Efnir: Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Kai

September 15, 2020

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-kai

This is review #42 in my series. Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: Cleaning: Perfectly normal, just some flushes with water.

And here is a screen of the final result, for those not interested in the video:

Scan of Completed Review:

Zoomed in photo:

Absorbent Paper Closeup (puzzle paper like thick newsprint):

Screenshots also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap

Previous Review: Pilot Iroshizuku Kiri-same.

Want to influence the inky sequence? Take the "next ink" poll.

Hope you enjoy. Comments appreciated!

September 15, 2020

Tippety-tap!

You know what I'm gonna say: have it, like it, thanks for the review! 👌🏻

September 15, 2020

Tippety-tap!

You know what I'm gonna say: have it, like it, thanks for the review!

You're welcome! Surely eventually we'll get to an ink you don't have.

September 15, 2020

Great review - and a great colour! Very nice blue-black. What I like about these postings of yours is that I often go like "Wow... nice colour. time to move that bottle to the top of the stash, and fill a pen with it". So many new inks keep coming in to grab my attention, that I often ignore the great ones that are already in my ink cabinet. It's good to be reminded that all my inky children deserve my attention ;-)

Edited September 15, 2020 by namrehsnoom

September 15, 2020

Thanks for the nice review.

You mentioned that you dont particularly like the color. Is the lack of enthusiasm specifically for this ink, or does it apply to blue-blacks in general? If specific to this ink, what is it about the color you dont like, and among the inks you compared it to, which one comes closest?

September 15, 2020

Great review - and a great colour! Very nice blue-black. What I like about these postings of yours is that I often go like "Wow... nice colour. time to move that bottle to the top of the stash, and fill a pen with it". So many new inks keep coming in to grab my attention, that I often ignore the great ones that are already in my ink cabinet. It's good to be reminded that all my inky children deserve my attention ;-)

Thank you! And yes, I feel the same way. There are so many new inks that I think I should try, but then I think, "I've already got more ink that I can use in a lifetime! I should just enjoy what I've got."

Glad to inspire some love for your poor lonely inks.

September 15, 2020

Thanks for the nice review.

You mentioned that you dont particularly like the color. Is the lack of enthusiasm specifically for this ink, or does it apply to blue-blacks in general? If specific to this ink, what is it about the color you dont like, and among the inks you compared it to, which one comes closest?

You're welcome! I love blue blacks! This one is just too blue and too ordinary for me - except in my webbie, where I liked it more and more each time I wrote. I'll probably use up the rest of the sample in journal entries, just for that reason (though not right away, since I've got lots more reviews to do and journaling is my primary ink testing method). Even on the Rhodia premium staple-bound pads¹, which have a different paper color, I don't find the ink so appealing.

¹(the back reads "La Gamme - The Selection" - 90gsm, "Ivory High Grade Vellum Paper" - which is more cream than the webbie and not what I would call Ivory)

As for which ink is the closest - so far, I'd have to say the De Atramentis Sherlock Holmes. De Atramentis Indigo Blue (wasn't in the video - near twin of Sherlock) is pretty close, followed by Lamy Blue-Black. There are a couple new inks I haven't tried yet, but I don't think they'll be any closer.

I do think this ink is more interesting in a larger nib where the shading is more obvious.

September 15, 2020

I like Shin-kai, but I actually prefer Edelstein Tanzanite, which is a similar color. But it's good to know that Shin-kai does well in an EF nib.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

September 15, 2020

Great review Liz! I understand why did the dog leave....if I were the fox, I would follow him to better inky pastures

September 15, 2020

I like Shin-kai, but I actually prefer Edelstein Tanzanite, which is a similar color. But it's good to know that Shin-kai does well in an EF nib.
Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Maybe next time I get samples I'll get a Tanzanite sample for review purposes. I expect all the Pilot inks will work well in EF nibs - though how they look is good to know.

Great review Liz! I understand why did the dog leave....if I were the fox, I would follow him to better inky pastures

Thanks! Sure, it's boring getting jumped over day after day, but who knew the dog would give up some of its laziness to go do something else. Maybe I should give Mr. Fox and Mr. Dog names and then a plot might emerge...

September 16, 2020

I like Shin-kai, but I actually prefer Edelstein Tanzanite, which is a similar color. But it's good to know that Shin-kai does well in an EF nib.
Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I'm with you Ruth... I keep going back and forth between these two inks and am leaning Tanzanite myself. I am also exercising appropriate restraint until I run out of Aionibi and Bleu Nuit.

September 16, 2020

I'm with you Ruth... I keep going back and forth between these two inks and am leaning Tanzanite myself. I am also exercising appropriate restraint until I run out of Aionibi and Bleu Nuit.

Hooray for samples!

September 16, 2020

Shin-kai has been my go to ink for a while now and I love it plus I like the way color changes on paper abid in few seconds. My only gripe has been water resistance or lack of it (all iros to be fair) but its nice ink. A dry side (compared to rest iroshizuku is what I feel) which works with EF nibs.

Great review for the the ink, thanks for sharing.

September 16, 2020

Shin-kai has been my go to ink for a while now and I love it plus I like the way color changes on paper abid in few seconds. My only gripe has been water resistance or lack of it (all iros to be fair) but its nice ink. A dry side (compared to rest iroshizuku is what I feel) which works with EF nibs.

Great review for the the ink, thanks for sharing.

Thanks! Yes, the color change as it dries is one of its best features - I really liked watching that in my webbie.

March 6, 2022

Here's the line width measurement. The line is one of those used for dry time. Magnification is 100x. The grid is 100x100µm. The scale is 330µm, with eleven divisions of 30µm each. The line width for this ink is roughly 260µm.