What kind of swamp is “ink swamp”?
Do you know the meaning of the word “○○ swamp” that you often hear recently?
A “swamp” is a state in which you are immersed in the genres, contents, people, works, characters, etc. It was originally known as an otaku term, but recently it has come to be used on TV and other places as well.
One of the most talked about genres among such swamps is the “ink swamp”.
In this article, we will introduce the charm of “Ink Swamp” and the basic knowledge for beginners. For those who are addicted to the swamp and those who want to get addicted to it, please enjoy the deep world of the ink swamp.
Meaning of ink in “Ink Swamp”
[From Munyu (@munyu66)’s Instagram post]
The “ink” in Inknuma means “fountain pen ink”.
People who are addicted to fountain pen ink and can’t get out of it, and the community of such people, are called Ink Swamp. In Inknuma, it is not uncommon for a person to have a collection of tens to hundreds of fountain pen inks by himself, and there are also experts who participate in various events and go to local stationery stores to purchase limited edition inks. .
Thanks to the stationery boom and retro boom in recent years, the number of “#ink swamp” Instagram posts has exceeded 134,000. It can be said that the swamp is so well-known that it is featured on TV and in the media.
[From Instagram post by takapi (@pen.takapi.pen)]
When you think of fountain pen ink, you may have a classical and intimidating image, but that is not the case. If you look at Instagram posts, you can see how everyone enjoys writing short letters with their favorite ink and fountain pen, making original cards with calligraphy, and drawing pictures with ink and brushes.
[From Instagram post by takapi (@pen.takapi.pen)]
Ink Swamp is steadily increasing its residents, partly because it is a genre that is surprisingly easy to start.
Bottomless when addicted?The charm of fountain pen ink
An ink swamp that is said to be bottomless if you get addicted to it. Why are people living in swamps so obsessed with fountain pen ink?
So here are the six main attractions of the Ink Swamp that the author, who is not an ink swamp resident, but who gazes at the swamp with envy, researched.
Anyway, there are plenty of variations that look stylish and beautiful
1 Anyway, it looks stylish and beautiful
[From M stationery (@m.bunbougu)’s Instagram post]
The packaging of the fountain pen ink is stylish and beautiful, and it has a presence that makes you mesmerized just by looking at it.
Containers are roughly divided into two types, the cartridge type and the bottle type, and the cartridge type is more convenient to carry.
The bottle type that you see on social media is overwhelmingly the bottle type, and there are quite a few people who fall in love with the shape and label design at first sight and end up buying the bottle instead of buying the jacket. There are even items that exude a sense of luxury like perfume bottles, and the design makes you want to collect them.
Fountain pen fans may find it offensive, but the beauty of the ink bottle is reason enough to draw people into the ink swamp.
2 Abundant variations
[From M stationery (@m.bunbougu)’s Instagram post]
The abundance of variations is also a big attraction of fountain pen ink. Even if you say “black” or “blue” in one bite, each manufacturer sells a wide variety of colors of ink, so you can enjoy it according to your taste, mood, and occasion.
In addition to the standard colors, there are seasonal colors, local limited colors, store limited colors, event venue limited colors, etc., so the desire to collect is endless. Furthermore, if you use ink that can be mixed, you can even create your own original color.
It is no exaggeration to say that the color variations (=color variations) of fountain pen ink are infinite.
Another thing that makes fountain pen ink interesting is that even though they are similar, there are differences in the type and performance of the ink. Anyway, the lineup is abundant, and it may be the reason why you don’t get tired of it.
3 Naming that tickles the otaku heart
[From M stationery (@m.bunbougu)’s Instagram post]
Fountain pen ink color names are often unique, and are a treasure trove of naming that tickles the otaku heart.
< iroshizuku-color drop series｜PILOT>
Kirisame, sui-gyoku, fuyu-syogun, etc.
Rokko Alpine Japanese primrose, Hoshino Ijinkan Red, Seishin Cobalt Sky, etc.
Scented violets, Shigure, Yukiakari, etc.
Shitoshito・Zaazaa・Haraharara・Potsupotsu
Tanzanite, sapphire, onyx, etc.
