An azo compound represented by the following formula (1): (wherein R<1> and R<2> each independently represents hydrogen, halogeno, cyano, carboxy, sulfo, sulfamoyl, N-alkylaminosulfonyl, N-phenylaminosulfonyl, etc.; R<3>, R<4>, R<5>, R<6>, R<7>, and R<8> each independently represents hydrogen, halogeno, hydroxy, cyano, carboxy, sulfo, sulfamoyl, N-alkylaminosulfonyl, N-phenylaminosulfonyl, etc.; and n is 0 or 1) or a salt of the compound. Also provided are an ink composition containing the compound or salt, recording method and colored object. The ink composition containing the azo compound has excellent long-term storage stability and gives a print excellent in light resistance and ozone resistance.