Midori Traveler's Notebook Companion

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

- Berthold Auerbach

The Mission:

Photo - Eclectic Psyche

Well it was time for a new electric guitar and I wanted something with a hint of rustic character and some toughness that would make it reasonably travel tolerant like my Midori Traveller's Notebook.  I didn't want something glossy and decorated with fragile trimmings that have no affect on the sound quality.  I didn't want a "pretty" guitar.  I had some key criteria I wanted it to meet - it had to be rustic looking (like the Midori); handle a few knocks and blemishes (like the Midori); wear well and change colour over time (like the Midori); and thereby have some character, but it also had to be quality materials and well made (like the Midori) and of course, being a guitar, had to sound good and play well.

Quite a challenging set of criteria for an electric guitar, I thought, and an interesting exercise.  So the question arose - could I find a guitar travelling and writing companion for my Midori (or at least something with equal character)?  I was curious to see if I could find something that complimented the Midori minimalist travel theme; a rustic, no frills guitar with the rugged warmth of a time gone by.



The Search

Photo - Eclectic Psyche

I spent some time trudging around guitar stores only to find most of the guitars I saw didn't quite fit what I was looking for.  They were either glossy, fragile trimmed instruments that I would never take out of the house or they were just poor quality and poor sounding.  None seemed to reflect the Midori spirit I sought.  Then I happened across one store where I found a relatively new line of 2013 guitars by Gibson.  The Gibson LPJ to be precise.  It met all the criteria I had set to the point it almost felt tailor made for the Midori.  It was even constructed with the old traditional 1950's chunky neck profile that further reflected the nostalgic journeyman reminiscence that Midori embodies.  A wonderfully constructed instrument without all the ostentatious coverings...a rough diamond, a good match for my Midori and my needs.

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."

- Michelangelo

The Finding:

Photo - Eclectic Psyche

The deep rich satin brown (chocolate) colour of the Gibson LPJ made it an ideal match for my brown leather Midori.  Two worn and rustic travelling companions finally meeting up.   Together they felt as comfortable and inviting as an old, worn-in Chesterfield and its accompanying ottoman.   Best of all the Gibson LPJ is a great sounding guitar, with a low action and the chunky 50's style neck I like.  It feels comfortable, it feels like I've had it for years.  The 498T and 490R humbucker pickups produce that wonderful deep muddy sound that resonates through the air of a room, fuelling the creative writing mind and inspiring the imaginings of a new journey.  Overall, a match made in travel/writing heaven.




I'll no doubt make a few minor mods to the Gibson LPJ but overall I am quite pleased with it as it is.  And surprisingly, it is one of the most affordable Gibson electric guitars on the market.  If you're in the market for a new guitar, then check out the Gibson LPJ.  It truly is an enjoyable guitar to play and has that unique Les Paul sound.  What I also like is how the guitar changes colour/shading the more I handle it, just like the Midori leather does.  It was a very dull, flat colour when I got it but now it has deeper shading with a natural sheen.  Absolutely perfect for what I wanted.  If you love the Midori Traveler's Notebook and, like me, you need a new guitar then you really can't go past the LPJ.

Photo - Eclectic Psyche

Photo - Eclectic Psyche

Photo - Eclectic Psyche

Mission accomplished:

Photo - Eclectic Psyche

I now have a good addition to the Midori.  I have no doubt that it will weather the tough rigours of time and travel quite well.  Any blemish will just add to its character in much the same way as it does for the Midori.  After all time, travel, natural wear and misadventure are all life's badges that should be worn as proud memento's of a life well explored, experienced and enjoyed.  Inspire it.  Live it.

"If music be the food of love, play on."

- Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

The Future (crystal ball gazing):

Photo - Eclectic Psyche

Now I just need the good people at Midori to produce a Gibson/Midori Traveler's Guitar Notebook and then to send me one for free for conceiving the concept.  :)  Ah, I can dream can't I?!

Beyond that, I'll also be dreaming of a 12 string guitar with similar features and a new black Midori Traveler's Notebook.  In the meanwhile, I'm happy to see where these two companions take me.......

