A 100-year-old Osaka ink maker, rediscovered
Teranishi Chemical Industry was founded in 1916 during Japan's Taisho era — the period of cultural optimism and Western influence that gave the Guitar range its name. The company pioneered Magic Ink, Japan's first oil-based marking pen, and its name became so synonymous with the product that Japanese people still call any permanent marker a 'Magic' by habit. The Guitar fountain pen ink range was released to celebrate the company's 105th anniversary in 2021, and immediately won the Design Excellence Award at Japan's 31st Stationery Awards. These are not fashion inks. They are the work of an ink chemistry company that has been thinking about how colour behaves on paper for over a century.
What to expect from the colours
The Guitar inks are saturated but muted — the colours have depth and complexity rather than the raw brightness of a showcase ink. Most show strong shading, the variation between lighter and darker areas within a single stroke that makes expressive writing and illustration more interesting. Several colours have a second colour visible in pooled areas under certain lighting. On Tomoe River paper the shading is most pronounced; on Rhodia or Midori MD the inks settle into a cleaner, more controlled appearance.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUSTIONS (FAQ)
Are Teranishi Guitar inks safe for all fountain pens?
Yes. Guitar inks are dye-based water-soluble fountain pen inks compatible with all fountain pen filling systems. Standard cleaning applies. Not recommended for vintage pens with rubber sacs.
How does the shading compare to Dominant Industry?
Both brands produce strong shading, but the character differs. Dominant Industry inks tend toward dramatic, high-contrast shading with visible colour shift. Teranishi Guitar inks shade more evenly — the variation is present and visible but feels refined rather than theatrical. Both reward slower paper.
Is Teranishi available anywhere else in the UK?
UK retail availability is very limited. Teranishi Guitar inks are primarily sold in Japan and through a small number of specialist US retailers. Inkwell is one of the few dedicated UK stockists.