Inktend / Ink library / Yama-dori
Sailor
Yama-dori
Blues & navies✨ Sheen
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A Japanese ink house whose bottled inks are formulated for their own fine, precise nibs, with several well-known sheening colors in the lineup.
Specs
Color familyBlues & navies
Approx. hex#1D6A72
SheenYes
BrandSailor
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About Sailor
Founded in Hiroshima in 1911, Sailor is Japan's oldest fountain pen maker, known for precisely ground gold nibs and its own line of bottled inks.
Japan
Founded 1911
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Paper & pairing notes
Blues and navies are the most broadly "safe" fountain pen colors — legible, professional, and unlikely to raise eyebrows in an office. Sheening inks need the right conditions to show off — a wetter nib and a coated, less-absorbent paper (Tomoe River and similar sheets are the community standard) let the ink pool slightly and separate into its second color as it dries. On cheaper, more absorbent paper the sheen effect will mostly disappear.
Storing and using the bottle
Bottled fountain pen ink has an effectively long shelf life when kept capped and out of direct sunlight — most inks remain usable for years. The main risk isn't the ink spoiling, it's a pen sitting inked and unused for weeks: that's what causes clogs, not the ink's age.
Frequently asked questions
What color family is Yama-dori?
Yama-dori falls into Inktend's blues & navies family based on its typical swatch color.
Does Yama-dori have sheen?
Yes — Yama-dori is known for sheen, most visible with a wetter nib on coated, low-absorbency paper.
How should I store a bottle of Yama-dori?
Bottled fountain pen ink has an effectively long shelf life when kept capped and out of direct sunlight — most inks remain usable for years. The main risk isn't the ink spoiling, it's a pen sitting inked and unused for weeks: that's what causes clogs, not the ink's age.
What paper works best with Yama-dori?
Blues and navies are the most broadly "safe" fountain pen colors — legible, professional, and unlikely to raise eyebrows in an office. Sheening inks need the right conditions to show off — a wetter nib and a coated, less-absorbent paper (Tomoe River and similar sheets are the community standard) let the ink pool slightly and separate into its second color as it dries. On cheaper, more absorbent paper the sheen effect will mostly disappear.
Similar shades
Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.