Shachihata Iromoyo Ink Pad: 34 Colors, Mini Warabe
Iromoyo is Shachihata's ink pad for stamp art: oil-based pigment ink that the maker says dries in about 3 seconds on copy paper, a superfine-fiber pad that inks fine detail evenly, and 34 traditional Japanese colors. The standard pad has a 63 × 40 mm face; the Iromoyo Warabe mini has a 25 × 25 mm face.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Shachihata Iromoyo ink pad, Beni-iro red (HAC-1-R)
- Brand
- Shachihata
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Japan*
- Material
- Oil-based pigment ink on a superfine-fiber pad cloth, in a plastic case with a separate lid
- Released
- February 2020*
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per stamp or ink pad
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by Shachihata Inc. (Nagoya). Made in Japan: Circle Tape, a Hong Kong retailer, lists both the Iromoyo and the Iromoyo Warabe as made in Japan. Shachihata's catalog pages list sizes, weights, JAN codes and prices but not the country of manufacture. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Shachihata's catalog gives February 4, 2020 for the launch colors, October 1, 2021 for five added colors and November 7, 2022 for the Warabe mini; a PR TIMES release dates five more colors to February 20, 2024.
- How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- Shachihata's catalog lists the standard Iromoyo at 80 × 58.8 × 20.3 mm and 46 g with a 63 × 40 mm pad face, and the Warabe mini at 34.6 × 34.6 × 20 mm and 12 g with a 25 × 25 mm face.
- Shachihata launched Iromoyo on February 4, 2020 in 24 colors, added 5 in October 2021 and 5 more in February 2024; its catalog lists 34 colors for the standard and Warabe pads.
- Shachihata gives a drying time of about 3 seconds on PPC copy paper and warns that the ink doesn't suit non-absorbent surfaces or coated and art papers.
- Shachihata's suggested prices are ¥800 (about US$5.10) plus tax for the standard pad and ¥550 (about US$3.50) for the Warabe; refill ink is ¥450 (about US$2.80).
- Both pads stack, and Shachihata says the pad doesn't dry out quickly even with the lid off.
What is the Shachihata Iromoyo ink pad?
It’s Shachihata’s ink pad for stamp art, with oil-based pigment ink in traditional Japanese colors. The name means “color patterns”, and the line is sold in Japan as Iromoyo under Shachihata’s Shachi-iro brand.
Shachihata, the Nagoya maker best known for self-inking name stamps, says the ink comes from its own nanotechnology. Its 2024 release pitches the pads at people who carve eraser stamps or collect rubber stamps.
Iromoyo specs
| Spec | Iromoyo | Iromoyo Warabe (mini) |
|---|---|---|
| Model | HAC-1 (red: HAC-1-R) | HAC-S1 (red: HAC-S1-R) |
| Case size | 80 × 58.8 × 20.3 mm (3.1 × 2.3 × 0.8 in) | 34.6 × 34.6 × 20 mm (1.4 × 1.4 × 0.8 in) |
| Pad face | 63 × 40 mm (2.5 × 1.6 in) | 25 × 25 mm (1 × 1 in) |
| Weight | 46 g | 12 g |
| Ink | Oil-based pigment | Oil-based pigment |
| Drying time | About 3 seconds on PPC paper | About 3 seconds on PPC paper |
| Colors | 34 | 34 |
| Launched | February 4, 2020 | November 7, 2022 |
| Price in Japan | ¥800 (about US$5.10) plus tax | ¥550 (about US$3.50) plus tax |
All figures are from Shachihata’s Japanese catalog, read October 29, 2026. Shachihata’s main site was down for maintenance that day, but its catalog site loaded.
How fast does Iromoyo ink dry?
About 3 seconds on PPC copy paper, Shachihata says. That speed is the point of the line: you can stamp one color over another without smearing, which is how stamp artists build layered prints.
Shachihata also says the superfine-fiber pad cloth puts the right amount of ink on a stamp with a light press, so fine lines and large solid areas both print evenly. We haven’t timed it ourselves yet.
What colors does Iromoyo come in?
34, all named after traditional Japanese colors. Shachihata launched 24 in 2020, added five on October 1, 2021, and five muted colors on February 20, 2024, per its catalog and its 2024 release.
| Added | Colors (Japanese names, romanized) |
|---|---|
| 2020 launch (24) | Beni, Botan, Yamabuki, Kuchiba, Matsuba, Tokiwa, Asagi, Ruri, Shobu, Kuri, Ginnezu, Sumi, Sango, Momo, Toki, Himawari, Moegi, Wakatake, Mizu, Tsuyukusa, Hanada, Fuji, Suna, Hiwada |
| October 2021 (5) | Konjo, Tokusa, Akane, Kobai, Mikan |
| February 2024 (5) | Kohaku, Ukon, Kikujin, Masuhana, Ama |
Yoseka sells them under English names such as Red, Navy Blue, Tangerine and Amber, with the Japanese name beside each. Its listings for both sizes showed the same 34 colors on October 29, 2026.
Iromoyo or Iromoyo Warabe?
Pick the standard pad for stamps wider than 25 mm, and the Warabe for small stamps or spot coloring. Yoseka says the 25 mm mini makes it easier to ink a small or exact area of a stamp, and Shachihata calls Warabe the mini size of the same pad.
