Dip Pen Review: Bung Box Lunar New Year Set

March 3, 2016

Through Massdrop, Bung Box released a twin set of inks in celebration of Lunar New Year. I decided to do a low-tech review (mainly because I am laid-low by the flu.)

The colors in the set are Kotohogi Kuremai and Hatsuyume Aofiji, a very pink red and a sky blue. The arrived yesterday. They arrived in traditional Sailor style bottles and boxes, including the plastic interior retaining cup. Although some folks might be unhappy with this, I prefer this to the traditional Bung Box bottles. I have a cat. I always fear for my carpets when inking up because Mr. P must be wherever I happen to be looking.

Kotohogi Kuremai

The Kotohogi Kuremai was darker than I expected, given the doodle on Massdrop. I had expected it to be more eye-searing, like their 3rd Anniversary Sakura. There is a slight sheen, almost a silvery gold. But it is very subtle and hard to see. The ink handled well, was wet and highly saturated. I was surprised it dried so quickly with 30% humidity here today.

Hatsuyume Aofiji

I really liked this blue. I had expected it to be as light as the Fujiyama blue, but it was very middle of the road blue. Wet I could see the crimson sheen. It is incredibly beautiful! I am happy I got the set if only for this blue! It is a very wet ink, highly saturated, wonderful lubrication. In my mind it aces the three "Ss" Shading, Saturation and Sheen that I associated with Bung Box and Sailor inks.

Look at this shading!!!

When I feel better I will add reviews in a fountain pen and properly scan them.

Edited March 3, 2016 by webgeckos

March 4, 2016

The sky blue is stunning! How does it compare with more familiar sky blues, such as Kon peki or Souten?
I also bid you to get well soon!

March 4, 2016

I have a bottle of Souten, but I have never opened it. All my inkiness has been centered around Orange lately. If you have them PM me and I will send you a sample so you can compare for us? (I don't have Kon Peki.) I have some BB blues, and MBs Twilight Hour. I had 4B but I couldn't actually see the blue in it (a defect with some dark colors I have in one eye.) I ended up giving it away to someone that loves 4B.

March 19, 2016

I just received the inks, and am trying them out. Thank you for your generosity in sending me these inks!
In my pen (a very wet one), Kotohogi Kuremai looks orange to my eyes, and really is quite eyeball-searing. It's surprisingly saturated considering how transparent it looked in the tube, and doesn't shade much (It's just a block of orangey-reddish color). In splashes, it sheens a subtle gold that is quite beautiful.

Hatsuyume Aofiji is quite light - lighter than your review insinuates (And I'm running this through a c.1918 crescent filler with a flex nib, so it's quite a wet affair, even if it isn't dip-pen wet). It's an amazing shader, though, and I've always been looking for a sky blue that doesn't lean turquoise, and had an ink like this in mind. I only saw the sheen in splashes, but I could look closer. I'll say I like it, but I hope I can find more of these similar blues.