Sailor Shikiori Rikyucha 20 ml Fountain Pen Ink

Sailor Shikiori Rikyucha 20 ml Fountain Pen Ink

The Sailor Shikiori Rikyucha 20 ml Fountain Pen Ink belongs to Sailor's Shikiori collection, a series inspired by the landscapes, traditions, and seasonal experiences of Japan. Rikyucha (利休茶) is one of the summer-inspired colours and features a distinctive olive-brown tone reminiscent of traditional Japanese tea and the subtle earthy colours associated with the tea ceremony.

The Shikiori Collection

The changing seasons have inspired Japanese poetry, painting, literature, and daily life for centuries. Through the Shikiori collection, Sailor transforms seasonal scenes and cultural traditions into colours designed to enrich everyday writing.

Each ink captures a particular aspect of Japanese aesthetics, allowing the writing experience to evoke memories, landscapes, and sensations associated with a specific time of year.

Rikyucha and the Refreshing Taste of Summer Tea

The name Rikyucha (利休茶) refers to a traditional Japanese colour historically associated with the tea ceremony and linked to Sen no Rikyū, the tea master who profoundly influenced Japanese tea culture. The colour occupies a special place within the traditional Japanese palette thanks to its subtle balance of olive, brown, and muted green tones.

Sailor's official inspiration for this colour is:

A cup of tea with accentuated astringency to quench your midsummer thirst.

The scene evokes a refreshing pause during the hottest days of summer. Sailor interprets this sensation through a complex colour that combines olive green, earthy brown, and subtle golden undertones depending on the paper, nib, and ink concentration used.

Rikyucha belongs to the summer-inspired colours within the Shikiori collection and is one of the most distinctive inks in the entire range thanks to a colour that sits beautifully between green and brown.

A Traditional Japanese Colour Full of Character

Sailor's formulation provides smooth flow and reliable performance, allowing the complexity of the colour to be fully appreciated. Its unique tone is particularly attractive for journals, correspondence, sketching, note-taking, and everyday writing, offering an original alternative to conventional green and brown inks.

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.

Rikyucha 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 Rikyucha mean?
It is a traditional Japanese colour associated with the tea ceremony and historically linked to tea master Sen no Rikyū.

What colour is this ink?
It features a complex blend of olive green, brown, and subtle golden undertones inspired by traditional Japanese tea colours.

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: olive-brown inspired by traditional Japanese tea colours
• 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 Japanese culture, transforming landscapes, flowers, flavours, and everyday experiences into colours capable of conveying emotion on paper.

"Some Japanese colours are inspired by landscapes; others are born from traditions that have accompanied daily life for centuries."