Yama-Guri - Pilot Iroshizuku

[visvamitra]

In December 2007 Pilot's created exclusive line of inks called Iroshizuku. I believe they may well be the most well known fountain pen inks in pen world. These inks are supposed to work in any pen with any nib on any paper and in any situation. I haven't tried all of them but so far the Iroshizuku inks I've tried were behaving flawlessly.

The colors were created by Kiyomi Hasegawa who after fifteen years of working in a stationary shop and communicating with Clients come to conclusion that not all fountain pen users are willing to write in black and blue. Wise woman.

The bottles are stunning although they have their issues: if the ink is left unused for some time the cap tends to stick and break when you try to twist it open. It happened to my bottle of Shin-Ryoku.

Anyway Iroshizuku line of inks counts 24 "standard" colors. Three inks were made some time ago for Tokyo stores: Edo-Murasaki, Fukagawa-Nezu and Shimbashi-Iro.After seeing the scans over blogosphere I wish these three were accesible, because they look interesting. Edo - Murasaki looks cool while Murasaki - Shikibu is of no interest to me. Even though I kind of like Fuyu-Syogun I find Fukagawa-Nezu more compelling.

Nothing indicates Pilot plans on extending the official line any time soon (if ever) so let's take a look at what's possible to obtain from dealers and online shops.

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/1595/lYAayJ.jpg

I don't have all of the inks but sooner or later I'll try to check them all. With time I'll review all of them (hopefully).

1. Ajisai
2. Ama-Iro
3. Asa-Gao
4. Chiku-Rin
5. Fuyu-Gaki
6. Fuyu-Syogun
7. Ina-Ho
8. Kiri-Same
9. Kon-Peki
10. Kosumosu
11. Ku-Jaku
12. Momiji
13. Murasaki-Shikibu
14. Shin-Kai
15. Shin-Ryoku
16. Syo-Ro
17. Take-Sumi
18. Tsuki-Yo
19. Tsukushi
20. Tsutsuji
21. Tsuyu-Kusa
22. Yama-Budo
23. Yama-Guri
24. Yu-Yake

Yama-Guri is nice earthy brown. It's name means wild chestnut but to be honest I can't see chestnut in this color. However I like the color a lot.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Chestnuts02.jpg/220px-Chestnuts02.jpg

Waterproofness

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/484/QSbiMb.jpg

Chromatography :

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/6334/uyWOJ7.jpg

Ink Splash

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/7010/plC2XA.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

http://imageshack.com/a/img913/3474/da6VVp.jpg

Software ID

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/2383/gOD7zm.jpg

Oxford Recycled ( 90g), Kaweco Classic Sport używany jako zakraplacz, stalówka B

http://imageshack.com/a/img912/7466/2xwQAS.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img911/2962/iakLgC.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img912/3484/Qyx9lN.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/2408/o8y7ax.jpg

Calendar

http://imageshack.com/a/img903/3093/9jnWVl.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/9317/Wrr251.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img909/3149/UBFyx0.jpg

Poljet 80

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/7554/jFcnrE.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/6125/bxzFN9.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/2361/pdJnXo.jpg

Edited February 26, 2015 by visvamitra

[jasonchickerson]

Nicely done. This is an exceptional ink. It will be too wet for some pens, though. Luckily, I found one that loves the increased flow.

[musicman123]

Nice color! BTW, what solvent and paper do you use for the chromatography tests? What's your method?

[jasonchickerson]

  On 2/26/2015 at 10:45 PM, musicman123 said:

Nice color! BTW, what solvent and paper do you use for the chromatography tests? What's your method?

 

Tap water and coffee filter paperworks fine.

[visvamitra]

Tap water and kitchen towel

[musicman123]

  On 2/27/2015 at 8:27 AM, visvamitra said:

Tap water and kitchen towel

Oh coolio! Will try it out next time!

[Pelikan_FP]

I'm really liking this color. It will be one of the next bottles of ink I'll purchase.

[ehemem]

Have it. Love it.

[annettefhorn]

Maybe it's my vision, or maybe I need to clean my pens better, but when I write with this I always get a faint green cast that is unappealing to me. I don't see it on the scan.

[Barkingpig]

  On 3/2/2015 at 5:52 PM, annettefhorn said:

Maybe it's my vision, or maybe I need to clean my pens better, but when I write with this I always get a faint green cast that is unappealing to me. I don't see it on the scan.

I don't think it is your vision as I used this ink in a pen just last nite & after drying I see what you mean. There is a "hint" of green amidst the color. I do NOT dislike green in any form so it does not bother me. I like the complexity of the color in the same way I like Noodler's El Lawrence or Organic Studio's Walt Whitman.

[annettefhorn]

  On 3/2/2015 at 7:47 PM, Barkingpig said:

I don't think it is your vision as I used this ink in a pen just last nite & after drying I see what you mean. There is a "hint" of green amidst the color. I do NOT dislike green in any form so it does not bother me. I like the complexity of the color in the same way I like Noodler's El Lawrence or Organic Studio's Walt Whitman.

 

Thanks; that makes me feel better. I normally love green but for me the green in this ink just reads as muddy (not in a good way). Too bad because I love the way this looks in the scans and it is so hard to find dark browns that are cool. RIP Penman Mocha.

[rudyhou]

i do agree that it is a nice brown color. very formal in color tone and perfect for everyday business writing. however, i can't help but to want more of a golden brown hint to the color tone, as it is very dark.

[dragos.mocanu]

This looks a lot like R&K Sepia, lovely lovely hue.

[wastelanded]

A truly unique ink.

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review. This is one of my favorite inks, and close to my favorite in the the brown/sepia range. It leans more sepia than Iroshihzuku Tsukushi, but is also darker (Tsukushi is warmer a brown, but has a slight reddish undertone).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mmg122]

I'm also a big fan of this ink. YamaGuri and Diamine Chocolate Brown are my two favorites.

Thanks for another wonderful review.