Noodler's New Konrad Flex Pen Colours

Nathan Tardif, founder and owner of Noodler's Ink, has been busy putting his creative and artistic talents to good use creating some new pen designs/colours again.  Nathan has released a new range of colours for his popular Konrad Flex Pen series.   Very eye catching colour combinations in the desirable Acrylic Acetate material used by many quality pen makers.  I'd love to get a hold of one of the Coral Sea pens to match my Noodler's Coral Sea ink but sadly, they probably won't be released in Australia.  Oh well,  such is the popularity of Nathan's designs back in the US (as well as elsewhere).

Image courtesy Goulet Pen Company

If you can get one of these pens, make sure you do; not only are they interesting colours but the Konrad pens are great pens to use.   And if the colours and pen design don't garner your interest then surely Nathan's exotic names alone make it worthwhile buying one.   Names such as Coral Sea, Appalachian Pearl, Emeralds of the Sun, Marbled Marianas, Ghostly Lapis, Olde Salem and Victory Garden (ah, love it).  Gotta love a pen with an intriguing name, sort of brings it to life.

For $40US, you can't ask for much more (if anything).   A great pen, brightly coloured, in a quality material with names you could put on a billionaires yacht (or race horse).  Shame I will just have to enjoy the videos rather than the real thing.

Brian from the Goulet Pen Company has posted a very informative video on the new Konrad flex pens and their bright new colours - check out his video below.  




And, no, I don't have any affiliation with Goulet Pens, Nathan or Noodler's or anyone else who may be connected to the manufacture or sale of pens.  To be honest I've never bought anything from Goulet Pens because the postage is often more expensive than the product (particularly for Noodler's products).  I just enjoy Noodler's pens and inks, when I can purchase them close to where I live.  They do occasionally pop up around here but not very often.


 Noodler's homepage at www.noodlersink.com

Coral Sea by Noodler's Ink

Coral Sea - Photo by Eclectic Psyche

Background

Noodler’s Coral Sea ink is an Australian exclusive edition blue-black ink.

I stumbled across it a little while ago while scrounging through a box of random inks at a local pen shop. I didn’t know the background to the ink at the time, only that I thought it looked a solid dark blue ink, which is what I needed, and the label looked interesting (as most Noodler’s do).

The image on the label is a scene from the Coral Sea battle in May of 1942. To be precise, a squadron of Douglas SBD Dauntlesses preparing to dive-bomb a vessel. A unique piece of Australian history right there on the ink-bottle - representing the exclusive nature of the ink. A most intriguing label theme, something I couldn’t resist.

Coral Sea - Photo by Eclectic Psyche

 
I was a little sceptical though about the quality of the ink as it was the only ink in the box that had more than one bottle remaining – there were three bottles of the Coral Sea ink. I wondered if it was because it was not considered to be good ink. However I still couldn’t resist the colour and the imagery on the label.

I bought one of the bottles of Coral Sea as well as two other inks from the box (Noodler’s Catalpa and Noodler's Upper Ganges). When I got home and tried the Coral Sea ink, I was pleased to find it was a far better ink than I had hoped. It had great colour, saturation, flow and just looked beautiful on paper. 

Noodler’s Coral Sea is described as a blue-black ink but on opening the bottle you soon find it is so much more than a simple blue-black. The ink has a heavy theme of green running through it as well as the blue-black. It is the colour of a tropical sea where the deep water offers just a hint of the sand below. Coral sea is an attractive ink that also projects a solid professional status, yet can be used in any situation – office documents, letter writing, journal entries, sketching, or for whatever other fountain pen needs you have.

A further bonus of this ink is that it is a Noodler’s bulletproof ink. In case you don't already know, bulletproof ink is water resistant ink that has been constructed with properties that also resist industrial solvents and bleaching agents. In other words, forgery proof ink that often also has eternal properties (last longer than the paper it is written on).

Coral Sea - Photo by Eclectic Psyche

 Quick comments on Coral Sea properties:

Feathering and Bleeding - On the Japanese Midori and Life paper that I tried Coral Sea on there was no feathering or bleeding.

Smoothness - It's a good smooth ink with a good flow rate of ink that adds to the pleasure of writing with it.

Shading - On the above papers with a pilot broad nib, I found it shaded quite well. Not excessive but enough to provide an interesting contrast.

