Murasaki-Shikibu - 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
    

Murasaki shikibu is named after is inspired by and named after beautyberries.

http://imageshack.us/a/img708/5559/u3gy.jpg

http:fineartamerica.comfeaturedbeauty-berry-clusters-gregory-scott.html

There was also lady Shikibu as a possible inspiration.

http://imageshack.us/a/img833/123/nrih.jpg

Źródło: http:wkdhaikutopics.blogspot.com200806murasaki-color.html

Waterproofness:

http://imageshack.com/a/img901/9289/Cucdai.jpg

Ink Splash

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/7798/OQhhtu.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/693/Y3WrCR.jpg

Oxford Recycled ( 90g), Kaweco Classic Sport, eyedropper, stalówka B

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/4930/Qg2emx.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/5641/Rqeoxa.jpg

Cheap notebook, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/6722/Gk9jjk.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/8870/DZhRIn.jpg

Edited April 15, 2015 by visvamitra

[lgsoltek]

It's actually quite nice.

[ENewton]

I have had two pens filled with this ink for several months--a Waterman fine point and a 1.1 stub--and write with each pen every day. The ink flows beautifully, looks nice on a wide range of papers, and flushes out easily.

[fountainpenlady]

What a beautiful color!! I purchased the 15ml bottles of the Iroshizuku inks months ago. I do not even know why I purchased this particular one in the selections. I just filled my pen with it this morning. It is such a vibrant color and now I see this review. Unbelievably coincidental and quite a delight! Now, let me return to the lucky pen which is now filled with this ink.

[jasonchickerson]

Great review, as usual. This color really doesn't do it for me, though.

[rafapa]

Could you please add the color codes?

I am creating a PDF with your codes to have a quick reference.

Thanks in advance,

Rafael

[visvamitra]

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/1033/NEcTDb.jpg

[Algester]

actually Murasaki will always be attributed to the color purple in Japan IIRC there's a traditional color name called murasaki-iro

[Tessy Moon]

Thank you for another great review!

 

I love how you always display the color in so many ways! It really gives the reader a sense of the color of the ink in person. I really appreciate all of your effort you put into every review!!

 

I do like this ink. I don't own a bottle of it yet, but maybe one of these days....I just have so many purple inks already, I should use some of them up before purchasing another one, lol.

[ENewton]

Does anyone else find that this ink changes color in the pen over time? For me, it always starts pinker and gets bluer over time. Fortunately, I enjoy all the variations.

[Tessy Moon]

Does anyone else find that this ink changes color in the pen over time? For me, it always starts pinker and gets bluer over time. Fortunately, I enjoy all the variations.

 

Does that particular pen have a tendency to dry out? Perhaps that could be causing the ink to appear darker and more saturated?

[ENewton]

 

Does that particular pen have a tendency to dry out? Perhaps that could be causing the ink to appear darker and more saturated?

Maybe. I have had the pen for nearly twenty years and never noticed a tendency for it to dry out, but maybe it would dry out if I did not write with it frequently.

[Tessy Moon]

Maybe. I have had the pen for nearly twenty years and never noticed a tendency for it to dry out, but maybe it would dry out if I did not write with it frequently.

 

Hmmm...well I am out of ideas! Maybe someone else has experienced a similar effect with this ink can shed light on the peculiar changes...

[Nyanzilla]

To me it looks very similar to the Pelikan Edelstein Sapphire. Would be nice to see a direct comparison.

[Frank C]

Thanks for posting this. I like the iroshizuku inks in general.

[bad_girl_bex]

I've been umming and ahhing over this one for a while now. I saw a sample of it online, thought I liked it, but then saw another one which made the ink look as though it had more of a pink hue to it. I prefer a blue or grey purple personally so wouldn't be interested in this one if it was too pink. Looking at this review here (as well as the great little computer colour check thing that someone else has done) I'm thinking that it does look to be more of a blue-ish shade. I'm a wee bit confused. I live in the IOM where there are no vendors of this ink, so I will have to buy it online. I just don't want to spend that much money on an ink I won't use. Maybe I'll put in for another ink sample selection from Goulet Pens sometime soon and try this one out for myself. I doubt I'll ever get a true indication of what the shade really is until I see it with my own eyes, having written with it myself.

[visvamitra]

For me it's the most boring ink in Iro lineup, but it's just me. I would say it's in the same flat comaprtment as J. Herbin's Violette Pensee unless you use OBB nibs

 

You may take a look at this comparison, there's quite a few purples, violets and magentas to see.

[Pira]

For me it's the most boring ink in Iro lineup, but it's just me. I would say it's in the same flat comaprtment as J. Herbin's Violette Pensee unless you use OBB nibs

 

You may take a look at this comparison, there's quite a few purples, violets and magentas to see.

 

 

I agree. I have a bottle of both and quite frankly, while lovely they are hardly inspiring shades. I though it was just me! Great review as always

 

 

Iroshizuku ~ murasaki shikibu by Pira Urosevic, on Flickr

[AndyYNWA]

Birthday present from my wife!

 

[Aquaria]

I'm one of those scary purple freaks. I will buy things simply because they are purple, even if I don't need them. f you give me a choice of things in a color, I will always--always--pick the purple shade.

 

I'm very particular about the shades of purple that I like, though. I like the cooler tones, with lots of blue or even gray or black, rather than purples with heavy tones of red, pink or (egads) gold tones to them. Think lavender vs. lilac. Lilac looks sickening to me. Lavender looks much better, for a pastel, although I wouldn't use that for a fountain pen ink. Too pale.

 

Since Murasaki-Shikibu is a true purple with plenty of blue in it, I love, love, love it! It's a little on the delicate side, but then it' supposed to be delicate. It's named after a very refined lady, after all, who happens to be my all-time favorite author.

 

This and Waterman Tender Purple are pretty much my go-to purple inks. Of course I have other purple inks, probably too many (can.not.resist! ) but these two are my special favorites. I love them to death, but this one edges out the Waterman just by a hair. It feels slightly wetter, and glides across the page a little better, so I find myself using it more than I probably should, given its price point compared to the Waterman.