Sailor’s “Ink Kobo” becomes “INK STUDIO”: 50 colors in all, with 10 new shades
Sailor’s bottled ink line “Ink Kobo” has been renewed under the name “INK STUDIO.” It went on sale on June 27, 2026. The lineup has 50 colors in total: 40 carried over from the former Ink Kobo, plus 10 new shades.
The way the 40 colors were chosen is interesting. Based on the results of the “Ink Kobo Sōsenkyo” (general election) held in January 2026, the selection was narrowed down while checking color harmony and color balance across the range. Of the 100 colors in the old line, 60 were not carried over and will only be sold on order through Sailor’s official online shop, “Sailor Shop.” It is sad news for anyone who lost a favorite color, but the approach of reflecting fan votes feels sincere.
The new colors have the numbers 321, 232, 271, 336, 467, 574, 674, 778, 862, and 968. The product is a water-based dye ink, 20 ml, with a suggested retail price of 1,760 yen (1,600 yen before tax).
What caught my attention most is the packaging. It uses paper that absorbs ink well and shows color clearly, so you can draw or paint on the package itself with the ink inside. The idea of painting the bottle illustration on top with the actual ink, so you can tell the colors apart even while the bottles sit on a shelf, is lovely. The color numbers are also printed large on the front of both the bottle and the box, which should make them easy to find for anyone who uses many colors.
Sailor says it wants the brand to be aware not only of the domestic market but also of the global market and the art scene where ink is used for creative work. I can feel ink increasingly being seen as a tool for drawing, not just for writing. If one of the new numbers catches your eye, I would like to look at the real thing slowly when I see it in person.
Source: PR TIMES (Sailor Pen Co., Ltd.)
The way the 40 colors were chosen is interesting. Based on the results of the “Ink Kobo Sōsenkyo” (general election) held in January 2026, the selection was narrowed down while checking color harmony and color balance across the range. Of the 100 colors in the old line, 60 were not carried over and will only be sold on order through Sailor’s official online shop, “Sailor Shop.” It is sad news for anyone who lost a favorite color, but the approach of reflecting fan votes feels sincere.
The new colors have the numbers 321, 232, 271, 336, 467, 574, 674, 778, 862, and 968. The product is a water-based dye ink, 20 ml, with a suggested retail price of 1,760 yen (1,600 yen before tax).
What caught my attention most is the packaging. It uses paper that absorbs ink well and shows color clearly, so you can draw or paint on the package itself with the ink inside. The idea of painting the bottle illustration on top with the actual ink, so you can tell the colors apart even while the bottles sit on a shelf, is lovely. The color numbers are also printed large on the front of both the bottle and the box, which should make them easy to find for anyone who uses many colors.
Sailor says it wants the brand to be aware not only of the domestic market but also of the global market and the art scene where ink is used for creative work. I can feel ink increasingly being seen as a tool for drawing, not just for writing. If one of the new numbers catches your eye, I would like to look at the real thing slowly when I see it in person.
Source: PR TIMES (Sailor Pen Co., Ltd.)
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