Sailor Manyo Ink Bottle (Kuzu - 50 ML) 13-2009-207

Sailor Manyo Ink Bottle (Kuzu - 50 ML) 13-2009-207

Product Overview & Heritage

Kuzu is one of the inaugural colors in Sailor’s Manyo series — part of the “Manyo Ink” family launched in November 2019.  The Manyo line draws its inspiration from Many?sh? (“Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”), an ancient Japanese anthology of poetry, whose verses frequently invoke flowers and nature.  Each Manyo ink is named after a plant or flower from those poems; “Kuzu” refers to the Japanese creeper / wild vine. 

Sailor’s official site categorizes Kuzu among the “First edition” Manyo inks, alongside names like HAH A, YOMOGI, SUMIRE, etc.  The Manyo line is dye?based (water?based dye inks), meant for regular fountain pen use. 

Color, Character & Visual Behavior

Kuzu is often described as a deep burgundy / wine?red shade — leaning toward purple in many ink swabs.  In Mountain of Ink’s review, Kuzu shows:

• Medium shading — visible tonal gradients in writing and swabs

• Medium green sheen in heavily saturated or pooled areas

• No shimmer (glitter / metallic particles) 

On Tomoe River (swabs) the ink can shift more toward purple, but also exhibits greenish sheens in dense areas.  In writing tests, Kuzu dried in ~15 seconds on good paper, had low feathering, low bleed, and medium show?through.  On cheaper copy paper, more feathering and bleed appeared with larger / wetter nibs. 

Papeterie Makkura’s description highlights the greenish sheen and “interesting shading,” calling Kuzu “a burgundy hue inspired by the Japanese creeper … with beautiful nuances.” 

Technical Specifications & Product Details

Use Cases, Appeal & Handling Notes

• Expressive Writing / Art
  Kuzu is ideal for users who appreciate color depth with personality: the burgundy base + sheen + shading give it more life than flat reds. In broader or wetter nibs, the visual interest (sheen, tonal transitions) becomes more noticeable.

• Paper Quality Matters
  To bring out sheen and tonal shifts, pair Kuzu with high-quality, low-absorbency paper (e.g. Tomoe River, Rhodia). On everyday paper, the color may appear more uniform and less vibrant.

• Dry Time / Performance
  On fountain?friendly paper, it dries relatively quickly (≈ 15 sec) in standard conditions. Use caution with very fine nibs or very absorbent paper to avoid smearing.

• Ink Saturation & Flow
  Because it is a dye ink, it is relatively easy to flush / clean. However, some users note that Manyo inks tend toward being on the drier side. Reddit+1 If a pen seems dry with Kuzu, one trick is to add a drop of dilute pen flush or a small amount of a flow additive (with caution).

• Avoid Mixing with Other Lines
  Stick to using Kuzu within the Sailor Manyo / Sailor ink ecosystem to avoid incompatibility.

• Storage & Usage
  Store upright, cap tightly to prevent evaporation. Shake lightly before filling to ensure uniform distribution (especially if settled).

• Legacy & Thematic Appeal
  Kuzu carries a poetic backing in its name and series — part of Sailor’s homage to Many?sh?, blending writing, nature, and aesthetic tradition. This lends it appeal not only as a utility ink but as a collectible / expressive piece.