I have over 200 fountain pens in my collection, and if I had to name one ink line that’s earned permanent shelf space without question, it’s Pilot Iroshizuku. I’ve gone through dozens of bottles across the lineup, and every time I introduce someone to fountain pens, this is the brand I reach for first. In this review, I’m breaking down what makes Iroshizuku special and walking you through every color worth buying — organized by color family so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.
What Is Pilot Iroshizuku Ink?
Iroshizuku is Pilot’s premium ink line, and the name itself tells you everything: it combines iro (color/coloring) and shizuku (droplet/dew) — loosely translating to “colored dewdrops.” Every ink in the lineup is named after a Japanese natural landscape, season, plant, or phenomenon. That’s not just marketing poetry; it’s a genuine design philosophy that runs through the entire product.
The lineup currently includes 24 standard colors, with three new shades added in late 2024 (Rikka, Syun-gyo, and To-ro). Each ink comes in a 50ml bottle — and what a bottle it is. The hand-blown glass inkwell has a weighted base, a faceted black cap, and a unique angled reservoir at the bottom that lets you access the last few drops without tipping. Every bottle arrives in a silver gift box with a knotted silver cord. No two bottles are exactly alike due to the hand-blown process. I’ve kept empty ones on my desk just because they look that good.
Retail price sits around $25–$28 per 50ml bottle. For everyday use, that’s a solid value — especially given how consistently well these perform. If you want to sample before committing, 15ml mini bottles are also available individually and in sets.
Ink Properties: What You Need to Know
Before I get into individual colors, here’s what holds across the entire line:
- Flow: Smooth and reliable across every pen and nib size I’ve tried. No hard starts, no skipping.
- Lubrication: Excellent. These inks feel silky on paper.
- Water resistance: Low. Iroshizuku inks are dye-based — they will wash out. A few exceptions (Fuyu-syogun, Kiri-same, Take-sumi) hold up better than most, but don’t count on any of these for archival use.
- Paper performance: Best on quality paper — Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Tomoe River, Midori MD. On cheap copy paper or Leuchtturm notebooks, some colors will feather with wet nibs.
- Cleaning: Effortless. Most colors flush out in a single rinse. No staining.
- Pen safety: Completely safe for all pens, converters, and piston fillers.
One word on shading and sheen: these inks shade beautifully — meaning you’ll see lighter and darker tones within a single stroke. Sheen (the reflective secondary color you see at certain angles) is present in many colors but tends to be subtle rather than flashy. Broader, wetter nibs and premium papers will draw out both qualities.
The Best Blues
Kon-peki — “Deep Cerulean”
If I had to pick one Iroshizuku ink to recommend above all others, it’s Kon-peki. This is a vibrant, saturated pure blue with just a hint of turquoise. It shades from sky blue to deep sapphire, and on premium paper with a wet nib, you’ll catch a purplish-red sheen at the edges. Fast-drying, versatile enough for work documents, and just interesting enough for journaling. This is the ink I put in every pen when I’m testing it for the first time.
Tsuki-yo — “Moonlit Night”
Tsuki-yo is a deep blue-black with a hidden green undertone that reveals itself as the ink dries. The name references the Japanese poetic concept of “greenish-black” as a marker of beauty — and that’s exactly what you get here. Strong red-purple sheen on premium paper. One of the best shading inks in the lineup. This is my go-to when I want a blue-black that has real depth and character.
Ama-iro — “Sky”
The lightest blue in the lineup — clear, summery, almost tropical. Some people find it too light for regular writing, but I keep a pen inked with Ama-iro specifically for annotations and marginalia where I don’t want to compete with my main text color. Fastest-drying ink in the line. Available on Amazon.
Shin-kai — “Deep Sea”
A sophisticated dark blue-grey that reads almost black in certain lighting. It goes on as a deep vibrant blue when wet, then dries to a complex dusky blue-black. Slight red sheen on wetter lines. This is the blue I recommend when someone needs something serious enough for professional documents but still interesting enough to justify using a fountain pen.
