Pilot Iroshizuku Chiku-rin
Pen: Kaweco Brass F
Paper: Rhodia Dotpad 80gsm
Shading: moderate
Saturation: medium
Flow: medium
Dry Time: 9 seconds

I've always been a big fan of green, and my boyfriend and I have really been enjoying the Iroshizuku line of inks; so I figured it was time to pick up a sample of Chiku-rin and see how I liked it. It definitely didn't disappoint.

Chiku-rin translates to "bamboo forest," which is actually a very fitting description of the color of this ink. The shade of green very much resembles a stick of fresh bamboo. I love the mild shading properties this ink has, even with a fine nib. With larger nib sizes, I'd imagine the ink is quite an exceptional shader. It's nicely saturated, but not so much so that it kills the shading, and it flows quite well. Dry time is right around average at 9 seconds in my fine nib.

As far as comparisons to other inks I've tried, the closest I've got is Diamine Meadow. Chiku-rin is a tiny bit lighter in color and to me, has better shading characteristics. Meadow is a nice slightly darker medium green with rich saturation. I tried to decide which one I like best, and honestly I just can't make that decision - I love them both!

Once again, Pilot doesn't disappoint with another great Iroshizuku ink! If you'd like a bottle for yourself, it'll run your about $28 for the full sized bottle. However, if you're interested in a smaller 15mL bottle, you can check out Vanness Pens - they sell the 15mL bottles for $10.50, or you can get a 3 pack for $29 that comes with a really nice display box. I definitely plan on getting a set once I decide what my favorite Iroshizuku inks are!

Thanks for reading!
Lori