Sailor Shikiori Doyou 20 ml Fountain Pen Ink
The Sailor Shikiori Doyou 20 ml Fountain Pen Ink belongs to Sailor's Shikiori collection, a series inspired by the landscapes, colours, and sensations associated with Japan's four seasons. Doyou (土用) is one of the summer-inspired colours and features a warm earthy brown tone reminiscent of sun-baked soil during the hottest days of the year.
The Shikiori Collection
The changing seasons have inspired Japanese poetry, painting, and literature for centuries. Through the Shikiori collection, Sailor transforms seasonal landscapes and emotions into colours designed to enrich everyday writing.
Each ink captures a specific aspect of Japanese nature, allowing the writing experience to evoke memories, scenery, and feelings connected to a particular season.
Doyou and the Earth Under the Summer Sun
The term Doyou (土用) refers to a traditional seasonal period in the Japanese calendar associated with transitions between seasons. Today, it is particularly linked to the hottest days of summer, when the heat reaches its peak and the earth is exposed to the relentless sun.
Sailor's official inspiration for this colour is:
Even the earth is scorched and dried by the sizzling sun.
The scene conveys the intensity of the Japanese summer and the image of soil heated for hours beneath a blazing sky. Sailor interprets this atmosphere through a deep brown colour with warm undertones reminiscent of dry earth, weathered wood, and natural summer landscapes.
Doyou belongs to the summer-inspired colours within the Shikiori collection and stands out for its understated elegance, offering an interesting alternative to traditional black and blue inks for everyday writing.
A Warm and Natural Brown
Sailor's formulation provides smooth flow and reliable performance, allowing the richness of the colour to be fully appreciated. Its earthy tone is ideal for journals, correspondence, sketching, personal notes, and any situation where a subtle yet characterful 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 seasons of Japan.
Doyou 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 Doyou mean?
It is a traditional Japanese term associated with seasonal transitions and is particularly linked to the intense heat of midsummer.
What colour is this ink?
It features a warm earthy brown tone inspired by sun-dried soil during the Japanese summer.
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: earthy brown inspired by sun-baked summer soil
• 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 nature, seasonality, and writing that characterises Japanese aesthetics, transforming everyday scenes into colours capable of conveying atmosphere and emotion on paper.
"Even the most understated colours can hold the memory of an entire season."
