Sailor Kobe # 53 Kitano Pearl Silver

[visvamitra]

http://imageshack.com/a/img903/6787/QslPHK.jpg

Kobe (神戸市 Kōbe-shi) is the sixth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture. It is located on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, on the north shore of Osaka Bayand about 30 km (19 mi) west of Osaka. With a population around 1.5 million, the city is part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kyoto. Its name comes from "kanbe" (神戸), an archaic title for supporters of the city's Ikuta Shrine. Kobe became one of Japan's 17 designated cities in 1956.

Kobe is famous for its shirines and nioce architecture but among fountain pen and ink afficionados the name Kobe cause increased heart-rate. The city is a home of Nagasawa-Kobe stationery shop that offers incredible lione of more than fifty inks made by Sailor.

http://imageshack.com/a/img908/7578/dtzhVS.jpg

https://kobe-nagasawa.co.jp/

At the moment Nagasawa-Kobe offers 54 inks:

• Rokko Green
• Pier Blue
• Old Foreigner Ward Sepia
• Kitano Foreigners Residence Red
• East Asia Black
• Kobe Bordeaux
• Kaikyo Blue
• Arima Amber
• Suma Purple
• Mikage Grey
• Ikuta Orange
• Okamoto Pink
• Nunobiki Emerald
• Maya Lapis
• Maiko Green
• Nada Brown
• Shioya Blue
• Sannomiya Panse
• Minatogawa Lime
• Motomachi Rouge
• Taisanji Yellow
• Shinkaichi Gold
• Nagata Blue
• Nakayamate Black
• Tarumi Apricot
• Wadamisaki Blue
• Kounan Maroon
• Suzuran Green
• Suma Kaihin Blue
• Ooji Cherry
• Kaigan Stone Grey
• Tamon Purple Grey
• Rikyuu Moon Yellow
• Sourakuen Tea Green
• Suwayama Leaf Green
• Sakaemachi Indigo
• Minatojima Island Blue
• Kitanozaka Night Blue
• Kobe Brick
• Sumiyoshi Brown
• Suma Rikyu Rose
• Rokko Island Sky
• Gakuen Toshi Fresh Green
• Sumaura Seaside Blue
• Hashibuse Silhouette Green
• Nagisa Museum Grey
• Aoya Cascade Green
• Suidousuji Marchais Blue
• Kitano Olive Green
• Kyo-machi Legend Blue
• Kano-cho Midnight
• Shioya Vintage Sepia
• Kitano Pearl Silver
• Goshikiyama Ochre

Some time ago I was send samples of two new Nagasawa-kobe colors. Kitano Pearl Silver has subtle and beautifuel silver shade. On the other hand it's not rteally practical ink - you can use it in broad / wet nibs on absorbent paper and enjoy the color. Howeve on Rhodia and alikes the effect isn't stunning. The ink has moderate flow, average lubrication compared to other Sailor inks and is fully water resistant.

Here's the comparison of 52 Nagasawa-kobe inks.

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Tomoe River, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Leuchturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

CIAK, Caran d'Ache Varius, B

Hero 5028, stub 1,9

Oxford, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

No-name notebook, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Hero 5028, stub 1,9

Comparison

Edited March 8, 2016 by visvamitra

[DrDebG]

What a great review! I really like the color, but it is almost too light to be of use for writing with anything other than an wet, broad nib.

[gylyf]

Awesome review, as always, but I don't find this color particularly exciting...

[abstract49]

Great review, as you always do!

 

Also, this is what I look for in grey. I want my blacks to be BLACK, but sometimes I want my writing to look like pencil; then, I look for a grey, such as this.

 

Thanks again for an informative review.

[haruka337]

Oh, the banality!

 

Not for me.

[visvamitra]

I must confess I enjoy this ink - I write with it now on absorbent paper. It looks really nice I guess though that De Atramentis Silbergrau is as good and much cheaper and easier to get.

[Rach31]

I love grey ink (DA Silver Grey is always in a pen), but they make a Mouse Grey that looks similar to this ink. The Mouse Grey is lighter and would look similar.

[Cyber6]

I do like grey inks.. but this is a tad light to be useful to me. Great Review as always VIS !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

C.

[seanruss]

awful color, nice review though

[visvamitra]

Thank you.

[migo984]

Thanks for your review Vis.

 

This ink is very popular & sells well in Japan, which of course is Nagasawa Kobe's target market.

[visvamitra]

That's a surprise

[migo984]

That's a surprise

That it's selling well?

 

I mention target market as it seems often forgotten on FPN that these inks aren't created with overseas consumers in mind.

[visvamitra]

yes - i think it's amazing how much tastes in inks and colors can differ between europe , America and Asia. Personally I like the way this ink looks on absorbent papers but I would never venture it's one of bestsellers

[lgsoltek]

You can't imagine. Many Chinese young girls just love these kind of unsaturated pastel colours. Also they are crazy for the light green turquoise colours like JH Diabolo menthe and Vert reseda. Can you imagine the most popular Bung Box ink here being the June Bride one? Absolute horror!

[visvamitra]

Aaaaaaaaaargh.

 

May God have mercy upon their troubled souls...Although it may be too late.

 

I thought it was the color that sold one bottle a year, and even this one only because of pity.

[mmg122]

I have this one but it's pretty impractical for extensive writing because it is so pale. I think Diamine Graphite remains my favorite grey ink...although I'm not really that enamored with it due to its lean to green. Still looking for my go to grey.

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks, as always for the review. This is one I can pass on, because it's so light (I had a similar problem with J Herbin Gris Nuage, and this one looks as if it might be even lighter on the page). So, while it's pretty, I don't think I'd have a lot of use for it. (My favorite grey ink is De Atramentis Tchaikowsky/Silver Grey -- which is darker than you'd expect while still evoking "silver". It makes me think of silverpoint drawings. Where with this ink, well, I think of fog....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited February 11, 2017 by inkstainedruth

[amberleadavis]

Great review.

[ca49reber]

Too light. One of the few Kobes I'll not be buying. Thank you for the review. It confirmed my decision not to buy it.