Kobe #56 Rokko Shichidanka

[LobsterRoll]

Ink Review:
Kobe #56 Rokko Shichidanka

Overall Impressions:
I guess I'd describe this as a pale bluish lavender? I think it's supposed to be reminiscent of blue hydrangeas. It's a pretty color. Has some shading.

 

Flow: The ink is somewhat wet flowing but not really lubricated. In 3 out of the 4 pens I put this in, I had no trouble, but had occasional issues with a Nemosine Neutrino 1.1 stub. It seemed like the pen couldn't keep up with the ink flow on some papers.
Shading: Yes, in a watery looking way. I think it needs the right pen and paper or careful writing, otherwise it can look distracting.
Sheen: None seen.
Water Resistance: Low, but leaves a faint outline.
Nib Creep: None seen.
Staining: I put this in a clear acrylic eyedroppered pen and there was no staining.
Ease of Cleaning: Seemed easy to clean.

Tomoe River Paper:
Dry Time: around 20-30 sec
Water Resistance: The blue part seems to wash away easily, the purple/pink parts leave a faint outline.


EF


0.6:


1.1


Back


Apica Paper:

EF


0.6


1.1
(Some flow problems with this pen.)


Back


Stalogy Paper:

EF


0.6


1.1


Back


Kokuyo Campus High Grade Paper:

EF


0.6


1.1
(Slight flow issues with the pen)


Back


Notebook Paper:
Staples composition book, paper made in Brazil. My current notebook has inconsistent paper that can show feathering and bleedthrough.
Sometimes lots of feathering with the 1.1 nib (perhaps because of hand oils). A few spots of feathering with the 0.6 nib. No feathering with EF. A spot where the ink bled through with 1.1 nib. Not much showthrough.

EF


0.6


1.1

 

Back

 

Comparison with some other Kobe inks:


Inspired by Nick Stewart:
This was my fourth attempt and it's about 1-1/4" (3 cm) big

Edited January 9, 2020 by LobsterRoll

[taimdala]

Oooh! Lovely review, LobsterRoll! Thank you so much for sharing it!

[DrDebG]

Great review! Thank you for taking the time to do this. I love the color.

[Intensity]

The pair of Hydrangea inks (#56 and #57) were very interesting to me. I eventually picked up #57 Hime Ajisai, which is to date my favorite purple-ish ink with blue-violet-pink separation and an almost fluorescent glow quality. Even has reasonable water resistance with clear pink line. But alas very prone to fading when not in a closed notebook.

[LobsterRoll]

The pair of Hydrangea inks (#56 and #57) were very interesting to me. I eventually picked up #57 Hime Ajisai, which is to date my favorite purple-ish ink with blue-violet-pink separation and an almost fluorescent glow quality. Even has reasonable water resistance with clear pink line. But alas very prone to fading when not in a closed notebook.

I opted not to try #57 because I thought it'd be too bright for me to actually use, but I've seen some reviews of it and the color separation you mention looks so complex and lovely. The fluorescent glow quality also sounds very interesting.

[Intensity]

It's quite beautiful, and if you have a vintage pen with a simple ebonite feed to use it with, the line is dark enough. Alternatively with a flexy pen. I used it successfully with pens like FPR Himalaya with ebonite feed. The color variation and separation is more visible with flex and broad nibs, and of course with watercolor brushes. The fluorescent appearance is noticeable.

Edited January 11, 2020 by Intensity

[LobsterRoll]

This is a struggle, because I like how it feels to write with EF and F nibs, but I'm so tempted by colors like that, which are better appreciated in broad nibs. Maybe I need to consider getting a flexy pen! Also, it'd be fun to compare #56 and #57.

[Intensity]

You could try an FPR Himalaya with EF Ultraflex nib. Itll write quite finely and will put down a lot of ink. It can write easily without much flex for normal fine-line cursive too, with a light hand.

[LobsterRoll]

You could try an FPR Himalaya with EF Ultraflex nib. Itll write quite finely and will put down a lot of ink. It can write easily without much flex for normal fine-line cursive too, with a light hand.

Thank you for the suggestion! I had looked at that pen/nib before but wasn't sure if I wanted to try flex yet, but your description makes it sound like a good place to start.