Irojiten — from the Japanese iro (colour) and jiten (dictionary or encyclopedia) — is exactly what the name suggests: a curated collection of colours drawn from nature, selected to work together, gradiate beautifully, and cover a range that feels complete without being overwhelming. The 36-colour set is an accessible entry point into the Irojiten range, containing 28 colours from the original 90-colour dictionary series alongside eight colours found nowhere else in the Irojiten lineup. The colours were personally selected by a Japanese artist and span the full spectrum — from soft pastels and warm neutrals to deep earth tones and vivid naturalistic hues — with a particular strength in greens, blues, and botanical tones.
The pencils themselves are wax-based with a medium-hard core that delivers precise, consistent lines and sharpens cleanly without crumbling. The leads are glued throughout the wood casing for break resistance, and the centred core ensures even sharpening from start to finish. The creamy white barrel finish is capped at one end with a colour-matched dip, making identification immediate without swatching. The set comes in a book-format clamshell box with an elastic band closure — a reference to the encyclopedia concept the line is built around — and includes a small sharpener and a colour guide with drawing tips.
Anemone Pink (EX-6), Bamboo (D-14), Cactus Green (D-17), Campanula Blue (LG-9), Celeste Blue (P-18), Cherry Red (V-1), Coral Pink (P-2), Cork (LG-2), Crimson (D-1), Dandelion (V-3), Deep Sea (EX-4), Elm Green (D-6), Fawn (LG-1), Hydrangea Blue (DL-8), Indigo (D-20), Iris Violet (V-9), Ivory Black (V-10), Lapis Lazuli (V-8), Lilac (P-9), Maroon (D-12), Midnight Blue (D-8), Mulberry (D-9), Narcissus (P-4), Scarlet (EX-1), Scouring Rush (EX-3), Sepia (EX-9), Silver Gray (EX-10), Spruce (D-18), Tangerine Orange (V-2), Taupe (D-10), Verdigris (DL-5), Wild Grape (EX-5), Yolk Yellow (EX-2) — plus three additional colours exclusive to this set.
Features
- 36 wax-based coloured pencils selected to work together in gradations and layered colour
- Includes 28 colours from the original Irojiten dictionary series plus eight exclusive to this set
- Medium-hard core — precise lines, smooth blending, clean layering
- Lead glued throughout the wood casing for break resistance
- Centred core for consistent sharpening and durability
- Creamy white barrel with colour-matched end dip for easy identification
- Suitable for illustration, lettering, urban sketching, journaling, and mandalas
- Book-format clamshell box with elastic band closure
- Includes one small sharpener and one colour guide with drawing tips
- Pre-sharpened
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