Melon from the faucet, Lemon squash from the faucet, Munyu from the faucet, etc.
Tokimeki Cream Soda, Nostalgic Napolitan, Night Cafe Deep Blue, etc.
*
Here are just a few examples, but don’t you think that words like the title of a novel or the key item of a movie are flying around…?
It seems that delusions will expand just by holding it!
4 Enjoy the marriage of ink, fountain pen and paper
One of the reasons why the ink swamp is getting deeper and wider is probably the existence of fountain pens and paper.
Even though there are a huge number of types of ink, it is said that the color, writing feel, and how the ink spreads change depending on the combination with the fountain pen (pen) and paper.
[From Munyu (@munyu66)’s Instagram post]
The ink used in this Instagram post looks like a different color, but it’s actually the same
It’s amazing how different paper colors can make a difference…
It seems like it would be fun to explore how I could write if I combined this and this, and the joy of discovering the best combination for myself would be even greater.
5 Has an analogue emo
A fountain pen is a writing instrument that takes more time and effort than a typical ballpoint pen or water-based pen. In order to use a fountain pen, the ink must be inhaled, and it is necessary to clean and maintain the fountain pen about once every two to three months.
If the ink is not used for a while, it may harden in the pen core. As for the ink, if you make a mistake in the storage method (basically store it in a cool and dark place!), it may grow moldy or deteriorate and change color.
You can’t even use it as a writing utensil unless you do “handwork” or “handwriting” yourself. Still, fountain pens and fountain pen ink are loved by many modern people.
The reason why fountain pens are popular among the digital generation is probably because they have an emo feel to them that are analog.
There may be a longing for retro that is similar to Taisho Roman and Showa Kayo, and the comfort of choosing and using analog things, and a bit of a sense of superiority.
6 In fact, there are also cheap ones
Don’t you have a very expensive image when it comes to fountain pens and fountain pen inks? In fact, fountain pens are quite expensive, and you can get one for just a few hundred yen.
Of course, there are fine ones that cost tens of thousands of yen, and if you’re looking for a famous brand’s luxury item, it’s from hundreds of thousands of yen to several million yen.
Most bottled inks are around 50ml and cost between 1,000 and 3,000 yen. There are many reasonably priced products, such as
The special edition bottled ink sold by Montblanc, a brand with a high-class image, is a little expensive at 4,950 yen for 50ml, but it seems that limited editions can be sold for tens of thousands of yen at online auctions.
Although the price range is as wide as that of a fountain pen, the price range is not out of reach.
Beginners start here!Basics and how to enjoy Ink Swamp
From here, we will introduce the basic knowledge of Ink Swamp and how to enjoy it in a Q&A format. Beginners who want to set foot in the swamp from now on, please refer to it.
Q. Does bottle ink have an expiration date?
A. It is said that the shelf life of fountain pen bottle ink is two to three years.
However, this is only a guideline and may vary depending on the manufacturer and personal usage. Even if you store it in the correct way, the water will gradually evaporate due to long-term storage, and it may cause ink clogging (boiled down).
Q. What is the difference between dye ink, pigment ink, and classical ink (gallic ink)?
A. Characteristics such as water resistance and maintainability are different.
Dye ink is the most common, and it is recommended for beginners because it has a wide lineup and is easy to handle. The main characteristics of each ink are as follows.
type
feature
dye ink
〇 Color development is good and the lineup is abundant
〇 Easy to dissolve in water and relatively easy to maintain
× Easy to bleed and fade with light
pigment ink
〇 Resistant to water and hard to bleed
〇Lightfast and suitable for long-term storage
× Since it is difficult to dissolve in water, if it dries out and becomes clogged, in the worst case repair is required.
classical ink (gallic ink)
〇 Resistant to water and hard to bleed
〇Lightfast and suitable for long-term storage
〇 You can enjoy the color change due to oxidation even after writing
× Depending on the iron content and the material of the nib, it may corrode.
