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.
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| 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
