YasutomoBokuju Liquid Ink - 6oz Sumi Ink for Calligraphy and Artwork - Black Drawing Ink for use with Japanese Ink Brushes and Dip Pens

I love this stuff. It's always 100% opaque. It's a fantastic jet black with a pretty strong sheen. The consistency is perfect for pointed nib calligraphy or just dip pen writing/drawing with almost any nib. It doesn't tend to bleed or feather much on any paper that's decent, and never has issues on high quality paper. Very affordable, it even has the standard pleasant smell of traditional Sumi ink (obviously because that's what it is). This is my go-to and it remains so through my testing various inks and pens. Even more premium inks just don't offer the same experience.

I am fairly new to the world of dip-ink calligraphy and drawing with dip-ink so I don't have a great deal of experience with dip inks, but I have purchased 3 other types of black ink (Windsor & Newton, SpeedBall, and Higgins Eternal) and in comparison it is by far the most opaque, which I like. I have found that within the dip-ink medium there are a lot of variables that factor into the final output, such as the style of the nib holder, the nib, the paper used, and of course the ink itself. This is my favorite all-purpose ink for drawing and calligraphy. I initially put this ink into a small shallow container and dipped my nibs into it, but I now prefer to put some of this ink in a small bottle with a dropper and use the dropper to apply ink directly to the nib just because it's less messy for me that way.I think it's a good value because although it costs more compared to other brands, the bottle is a lot larger than the ink from the other brands. I will definitely buy more when I run out, but I think this bottle will last a long time.

This ink was recommended to me by Lindsey Bugbee of thepostmansknock.com and I can see why! It has been a wonderful ink for me to learn with and works beautifully with my Nikko G nib and 32# laserjet paper. Although I live in Georgia, a pretty humid state, I have had to dilute it to avoid ink blobs, but that's perfectly fine because the bottle lasts longer! You will have to pour this ink into a dip pen-friendly bottle, but the pour spout makes it easy. I also love the woodsy smell of this ink. This is a great value for a wonderful ink! :)

Ink will dry with a sheen if not diluted.Takes a while to dry fully but becomes pretty much water proof once it does.Design of the nozzle is good for controlled pours and cleanliness. Have not had any leaks yet. I feel confident with this in my bag but still keep it in a ziplock.I wish I bought this before I got other black inks for brush work because I probably would’ve stopped here. Way better deal than other 1-2 oz bottles for equal quality.

This ink doesn't flow amazingly well with nibs, but flows amazingly well with a brush. It's creates a nice dense black line and covers fairly well. This ink is NOT water proof or water resistant as it contains no shellac. As a result, this ink cleans out of your brushes fairly easily.

The Yasutomo Ink was recommended to me for using in Suminagashi - a technique of floating ink on water to marble my handmade paper. I had tried grinding my own Sumi ink but getting the right consistency and color was proving too time consuming. Since I had a $5 Amazon coupon I decided to try it. Ordered this bottle on the 13th and it was in my hands on the 17th. It is perfect for my needs, a rich dark ink with a handy pouring spout. Absolutely thrilled with my initial efforts and looking forward to getting better with more practice.Appreciated the super quick processing of this order and the surprising quickness of delivery. Both seller and product get 5 stars from me!

I’m just starting out calligraphy so a lot of places recommended this brand for beginners. I really do like it, I think it works very well. I have tried a few other inks, like Daiso(Sumi), Daler Rowney(India ink), and Dr. Ph Martin(India ink and iridescent calligraphy ink).I think Daiso is exactly like this except that one is cheaper than Yasutomo. I showed a comparison of just down/up strokes between the two and they were pretty much the same. I had to redip my pen just as much as the other. Also they look identical.I think India ink lasts a little bit longer and I don’t have to redip as much as Sumi.However, this product is nice and I would definitely get it again. It has a nozzle that makes it really easy to pour out into another container and seals back up without leaking.It’s only been about two weeks since I got it but I moved it to a different container then and it doesn’t have any signs of drying up around the edges at all, so that’s a plus.

This has become my go to ink for practice and finished products alike. Incredibly easy to use, I find myself needing to towel off my nib much less frequently during use. The end product has a nice, slight sheen to it and a slightly raised texture that says, "Hey, I wrote this myself, thank you very much." The bottle itself is also quite nice. I transfer it into a small screw top container for easier dipping, and the way this nozzle is, it seriously reduces risk of spillage. Although I haven't had it long, I suspect even with constant use, this will last me a long time.