Tsutsuji - 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

Tsutsuji was named after azalea flowers:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/2014-05-17_10_24_50_Pink-purple-flowered_and_red-flowered_Azaleas_in_front_of_an_old_house_on_Spruce_Street_%28Mercer_County_Route_613%29_in_Ewing%2C_New_Jersey.JPG/1024px-2014-05-17_10_24_50_Pink-purple-flowered_and_red-flowered_Azaleas_in_front_of_an_old_house_on_Spruce_Street_%28Mercer_County_Route_613%29_in_Ewing%2C_New_Jersey.JPG

It's waterproof to some extent.

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9906/LVDob8.jpg

It contains a lot of pink.

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/1813/Hso4y9.jpg

To be honest I wouldn't use it however I didn't have to recover after writing the review. It's joyful and intense. Too sweet to my taste, though.

Ink splash

http://imageshack.com/a/img903/3470/lE9KKx.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/4928/JelHoi.jpg

Software ID

http://imageshack.com/a/img633/5909/DXQCwX.jpg

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

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/4820/py19yH.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/9600/PA0MjH.jpg

Kalendarz, Kaweco Classic Sport

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/7807/IqOxei.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/5690/nkwwxi.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img905/5048/YAPZVg.jpg

[lgsoltek]

Not my colour. Nice sheen though.

[fountainpenlady]

Great review, thank you.

Love this one equal to Momiji. Beautiful color for me to use beside reds. Actually, both are still my wonderful conduits to expanding my horizon to other hues and brands. Too bad my Alba does not like it due to wetness. Otherwise, considered a perfect union between perfect pen and ink. Guess there really is no perfection. Philosophy teacher said that many years ago.

Now I believe

Edited March 13, 2015 by fountainpenlady

[ScienceChick]

Nice review; a much-beloved color for me.

[mehandiratta]

i love this... color... really looks wonderful ... it just looks amazing in my TWSBI ECO

[stonezebra]

Love this color! Now that I have a mini-bottle of it it will stay in my rotation.

[VivienR]

Lovely ink! Thanks for the review.