Taccia Ukiyo-e Fountain Pen Ink Benizakura - Thistle Red

Benizakura – Japanese for "crimson cherry blossom" – is a water-based fountain pen ink from the Taccia Ukiyo-e series, inspired by the woodblock prints of Japan's Edo period. The colour traces back to Kitagawa Utamaro, one of the most significant ukiyo-e artists, whose work profoundly influenced the French Impressionists. Specifically, the ink borrows its luminous red from the checkered garment of the young woman in Utamaro's woodblock print "Girl Blowing a Glass Toy" (c. 1792–1793). In the bottle, it presents as a saturated, warm orange-red that develops a striking golden-yellow sheen on certain papers.

Features

• Saturated orange-red with golden-yellow sheen: On smooth, low-absorbency papers – such as Tomoe River – a pronounced golden-yellow sheen emerges at heavy ink saturation, lending metallic depth to the written line.
• Minimal shading, strong presence: Benizakura shows little shading – the colour remains uniformly vibrant on paper. This produces clear, high-contrast lines, particularly with medium to broad nibs.
• Colour shift with thin application: In very fine lines or when diluted, the colour shifts towards a rosy tone – useful for watercolour-like washes using the same hue.
• Water-based, not document-proof: The ink is formulated on a dye basis and dissolves on contact with water. Not suitable for archival or document-permanent applications.
• Wide-mouth bottle with illustrated packaging: The 40 ml wide-mouth glass bottle is easy to refill – even with a converter or piston filler. The outer packaging features a detail from Utamaro's work.
• Colour consultation by specialists: The entire Ukiyo-e series was supervised by colour consultant Hanae Matsumoto and curated by stationery sommelier Hiroshi Ishizu.

Use & Tips

• Medium to broad nibs are recommended for Benizakura: With fine nibs, the ink appears opaque and vigorous; with stub or flex nibs, it develops line variation and intensifies the sheen effect across wider strokes.
• Tomoe River paper for maximum sheen: On low-absorbency paper, the ink pools slightly, making the golden-yellow sheen particularly visible – ideal for lettering and calligraphy where a glossy effect is intentional.
• Washes and drawing: The ink can be diluted with water, becoming rosy in tone. For illustrations or sketches where a single ink should produce multiple colour values, this is a practical property.
• Plan cleaning carefully: Red dye-based inks stain rubber components and ink channels intensely. Thorough flushing – preferably several times with room-temperature water – prevents residual staining in the fountain pen.
• Pairing with cream-coloured papers: On warm white or cream-toned paper, Benizakura appears less harsh than on pure white – the orange component harmonises particularly well with warm paper tones.

For Calligraphy and Ukiyo-e Enthusiasts

The Taccia Ukiyo-e series translates the colour language of Edo-period woodblock art into ink: each colour is taken from a specific work and a specific colour field within it – Benizakura from the check pattern of the garment in Utamaro's "Girl Blowing a Glass Toy". The woodblock inks of the Edo period were originally made from plant and mineral bases and are characterised by high brilliance. Benizakura transfers this character into a modern, water-based formulation: a warm, orange-leaning red with a broad colour range between saturated coral-red and delicately rosy diluted tone. Those working with broad nibs and textured paper surfaces can render both extremes – deep red and pale rosé – within a single stroke.

Technical Specifications