An ink jet recording ink (IJ ink) containing a colorant of a pigment
and/or dye enveloped in a polymer, and water, and containing at least one
compound from the group of acetylene glycol surfactants and acetylene
alcohol surfactants, and another compound from the group of glycol ethers
and 1,2-alkylene glycols; an IJ ink set including a plurality of the
inks; a recording method of using the ink and/or the ink set; recorded
matter printed according to the recording method; and an ink jet
recording apparatus having an electrostrictive unit mounted thereon and
designed so as to be capable of ejecting the ink.