An ink composition comprising: a compound represented by the following formula; an ingredient; and one or more moisture-retentive agents, wherein the content of the compound represented by the formula is from 0.1 mass % to lower than 7.0 mass %, the content of moisture-retentive agents having 3 or more hydroxyl groups is 10.0 mass % or lower, the molar ratio of the moisture-retentive agents having 3 or more hydroxyl groups to the compound represented by the formula is lower than 30.0: wherein each of Ar 1 and Ar 2 independently represents an aromatic cyclic hydrocarbyl group, a nonaromatic cyclic hydrocarbyl group, an aromatic heterocyclic group or a nonaromatic heterocyclic group; each of A 1 and A 2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Y represents -OM or -NR 1 R 2; M represents a hydrogen atom or a metal ion; and each of R 1 and R 2 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, wherein the ingredient is at least one compound selected from C.I. Direct Yellow 59, C.I. Direct Yellow 86, C.I. Direct Yellow 132, C.I. Direct Yellow 173, C.I. Acid Yellow 23 and compounds represented by the following formulae to: wherein each M in the formulae to represents a hydrogen atom or a metal ion; R in the formula represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and M'- in the formula represents a halogen ion, an inorganic anion or an organic anion. a compound represented by the following formula; an ingredient; and one or more moisture-retentive agents, wherein the content of the compound represented by the formula is from 0.1 mass % to lower than 7.0 mass %, the content of moisture-retentive agents having 3 or more hydroxyl groups is 10.0 mass % or lower, the molar ratio of the moisture-retentive agents having 3 or more hydroxyl groups to the compound represented by the formula is lower than 30.0: wherein each of Ar 1 and Ar 2 independently represents an aromatic cyclic hydrocarbyl group, a nonaromatic cyclic hydrocarbyl group, an aromatic heterocyclic group or a nonaromatic heterocyclic group; each of A 1 and A 2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Y represents -OM or -NR 1 R 2; M represents a hydrogen atom or a metal ion; and each of R 1 and R 2 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, wherein the ingredient is at least one compound selected from C.I. Direct Yellow 59, C.I. Direct Yellow 86, C.I. Direct Yellow 132, C.I. Direct Yellow 173, C.I. Acid Yellow 23 and compounds represented by the following formulae to: wherein each M in the formulae to represents a hydrogen atom or a metal ion; R in the formula represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and M'- in the formula represents a halogen ion, an inorganic anion or an organic anion. wherein each of Ar 1 and Ar 2 independently represents an aromatic cyclic hydrocarbyl group, a nonaromatic cyclic hydrocarbyl group, an aromatic heterocyclic group or a nonaromatic heterocyclic group; each of A 1 and A 2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Y represents -OM or -NR 1 R 2; M represents a hydrogen atom or a metal ion; and each of R 1 and R 2 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, wherein the ingredient is at least one compound selected from C.I. Direct Yellow 59, C.I. Direct Yellow 86, C.I. Direct Yellow 132, C.I. Direct Yellow 173, C.I. Acid Yellow 23 and compounds represented by the following formulae to: wherein each M in the formulae to represents a hydrogen atom or a metal ion; R in the formula represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and M'- in the formula represents a halogen ion, an inorganic anion or an organic anion.