An ultraviolet-curable ink composition for ink jet is for use in an ink jet recording method that includes irradiating the ultraviolet-curable ink composition for ink jet applied to a substrate with ultraviolet radiation that has a peak wavelength in the range of 380 to 405 nm from a semiconductor light source to obtain a cured coating. The product of the light transmissivity (%) of the cured coating at a wavelength of 395 nm and the irradiation energy of the ultraviolet radiation (mJ/cm2) is 2.0 or more. The ink composition contains a thioxanthone-based photopolymerization initiator and at least one of yellow coloring material and black coloring material. The OD of the cured coating made from the ink composition is 1.8 or more.