Clogging - I haven't experienced any issues with clogging or blockages to the nibs of any pens I have used Coral Sea in (about 6 different pens now). There has been no issues whatsoever with the pens filled with Coral Sea, they all start writing first time. The ink behaves wonderfully from the first stroke of the pen.

Colour - The bottle refers to the colour as being a blue-black. However when you open the lid the colour looks more blue than black. Depending on the thickness of the pen nib and the pressure you apply to the writing the ink can vary in colour. It ranges from a solid blue, to a blue-black and even displays a hint of green in certain pens. As you can see from the single swab swipes below, the colour can appear quite blue. With more pressure or further swipes it ends up quite dark, a blue-black. The colour variations make the ink even more appealing. In a flex nib pen the shading variation is quite fun

Wetness - Quite simply, this is a wet ink. Not overly wet but its wet enough to make it enjoyable to write with. In a Noodler's Ahab flex pen, it flows smooth and wet enough to let the green shades show through the main blue-black colour.


Overall Opinion

The robust properties of the ink, the historical significance of the ink and its attractive colour made it a must have ink for me. Its a fascinating ink all round. I really can't emphasise enough how much I enjoy it; I use it on a daily basis at work and at home. Nathan has done a wonderful job creating a smooth flowing ink with bulletproof qualities in a very appealing and versatile colour. The only problem is it is a difficult ink to get a hold of and there is no indication of when Nathan may produce more (if he does).

Being worried Nathan may not continue to produce this ink, and knowing that my local pen shop had said it would be 18 months before they received a new shipment of Noodler's Ink, I returned to the store and bought the remaining 2 bottles of Coral Sea ink. Now I just hope that my small stockpile will last me 18 months and that Nathan will make a new supply of Coral Sea.

Overall, this is a well-behaved ink with a stunning colour that also offers all the benefits of a bulletproof (permanent) ink. I really like it and can't see any negatives with it. I hope Nathan continues to make this ink. It simply has to be included in my all time favourite ink list.

Coral Sea - Photo by Eclectic Psyche

I reckon even 007 would have given Coral Sea the thumbs up for Q to make it his secret agents fountain pen ink, or perhaps even as the colour of his next suit. Thumbs up, JB!





Artwork by Elliot D.

New Noodler's Ebonite Ripple Pens and More

Once again Nathan Tardif, founder and owner of Noodler's Ink, has released something intriguing.  Nathan has a new release of Ebonite Ripple Pens that look quite appealing.  I hope I can manage to get a hold of one of them to try out.  Not having a local supplier I have to rely on overseas purchasing for Noodler's Ink and Pens.  Damn I live in the wrong place.

Click on the following link to have a peak at the various colours the Ebonite Ripple Pens come in:
http://noodlersink.com/general/new-ebonites-from-noodlers/

Anyway, Nathan has released a video showing the new pens that also includes some unusual fountain pen nib options.  In particular he demonstrates the Boston Speedball Nibs being incorporated into Noodler's pens.  Very interesting indeed.

If you have time, check out the video Nathan has compiled.  You can view it below or visit Noodler's homepage at www.noodlersink.com




Video courtesy of Noodler's Ink. 

Midori Traveler's Notebook - Star Edition in Camel

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

CAMEL COLOUR!    Limited Edition.

The new camel coloured Midori Traveler’s Notebook seemed too interesting to pass up.

The camel colour 5th year edition notebook is a Midori Traveler's limited release only.  Luckily for me though, a very thoughtful stationery seller put one aside for me when their stock of the Midori Traveler’s Star Edition Notebooks first arrived in store.  (Not for free! They just reserved one for me as they knew I would want to purchase one.) 

What is it?

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The Star Edition is Midori’s passport size limited edition to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of the passport size Midori Traveler’s Notebook. The camel colour continues the theme set by the previous limited edition release for the full size Midori. The Star Edition is launched in collaboration with the "Star" Ferry Company, Limited in Hong Kong.  The Star Ferry runs between Kowloon and Hong Kong island at Victoria Harbour.  Its a traditionally classic ferry trip in Hong Kong that every traveller must experience at least once when visiting Hong Kong.  Since Hong Kong is one of my favourite destinations, I was intrigued with the Midori tribute to the Star Ferry (and HK). 

