A water-based black ink composition which exhibits a low intensity, colorless and neutral black color and provides a black recorded image the printed image of which has high density. The ink composition includes at least one compound represented by formula (1) or a salt thereof and an azo compound having λmax within the range of 550-660 nm. In the formula (1), R1 to R8 independently represent a hydrogen atom; a halogen atom; a sulfo group; a carboxy group; a sulfamoyl group; a carbamoyl group; a C1-C4 alykyl group; a C1-C4 alkoxy group; and a C1-C4 alkoxy group substituted with at least one group selected from a group consisting of a hydroxy group, a C1-C4 alkoxy group, a hydroxy C1-C4 alkoxy group, a sulfo group and a carboxy group. X represents a bivalent cross-linking group.