Taccia Ukiyo-e Fountain Pen Ink naka murasaki - Wisteria

Naka Murasaki – Japanese for "mid-purple" – is a muted lilac with grey undertones that translates the blooming wisteria from Hiroshige's woodblock print "Overhanging Branches of the Kameido Tenjin Shrine" from the Edo Period into glass. This water-based fountain pen ink was developed as part of the Taccia Ukiyo-e series, with colours refined under the guidance of a Japanese colour consultant to capture the distinctive, nature and season-infused colour harmonies of these historic woodblock prints. The result is a purple that is neither cloying nor garish: understated, with a cool grey undertone that recalls early spring – when wisteria clusters are just opening and the light remains soft.

Features

• Naka Murasaki colour (wisteria/purple): A muted grey-lilac with bluish undertones, showing colour shadings between mid-lavender and the grey-violet typical of wisteria – expressed more or less intensely depending on nib width and paper absorbency.
• Shading on absorbent paper: On smooth, calendered paper the ink displays a moderate shading effect – line edges become darker, filled areas lighter. On Tomoe River paper drying time is moderate whilst maintaining a soft, flowing writing feel.
• Suitable for all nib sizes: The ink flows moderately and evenly – neither too wet nor too dry. Fine nibs produce precise marks, whilst broad nibs bring out the colour nuances more prominently.
• Not waterfast: The ink is neither archival nor water-resistant. When exposed to water, writing will fade; unsuitable for applications requiring permanence.
• Fountain pen compatible materials: Water-based dye ink with balanced pH, gentle on piston converters and both plastic and cellulose resin pens.
• Wide-mouth glass bottle: The wide opening allows comfortable refilling even with broad converters and piston fillers – usable right down to the last drop without tilting the bottle.
• Illustrated packaging: The box features Hiroshige's original woodblock print that inspired the colour – printed on all sides.

Use & Tips

• Writing and calligraphy: The muted purple appears fresh yet restrained on white paper – legible enough for handwritten letters, journals or calligraphy practice, yet distinctive enough to hold its own alongside black ink.
• Drawing and illustration: Used as a drawing ink in a broad nib or with a brush attachment, Naka Murasaki suits wash techniques – diluted with water it produces delicate lilac-grey tones reminiscent of traditional ink painting.
• Paper recommendations: On smooth, ink-receptive paper (such as Tomoe River) shading reveals itself most clearly. On unsized or highly absorbent paper the colour fades more quickly and loses definition. Bright white paper makes the cool lilac particularly vivid.
• Cleaning: Like all water-based dye inks, Naka Murasaki rinses easily from pens with lukewarm water – even after extended periods of disuse.
• Combinations: The muted purple harmonises well with deep blues, grey-toned greens and warm sepia inks – ideal for colour-coordinated journal or bullet journal setups.

For Ink Enthusiasts

The Taccia Ukiyo-e series translates an art historical precision task into fountain pen practice: each colour derives from a specific painting and a specific colour area within it. Naka Murasaki is based on the hanging wisteria curtain in Hiroshige's 1856 Kameido Tenjin print – a sheet from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo". Colour consultant Hanae Matsumoto translated this particular shade – a blend of pink, blue-green and lavender dyes that appears multi-layered under chromatography – into an ink that preserves the mood of the original image: cool, atmospheric, with a hint of transience. Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) is regarded as the defining master of Japanese woodblock printing at the end of the Edo Period; his influence on Impressionists such as van Gogh and Monet is well documented in art history. Taccia ink makes this colour world tangible at your desk.

Technical Specifications