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The Midori Star Edition Notebook comes with one free ride coupon as a reminder to every traveller that the Star Ferry is an iconic part of Hong Kong.  The notebook refill also includes a number of maps and various history details of Hong Kong island as a unique memento. All in all, a limited edition with some unique features pertaining to the Star Ferry and Hong Kong. 

When I completed the purchase for the Midori Star edition, I also bought a few other stationery items that helped make the parcel more worthwhile, in a dollar sense.  

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

I requested the parcel be sent EMS and it was posted the very day I paid for it!  I received it in less than a week from the day I made payment.  You can’t ask for more than that - all the way from Japan.  Very professional and quick for an international service.

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The parcel consisting of the Midori Traveler's Notebook and numerous additional stationery items was extremely well package in a fully sealed and padded box.  All items inside the parcel were also bubble wrapped and carefully arranged to ensure maximum protection in transit.   In all my years of buying from overseas I’ve never received a parcel as well packaged as those from Japan.  Professional Japanese packaging is a work of art. 

Inside the package was also a small "thank you" gift - a Spotliner highlighter pen in dual colours.  A very thoughtful, useful and appreciated gesture.  

What's it like?

Anyway, so what is the new Midori Traveler’s Notebook like?  Well, the passport size Midori Star Edition comes in the usual Midori packaging – wrapped in a protective material bag and inside a sealed cardboard box   Once out of the packaging the camel colour is a pleasant surprise, it is far better in person than it appears in the online photographs. 

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The leather is also soft, yet firm and has a wonderful texture to it.  It’s a delightful little leather notebook from Midori.  It complements the full size Midori Traveler’s Notebook.  On the back of the leather Midori has carved the inscription denoting the notebook as the 5 Year Anniversary - Limited Edition Notebook.  The notebook comes with a choice of two elastic bands - one green and one brown.  The green band (symbolic of the Star Ferry) is fitted as standard and offers a good contrast to the camel colour of the leather.  However if you don't like the green band its a simple task to swap it over for the spare brown band provided.

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The Star Ferry memorabilia included with the notebook are cute but nothing outstanding.  There are other items you can purchase as additional items issued for the limited edition release but I didn't feel I would use them and for the money I preferred to buy additional inserts and various notebooks. 

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

The whole Traveler's Notebook concept from Midori is unique:- the feelable soft camel coloured leather Midori Traveler’s Passport Notebook, the carefully crafted passport size inserts, the high quality paper of the notebooks, the memorabilia commemorating the Star Ferry and the overall professional construction and design make this an item of beauty, collectability and practical functionality. 









The Verdict?

The Midori Star Edition Passport is a wonderful notebook that will be treasured and well used every day in conjunction with the full size Midori Traveler’s Notebook.  It is perfect for a pocket notebook, although it is much more than a notebook.  The next time I visit Hong Kong I will be proudly carrying my Star Edition Midori Traveler's Notebook, in the very distinctive camel leather! 

On a personal level, what you use the Midori Star Edition for is essentially up to your own imagination.  Daily diary, personal planner, field notes, mini journal, travel records or travel memento collections - the list is endless.  Half the fun is finding a unique or personal use for this clever little companion. 

All I know is that the limited edition, 5th anniversary camel Midori Traveler's Notebook is now a very prized possession.   

Photograph - Eclectic Psyche

If you have a Midori Traveler's or are about to buy one and you want some great ideas on how to create the perfect system for your Midori Traveler's Notebook- far more advanced and detailed than my humble suggestions - then check out Patrick Ng's website as he has a lot of innovative ideas. 

http://scription.typepad.com/blog/2011/11/scriptions-perfect-system-2011-2012.html 

Otherwise flickr has a Midori site with lots of photographic examples of how people use their personal Midori Notebook.  Well worth a browse.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/travelernotebook/pool/. 


Please Note: I have no affiliation with any supplier or group directly or indirectly mentioned in my post.  I am only an avid writer and journal enthusiast.

Buy a Midori Traveler's Notebook

Midori Traveler's Notebook - photo by Eclectic Psyche

“Always carry a notebook. And I mean always. The short-term memory only retains information for three minutes; unless it is committed to paper you can lose an idea for ever.” 

