Taccia Ukiyo-e Fountain Pen Ink usuzumi - Night Black

Usuzumi is a deep black tone rooted in Japanese printing tradition – not a pure, flat black, but a contemplative, multi-layered night black with violet-brown undertones that reveal themselves particularly in swatches and drawings. This water-based fountain pen ink from the Taccia Ukiyo-e Series is inspired by the work of Kitagawa Utamaro, one of the most significant masters of Japanese woodblock printing during the Edo period. The entire series' colour palette was curated by Japanese colour consultant Hanae Matsumoto and developed by stationery sommelier Hiroshi Ishizu. The ink is supplied in a wide-mouth glass bottle, housed in packaging featuring motifs from Utamaro's print art.

Features

• Multi-layered black tone with violet-brown undertones: The ink appears rich and dark in writing; on smooth, ink-friendly paper (e.g. Tomoe River) a golden-brown shimmer becomes visible in raking light – an effect particularly noticeable in denser stroke areas.
• Gentle shading behaviour: Even fine nibs display soft shading with perceptible depth, without being obtrusive – the line remains elegant and controlled.
• Good water resistance: After contact with water, the ink leaves a stable dark grey residue on paper, making it suitable for letters, journal pages and drawings in everyday use.
• Neutral pH value: The formulation is tailored for fountain pens and protects resin and celluloid in the writing instrument – a balance between permeability and viscosity ensures even ink flow.
• Illustrated packaging: The box displays original prints from Utamaro's woodblock work, making the wide-mouth bottle a collector's piece.
• Safely manufactured: All raw materials used are tested and safe – the ink has been colour-matched under the supervision of a Japanese colour consultant.

Use & Tips

• Calligraphy & hand lettering: The soft shading profile comes into its own with broad nibs or stub nibs – stroke dynamics and tonal qualities create lively, graphically striking letterforms.
• Illustration & ink drawing: Used as drawing ink with brushes, glass pens or directly from the fountain pen, Usuzumi displays an impressive range from grey gradations to deep black – ideal for monochrome compositions.
• Everyday writing & office use: Good water resistance and high contrast make this ink a reliable everyday companion in notebooks and planners.
• Paper choice: On Tomoe River the golden-brown shimmer is particularly prominent. On calendered, ink-friendly paper the ink dries smoothly and cleanly – without feathering or show-through.
• Writing instrument: For the full shading profile, medium to broad nibs are recommended; with fine nibs the line remains controlled and precise.
• Not archival: Usuzumi is water-based and light-sensitive – for documents requiring archival quality, an archival alternative should be chosen.

For Calligraphy & Illustration Enthusiasts

Usuzumi (薄墨) literally means "thin ink" or "diluted ink" in Japanese – a colour that in traditional Japanese aesthetics stands for delicacy, transience and emotional restraint. The early Ukiyo-e woodblock prints of the Edo period were originally created as Sumizuri-e, that is pure black prints – Usuzumi carries this origin within its colour. Chromatographic analysis of the ink reveals, alongside the black primary pigment, violet and slightly blue pigment components: these create the characteristic depth that distinguishes Usuzumi from flat printer's black. Those who apply generous colour fields with a glass pen or broad nib can experience the entire colour spectrum – from pale blue-grey to rich black-brown – in a single drawing.

Technical Specifications