On October 29, 2026, Yoseka Stationery listed the standard Iromoyo at US$9.00 and the Warabe at US$5.00. A sister line, Iromoyo Kousai, adds a faintly glossy ink in ten colors.
How does Iromoyo compare to other ink pads?
It dries much faster than the popular water-based pigment pads, and unlike StazOn it is made for paper only. Tsukineko lists 10–15 minutes of air-drying for Brilliance, against Shachihata’s 3 seconds for Iromoyo.
| Pad | Ink | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Shachihata Iromoyo | Oil-based pigment, about 3 s dry (maker) | Layered stamp art on paper |
| VersaMagic | Water-based pigment, chalky finish | Matte prints, dark card |
| Tsukineko Brilliance | Water-based pigment, pearlescent | Shimmer on dark card |
| StazOn | Solvent | Glass, metal, plastic, leather |
For dated planner pages, Shachihata’s connecting calendar stamp has no built-in ink and pairs with any pad, including an Iromoyo.
How do you clean and store Iromoyo pads?
Wipe the stamp with a tissue dampened with water, and stack the pads. Shachihata says ink on the stamp face comes off that way, which makes color changes quick.
The lids lift off rather than hinge, and Yoseka notes the bases are shaped to stack. Shachihata adds that the pad doesn’t dry out easily even with the lid off, so you can leave several open while you work.
Where is Iromoyo made?
In Japan, per Circle Tape, a Hong Kong retailer. Shachihata’s catalog doesn’t state the country of manufacture, so we’re relying on the retailer for this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iromoyo ink waterproof once dry?
Shachihata doesn't say. Yoseka calls it waterproof and Circle Tape lists it as water-resistant and light-resistant; we haven't tested it, so try a sample before using watercolor over a stamp.
Can you use Iromoyo on eraser stamps?
Yes. Shachihata's 2024 release recommends it for art made with eraser stamps and rubber stamps, and says ink on the stamp wipes off with a tissue dampened with water.
Does Iromoyo work on glossy paper?
No. Shachihata's catalog warns that it doesn't suit non-absorbent surfaces or papers that absorb poorly, such as art and coated papers.
Can you refill an Iromoyo pad?
Yes. Shachihata sells a refill ink for each color, the Iromoyo series exclusive ink, at ¥450 (about US$2.80) plus tax; its 2020 launch article gave 20 ml per bottle.
How many colors does Iromoyo come in?
34 in Shachihata's catalog on October 29, 2026: 24 from the 2020 launch, 5 added in 2021 and 5 muted colors added in 2024. The Warabe mini comes in the same 34.
What is Iromoyo Kousai?
A sister line Shachihata added in 2023 with a faintly shimmering, glossy ink. Its catalog lists ten Kousai Warabe colors at ¥650 (about US$4.10) plus tax.
Is the Iromoyo mini worth it over the full pad?
For small stamps and spot coloring, yes: Yoseka says the 25 mm mini lets you ink a small area of a stamp, and it costs less. For stamps wider than 25 mm, the 63 × 40 mm pad covers them in one press.
Sources
- Shachihata (Japanese catalog): Iromoyo Beni-iro (HAC-1-R, JAN 4974052660436, ¥800 plus tax, launched February 4, 2020, 80 × 58.8 × 20.3 mm, 46 g, pad face 63 × 40 mm, refillable, 3-second drying, not for coated paper; 34 colors listed; read October 29, 2026)
- Shachihata (Japanese catalog): Iromoyo Konjo-iro (HAC-1-DB, launched October 1, 2021)
- Shachihata (Japanese catalog): Iromoyo Warabe Beni-iro (HAC-S1-R, JAN 4974052670336, ¥550 plus tax, launched November 7, 2022, 34.6 × 34.6 × 20 mm, 12 g, pad face 25 × 25 mm)
- Shachihata (Japanese catalog): Iromoyo series exclusive ink, Kohaku-iro (SAC-8-AB/H, ¥450 plus tax)
- Shachihata (Japanese catalog): search results for Iromoyo (34 Warabe colors, 10 Kousai Warabe colors at ¥650 plus tax)
- PR TIMES via ReseMom: Shachihata, five new muted Iromoyo colors on sale February 20, 2024 (Kohaku, Ukon, Kikujin, Masuhana, Ama; Warabe added 2022, Kousai 2023)
- Impress Watch: Shachihata launches the Iromoyo stamp pad on February 4, 2020 (24 colors, ¥650, 63 × 40 mm, 20 ml refill ink at ¥400; January 29, 2020)
- Yoseka Stationery: Shachihata Oil-Based Ink Pad, Iromoyo, Traditional Japanese Colors (US$9.00, 34 color options, 2.5 × 1.5 in pad; read October 29, 2026)
- Yoseka Stationery: Shachihata Oil-Based Ink Pad, Iromoyo Warabe, Mini (US$5.00, 34 color options, 25 × 25 mm pad; read October 29, 2026)
- Circle Tape: Shachihata Iromoyo Ink Pad, 63 × 40 mm (acid-free, water-resistant, light-resistant, made in Japan)