Taccia Ukiyo-e Fountain Pen Ink koiame - Fox Red

Koiame – Japanese for "dark rain" – is a burnt, dusty orange with a whisper of brown, drawing inspiration from the robes of Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo IV, captured in one of Tōshūsai Sharaku's most celebrated woodblock prints. The Taccia Ukiyo-e ink series translates the muted, carefully calibrated colour palette of Edo-period Ukiyo-e prints into water-based fountain pen ink – developed by stationery expert Hiroshi Ishizu and colour-matched by Japanese colour consultant Hanae Matsumoto. The result is a red tone that is neither purely orange nor purely brown: a colour with history that glows warmly on white paper and develops a darker outline in saturated strokes.

Features

• Colour with depth: Koiame is a mid-saturated, dusty orange-brown-red – reminiscent of caramelised sugar, with a fine shimmer towards red. The ink displays noticeable shading in the flow, which brings out stroke weight differences – such as those made with a stub nib – in striking relief.
• Water-based formulation: As a water-based ink, Koiame is fountain pen-friendly and suitable for all standard filling systems (converters, cartridge holders). It rinses out with minimal residue.
• Not archival: The ink is water-soluble and not archival – designed for creative work, journalling and illustrated notebooks, not for documents requiring archival preservation.
• Wide-mouth bottle: The 40 ml bottle has a broad opening, allowing you to fill converters and larger pens without fuss – even as the ink level drops.
• Illustrated packaging: The box features the Ukiyo-e print from which the colour originates – a collectible in its own right from the Sharaku series.
• Colour consultation from Japan: All Ukiyo-e shades were coordinated under the supervision of a Japanese colour specialist, lending the series its characteristic coherence and restraint.

Use & Tips

• Stub nib and broad nib: With a stub nib, Koiame reveals its shading particularly impressively – the broader cross strokes appear more saturated, the hairlines lighter. This creates a warm contrast reminiscent of brush calligraphy.
• Paper recommendation: On Tomoe River paper (52 g/m²) – the gossamer-thin Japanese standard for ink enthusiasts – Koiame displays particularly rich results without show-through. Smooth, calendered paper intensifies the colour; rough paper can lighten the shade and reduce saturation.
• Illustrations and lettering: The earthy, muted quality of Koiame works well in multi-colour layouts – as a warm accent alongside black, ink or indigo.
• Allow drying time: The ink dries more slowly on smooth paper. Left-handers and frequent writers should factor in drying time or opt for a slightly drier pen.
• Cleaning: Thanks to its water-based formulation, the pen can be rinsed with water – regular cleaning (every 4–6 weeks) keeps the nib and ink feed in good condition.

For Ukiyo-e & Ink Enthusiasts

The Taccia Ukiyo-e series is organised into sub-series by artist: Hokusai, Hiroshige, Utamaro – and Sharaku. Koiame belongs to the Sharaku group, whose four shades each correspond to a specific print. Tōshūsai Sharaku, whose true identity remains unknown to this day, created around 140 prints in just ten months (1794–1795), almost exclusively portraits of Kabuki actors. Unlike his contemporaries, he depicted the performers not idealised but in their physical peculiarity – expressive, sometimes caricatured with sharp wit. The orange-brown tone of Koiame derives from the robes in the print "Ichikawa Ebizo IV as Takemura Sadanoshin" and thus carries a very specific art-historical motif into the ink. Collectors of the complete Sharaku group will have four colours that can be traced directly back to four prints – a serial logic that appeals equally to ink collectors and Ukiyo-e enthusiasts.

Technical Specifications