakauguisu belongs to the spring-inspired colours within the Shikiori collection and stands out for its lively tone, combining freshness, brightness, and excellent visibility on the page.
If you would like to learn more about this iconic Japanese bird, it is worth listening to its characteristic song in this video from Hokkaido Wild Birds Maps, where several calls and songs of the Japanese Bush Warbler can be heard. Its voice has been associated with the arrival of spring in Japan for centuries.
A Fresh and Distinctive Green
Sailor's formulation provides smooth flow and reliable performance, allowing the colour to display its full vibrancy. Its bright green tone is particularly suitable for journals, correspondence, creative notes, sketching, and any project where a fresh, optimistic colour is desired.
The compact 20 ml bottle also makes it easy to explore the wider Shikiori collection and discover other colours inspired by the Japanese seasons.
Wakauguisu is also available as Sailor Shikiori ink cartridges, which can be found in our Sailor Shikiori cartridge collection.
Matching colours are also available in Sailor's Shikiori marker range, which you can explore in our Sailor Shikiori marker collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wakauguisu mean?
It refers to a young uguisu, or Japanese Bush Warbler, a bird traditionally associated with the arrival of spring in Japan.
What colour is this ink?
It is a fresh, bright green inspired by young spring foliage and newly emerging leaves.
Is it suitable for fountain pens?
Yes. It is formulated specifically for fountain pens and can also be used with dip pens.
Is it available in cartridges?
Yes. Sailor offers this colour in both bottled ink and cartridge formats.
Package Contents
20 ml Sailor Shikiori glass ink bottle with official Sailor packaging. (Product photographs are for illustrative purposes only and slight variations may exist between the images and the actual product.)
Technical Specifications
• Volume: 20 ml
• Ink type: water-based fountain pen ink
• Collection: Sailor Shikiori
• Colour: fresh green inspired by the first signs of spring
• Compatible with fountain pens and dip pens
• Glass bottle
• Made in Japan
History and Philosophy of Sailor
Founded in Hiroshima in 1911, Sailor has developed some of the world's most respected Japanese fountain pen inks. The Shikiori collection reflects the close relationship between writing, nature, and seasonality that characterises much of Japanese aesthetics, transforming seasonal scenes into colours that enrich everyday writing.
"Spring often begins with small details: a new leaf, an unfamiliar song, and the promise of a new season."
