Stone Road Of Gion - Kyo-Iro

[visvamitra]

To be honest I don't know much about the company. Some time ago Algester posted topic about Tag Kyoto branch inks. The bottles and colors presented on their site looked nice so I've decided to try some of these inks. I've managed to buy two on Rakuten and I'll review them. The inks are made by or for Takeda Jimuki company and are available in two lines: Kyo No Oto and Kyo-Iro. Kyo no Oto inks are said to be traditional japanese colors that has been used since heian era (roughly 1000 years ago),and expressing a tinges that have been nurtured in long history and profound culture for long time.

Anyway second of the inks I've ordered is Stone Road of Gion. The packaging and bottle are elegant and very nice.

Gion is the name of japanese city. The color of the ink is subtle brown I enjoy quite a lot. The ink is well behaved (no bleedthrough, no feathering), saturation is average (depending on the nib) and flow good.

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Tomoe River, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Invoice from Rakuten, Pilot Custom Heritage 92, M

Water resistance

Mini - comparison

[Tas]

I missed Algester's original post but will certainly look at it now. The two you've chosen look really promising.

 

I like this one in a "Cacao de Brazil" kind of way . . .

[Cyber6]

Tad light for my taste... Still a nice hue thou...

 

 

 

Thanks VIS!!!

 

 

 

C.

[visvamitra]

Well, I find this one enjoyable. Of their ten inks I know about, I'm interested in two more: Moonlight of Higashiyama and Aonibi. Yamabukiiro may be interesting as well. Maybe in some time I'll try to get them.

[DrDebG]

Great review! I really like this ink! It reminds me of what we Nevadans call "bug dust". It is aptly named. I will have to figure out a way to get some of these.

[majolo]

I love the name, the packaging, and the hue, but it would probably be too light for me, alas. Thanks for the review!

[dapprman]

It's an interesting colour. What was the cost like ? compared to say Pilot Iroshizuku or Sailor Jentil inks ?

 

BTW Gion is not a city, it's the area of Kyoto associated with Geikos and Meikos (Geishas and aprpentice Geisha)

[visvamitra]

It was 1400 JPY so around 13 $ / bottle.

[ENewton]

I ordered it through Rakuten, and although the ink itself cost only about $13, the shipping cost nearly as much.

 

Unfortunately, my Japanese isn't good enough to permit a study of the shop's shipping rate schedule, so I don't know whether I could have bought multiple bottles for the same shipping cost.

[Sakura FP Gallery]

I have both the Kyo-iro and Kyo No Oto Inks in my shop. I have no idea how it is to import in the US but it is crazy in Europe to buy just a few bottles from Japan.

Customers are surprized by the feel of the ink especially the Soft snow of O'Hara. It is very "silky" and depending on the paper is may appear more blue or more purple.

[cellardoor04]

Well, I find this one enjoyable. Of their ten inks I know about, I'm interested in two more: Moonlight of Higashiyama and Aonibi. Yamabukiiro may be interesting as well. Maybe in some time I'll try to get them.

 

I bought all those you mentioned, including Stone Road and Kokeiro. I love the feel of these inks, they flow very nicely and are super well-behaved. The colours are interesting too, not super saturated but still shade and have a nostalgic look about them. Great inks IMO!

[visvamitra]

Yes, I think they're more than decent. These inks are subtler than Sailor's but they have certain oldschool charm.

[25_15_3]

Thanks for the review. I was already thinking of picking a bottle up, but I wanted someone else to review it beforehand. It looks quite nice on creme paper, so I think I'd use it for journaling rather than notes.

[ENewton]

 

Customers are surprized by the feel of the ink especially the Soft snow of O'Hara. It is very "silky" and depending on the paper is may appear more blue or more purple.

 

yes

[lgsoltek]

I just ordered 5 of them. Now you all make me want to order Soft Snow of O'Hara too!

[visvamitra]

Now I'm jealous On the other hand we'll see excellent reviews of these inks

[Cyber6]

I am not totally convinced by these inks... They are very pretty, but the colors are nothing new to me... I feel like I have seen them or have them on my other brands.

[Tinjapan]

Well, I find this one enjoyable. Of their ten inks I know about, I'm interested in two more: Moonlight of Higashiyama and Aonibi. Yamabukiiro may be interesting as well. Maybe in some time I'll try to get them.

Aonibi is great! A great color. The red of the Kyo no Oto, I think as it is a traditional color, is a great vermilion. Those are the two I have from this maker.

 

As the OP reports, I too find these very well behaved.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Tinjapan

[visvamitra]

@Tinjapan - good to know

[namrehsnoom]

Nice one - I like the faded look of it.