Will Self

I agree with Will Self's quote above, always carry a notebook (and after reading this post, you should need no more than a Midori Traveler's Notebook).  I have carried a notebook for as long as I can remember and I can't ever imagine not doing so.  I feel lost without it if an occasion arises where I can't take it somewhere.  Once you get accustomed to travelling with your notebook it becomes a part of you and a part of your activity - in a positive and inspiring way.  I have an old leather notebook that, over the years, I modified to carry three Japanese Life journals.  It works well and it even has a pen holder for my favourite fountain pen of the day.  Its a little beaten up these days from so much use but its still very functional and I think it has a character of its own now.  I'm sure you also have something similar you can't bear to be without.

Recently, however, I found that I needed a second leather journal that could accommodate another three notebooks as my projects had expanded.  I began searching through all of the leather journals I could find but nothing really took my interest and none of them matched my modified journal's functionality and ease of use.  In my modified journal I can simply swap notebooks as I please and carry other things of interest or usefulness in it as well.    

I was about to give up when I decided to take a closer look at the Midori Traveler's Notebook.  I had been aware of it but had been put off by the apparent cliché title of "Traveler's Notebook".  To me, anything advertising its purpose as a traveler's notebook must surely be a shoddy gimmick for newbies to the world of travel.....something they just have to have because it states it is for travellers (yes, I spell traveller with two l's, but Midori uses the US spelling).  However, after a closer look at the Midori I found it more interesting than I gave it credit.  It seemed to be closer to what I was looking for than I initially thought.  It was aimed at being something you carried with you everywhere, not just a travel accessory for the must haves.

So I set out to obtain one and that turned out to be a little more difficult than I expected.  I only found one seller where I live and they had a considerable markup on the price (twice my final purchase price).  I wasn't prepared to pay double the price and I thought I would just buy one straight from Japan.  After contacting a number of Midori's approved retail outlets looking for a good priced Midori Traveler's Notebook, I settled on one I felt comfortable with, who replied promptly to my queries and who was a reputable and established stationery supplier.  I dealt with their online sales manager and found the experience completely enjoyable and simple.  The company was professional, efficient and informative.

I ordered on a weekend and my Midori was posted express on the Monday.  I received it by the end of the week!  Absolutely amazing service and delivery.   The parcel was well packaged and all items (I ordered a few other things as well as the Midori) arrived safely and quickly.  And, to top off the exceptional service, my little package came with a free pencil as a nice little gesture of thank you from the store.  How cool is that?  Also a great little marketing tactic.  I was very happy indeed with the service and my order, it couldn't have gone any smoother.  On top of all this great service, the cost of the Midori and postage was half the price of what I would have paid back home.  Quality service at great value.

I ordered the dark brown Midori Traveler's Notebook and its a great colour.  The brown is a rich, warm and antique looking colour that makes the leather feel more inviting and....a little precious. :)  The inserts I ordered are quality products by Midori, the paper is smooth as silk, the pocket insert is very useful and the brass tabs are simply elegant.   I can't emphasise enough, how high a quality these Midori products are.  I like using Life (Japanese paper company) notebooks because their paper is pure perfection, the smoothest hand made paper there is; but the Midori paper comes in a close second.

Overall, the Midori Traveler is a wonderful notebook system and it suits any purpose or occasion where a notebook is needed - whether that be travel, staying home, grabbing a coffee at the local cafe or just riding on the bus to work.

The pictures below show the parcel and contents I received from the Japanese supplier.  I've been using the Midori Traveler's for about a week now and its already proving to be one of my better investments.  I can only see this becoming more and more a part of my daily life and creativity.

The only word of caution I would give is that a brand new Midori Traveler's Notebook has a very strong chemical smell (I assume from the tanning and dying process).  Its quite odd really when you consider the Japanese traditionally have a strong sensitivity to smell and enjoy delicate smells.   The smell of a new Traveler's Notebook can be quite potent and off putting, however, it does dissipate quickly.  I put my notebook on a chair in a sunny window and within a couple of days the repugnant chemical smell was gone, and is now replaced by an inviting leather aroma.  I wouldn't let this put you off buying a Traveler's Notebook at all, but it is good to be forewarned so that you are not disappointed for a few days while your notebook sits idle in the sun.

