The ink made in Kuramae
Kakimori is a stationery shop in Tokyo's Kuramae district that has spent years thinking carefully about what ink should do. Their pigment inks were not developed to extend a product range — they were developed because the existing pigment inks available to their customers didn't behave well enough for the kind of illustration work their customers were doing. The collaboration with Turner Colour Works produced something genuinely different: pigment inks that are permanent and water-resistant when dry, but that flow through a fountain pen with the smoothness of a dye ink.
The names matter
Each ink is named with a Japanese onomatopoeic word — Po, Torori, Tototo, Karari. These are words that describe how the ink feels and behaves rather than what colour it is. Torori means thick and flowing. Karari means dry and crisp. The naming is not decorative; it tells you something real about the character of each ink.
Honest Note:
Who is it For?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUSTIONS (FAQ)
Are Kakimori inks waterproof?
Yes — Kakimori pigment inks are water-resistant when fully dry, making them suitable for illustration work where washes will be applied over dry linework. They are not completely impervious to prolonged submersion but will survive normal illustration techniques including watercolour and ink washes.
Can Kakimori ink be used in any fountain pen?
Kakimori inks can be used in most fountain pens but require more frequent cleaning than dye inks. They are not recommended for pens with very fine nibs (under 0.3mm) or vintage pens with rubber sacs. The Pilot Falcon and Sailor Naginata flex pens in our range are both compatible.
Can I mix Kakimori with other inks?
We do not recommend mixing pigment inks with dye inks from other makers — the chemistry can interact unpredictably. Use Kakimori inks separately and flush thoroughly when switching to another brand.