Q. What is “ink flow”?
A. It is the amount of ink that flows from the pen tip to the paper when writing on paper.
Ink flow has a great effect on the quality of writing and the finish of letters. If the ink flow is weak, the colors will be pale and the characters will be blurred, but if the ink flow is too strong, it will bleed.
However, it cannot be said that the ink flow is good just because the ink comes out when you write slowly. It is said that “good ink flow” is the state in which the characters do not fade even if you write quickly and the appropriate amount of ink flows regardless of the writing speed.
Q. How should I choose the combination of fountain pen and fountain pen ink?
A. It is basic to use genuine products released by the same manufacturer.
The ingredients and blending amounts of fountain pen ink are adjusted for each manufacturer. In general, it is said that in order to develop inks that will give the best performance to the company’s fountain pens, it is said that there is no mistake if you combine the same manufacturer if you are in doubt.
Other than manufacturers, it is often said to use a combination of fountain pens and inks from the same country of origin. The reason for this is that characters, writing cultures, climates, etc. differ from country to country, so if you are from the same country, the specifications will generally correspond to that.
It seems that there are various theories about this because it is not clear, but if you are worried about the combination, you may want to try it.
Q. Do you have affordable products that are popular with fountain pen beginners?
A. If you’re a casual type,
Which fountain pen would you recommend for a beginner? It is the pilot
Lamy’s
If you like stylish designs, we recommend Pilot’s
By the way, fountain pen beginners often recommend the 1,000 to 5,000 yen pens sold by major stationery manufacturers.
Fountain pens are often said to last a lifetime, as the name suggests, “a fountain pen that can be used for a long time*”. However, depending on how you care for it and the environment in which it is used, problems may occur within a few years.
[From Instagram post by takapi (@pen.takapi.pen)]
In addition to fountain pens, glass pens that can be easily used as dip pens are also popular.
*”Mannen” is said to mean “for a long time”, but there is also a theory that it means “always”.
Q. What do you mean by “to Tamiya”?
A. To share fountain pen ink by transferring it to a bottle or the like.
“Tamiya” in “Tamiya Suru” is that “Tamiya” famous for mini 4WD and plastic models.
The reason why it leads to the sharing of fountain pen ink is that Tamiya’s “Spare Bottle Mini (square bottle)” is a product that is perfect for transferring and storing ink.
Commonly known as Tamiya’s square bottle, the capacity is 10 ml and the cap has an inner stopper with high sealing power. Originally made for storing paint that has been toned for coloring, it is ideal for long-term storage of ink. It is small and just the right size for sharing, and the risk of liquid leakage is low even if it falls over, and the square shape makes it easy to store.
Tamiya’s Kakubin is a savior for Inkuma people who have a problem that they can’t use up a large bottle of ink (but still want to collect new ink).
It is a convenient item that allows you to steadily increase your collection by exchanging the ink you have with each Tamiya bottle, and to draw acquaintances who have not yet entered the swamp.
Q. Are there any popular Ink Swamp goods?
A. Empty pens, skinny retainers, ink cards, empty ink bottles, etc.
An empty pen is an empty pen that does not contain ink. When stationery maker Kuretake released a limited edition of its predecessor at Stationery Women’s Expo 2019, it spread on social media and was officially commercialized. After that, it sold like hot cakes and became a hot topic for winning numerous awards.
It’s easy to use, just put ink* into the cotton wick (or cartridge). It is an irresistible and fun specification for ink lovers who can make original color pens with original ink.
The Empty Ink Bottle 10ml, which appeared from Sailor Fountain Pen in 2021, is a dedicated bottle that can be used to share and carry Sailor Fountain Pen ink. It comes with a special label that allows you to write down the contents, making it easy to manage, and it is also sold in lots.
Compared to Tamiya’s Kakubin, the price is higher, but the structure that specializes in the use of fountain pen ink and the high-class appearance will be the winner!
*Kuretake recommends using the ink created in “ink-café My Color Ink Making” and “ink-café My Color Ink Making at Home”.
The world of the deep ink swamp
The world of the ink swamp that the more you investigate, the deeper it becomes. Prepare yourself for a lifelong hobby, and why not step into it?
Sentence/Yoshiko Kuroiwa
Editing/inox.