In sum, all I can say is - get one!  If you have the money and are looking for a wonderful leather notebook (although its much more than a notebook) then I would whole heartedly recommend the Midori Traveler's Notebook.

I will post some more pictures of the Traveler's in use soon.

The Midori Traverl's Notebook and accessories were extremely well packaged and padded for protection.  There was only one way the goods were going to arrive - and that was safely.

The Midori Traveler's Notebook was a lot cheaper from Japan and so were the accessories and inserts.  I managed to obtain a few extras because of the good online price from the supplier's store.  I wouldn't have been able to get the little extras locally.  The brass tags are classy and functional; they are well worth including in your Midori order.

If you like leather notebooks, and you like to customise them to your needs, and you love to carry it everywhere with you, and you like an antique-aged look on your notebook over time, then the Midori Traveler's Notebook was made just for people like you and me. :)  TB

Traveler's Notebook - photo by Eclectic Psyche

PS - I am constantly contacted by readers asking me to provide the name of the company I purchase my Midori supplies from.  I don't receive any endorsements from any company and prefer not to name a company normally but in light of all the requests I will say that I purchase my Midori supplies  from Pencils.jp - who can be found at this link:  Pencils.jp  I have found their service to be of the utmost professional standard and friendliness.  So there you go....you can stop pestering me now.  :)

Noodler's New Ink - Qin Shi Huang

Nathan Tardif, Noodler's Ink, has just announced a brand new ink he is releasing to the market - Qin Shi Huang, after the first emperor of China.  It looks an impressive ink as well.  It is red fountain ink based on Chinese historical inks and it is also flourescent!  Unbelievable.  I'm looking forward to getting a hold of this new ink - Noodler's Qin Shi Huang.  Can't wait.

Take a look at the video that Nathan has compiled to give a first glimpse of the ink and a bit of its history.  Have to say, Nathan, I'm impressed.

Check out Nathan's video below:




The ink is already available for sale.  I'm not sure who the complete list of sellers are at the moment but a quick search showed that it is currently available at Goulet Pens:

http://www.gouletpens.com/Noodlers_Qin_Shi_Huang_Ink_3oz_p/n19072.htm
(No affiliation with me)



Image courtesy - The Goulet Pen Company - www.gouletpens.com

Iroshizuku chiku-rin ink

“We live and breathe words. .... It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt--I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamt. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. I dreamed what you dreamed, wanted what you wanted--and then I realized that truly I just wanted you.”

― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

chiku-rin

This is an ink I had included in a package with a Sailor pen from Japan.  I added it to my order because I had a family member keen to have a lighter green ink than the Noodler’s Hunter Green ink I have.  I wasn’t that keen on a light green ink but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the colour.

Chiku-rin Ink - photo by Eclectic Psyche

Surprisingly it turned out not to be as light a green as I expected.  The sample pictures seemed to show it being a little washed out, almost faded in appearance.  However it’s a very solid colour without being dark.  In a wet pen or a wider nib, such as an italic or broad nib, it’s a lovely vivid green.  In very fine nibs it can seem a bit too light on certain papers.  If you use a medium to broad nib it’s a good choice for a green ink.  It also has good shading qualities, which give the ink a good contrast between its light and dark range.

I have not experienced any nib creep with this ink and the ink flow commences immediately.  As a wet ink it dries fairly quickly (within about 4 seconds).  I haven't experienced bleeding or feather except on very absorbent paper.  It is not a waterproof ink and tends to run easily if it comes into contact with any liquids, such as water spray or small drink spills.  If you need a green ink with waterproof qualities then this isn't the ink for you - try Noodler's Hunter Green instead.  Its an ink with bulletproof qualities but it is a considerably darker green ink.

I’m using the chiku-rin in a medium nib Sailor pen at the moment and it is proving ideal for journal notes and document/letter writing. It’s a soothing shade of green that has a brightness that makes the writing appear crisp, clear and clean. 

If the Iroshizuku take-sumi is the bamboo charcoal of Pilot inks then chiku-rin must be the bamboo leaf - with its vibrant free flowing green ink.  It’s a great addition to any ink collection.  A cheerful green that enlivens any page of writing.  I like it as much as this Red Panda does.  (I'll post a writing sample in the next day or two).

Photo courtesy: http://www.freevector.comI