Ajisai — “Hydrangea”
A medium floral blue with unmistakable violet undertones — it captures the exact color of hydrangea petals in the rainy season. The flow leans slightly drier than most Iroshizuku inks, which makes it a good choice for people who write fast or on the move. Check Ajisai on Amazon.
The Best Greens and Teals
Ku-jaku — “Peacock”
My favorite teal ink from any brand, full stop. Ku-jaku hits that rare sweet spot where the blue-to-green ratio is exactly right — green enough to be unmistakably teal, blue enough to stay sophisticated. It shades beautifully, and you’ll catch a reddish-purple sheen on coated paper. If you’re a left-hander who wants a teal, start here — the dry time is faster than Syo-ro.
Syo-ro — “Dew on a Pine Tree”
One of the most complex inks I’ve ever used. Syo-ro goes on as a deep powdery blue when wet, then dries to a soft green-teal. Light areas lean blue, dark areas lean green. Add to that a flaming orange-red sheen on premium paper, and you have something that rewards close attention. Slightly slower to dry — not ideal for left-handers — but for everyone else, this is a top-three Iroshizuku ink without question.
Shin-ryoku — “New Verdure”
A rich forest green that starts almost blue when wet and warms to deep green as it dries. Notable red-black sheen with a wet pen. I use this for nature sketching and journaling. The way it transitions within a single broad stroke is genuinely beautiful.
Sui-gyoku — “Emerald”
A vivid emerald green that bridges green and turquoise. Shifts subtly by paper — white paper brings out the blue tones, cream paper brings out the green. One of the faster-drying greens. Gemstone-level color that looks incredible on fountain pen paper.
The Best Purples and Pinks
Yama-budo — “Mountain Grape”
Pilot categorizes this as red, but it reads as a dark magenta-violet. One of the most beloved inks in the entire line, and deservedly so. Wetter lines show deep Bordeaux-purple; lighter lines reveal hot pink. Golden-red sheen on the right paper. If you think you don’t like purple ink, try Yama-budo first.
Murasaki-shikibu — “Japanese Beautyberry”
Named after the 11th-century author of The Tale of Genji. A fresh spring purple — lighter and more delicate than Yama-budo. Tiny antique-gold sheen in large swabs. Medium shading. This is the ink I put in my everyday carry pen when I want something thoughtful but professional. Note: feathers slightly on Leuchtturm paper; stick to Rhodia or Clairefontaine. Check Murasaki-shikibu on Amazon.
Kosumosu — “Cosmos Flower”
A baby pink with just enough blue-lean to stay legible on white paper. Very subtle gold sheen. Quick-drying and well-behaved. Not for professional use, but a charming everyday ink that makes journaling feel special. Check Kosumosu on Amazon.
The Best Grays and Blacks
Fuyu-syogun — “Old Man Winter”
The finest grey ink I’ve used from any brand. A deep blue-grey with violet undertones that shades from light silver-blue to cool dark grey. Surprisingly good water resistance for a dye-based ink. Fast-drying at 5–8 seconds. Easy to clean. If you want a grey ink, start and end here.
Kiri-same — “Autumn Drizzle”
A warmer, more neutral grey compared to Fuyu-syogun — more mushroom and brown tones than blue. Good water resistance. Quick to dry. If Fuyu-syogun is too cool or too blue for your taste, Kiri-same is the complementary answer.
Take-sumi — “Bamboo Charcoal”
One of the blackest blacks available in fountain pen ink — truly neutral, no color cast. When diluted, it behaves like traditional Japanese sumi-e ink, making it a legitimate art material. If you’re a calligrapher or sketch artist, this ink deserves your attention.
The Best Warm Colors
Momiji — “Autumn Leaves”
A warm reddish-orange that captures Japanese autumn foliage perfectly. What sets it apart is the brilliant metallic gold sheen with distinct green flashes — it’s one of the more visually dramatic inks in the lineup. My favorite Iroshizuku ink for journaling when I want something that catches the light.
Yu-yake — “Sunset”
A calm, restrained sunset orange. Matte and understated compared to Momiji. The color shifts from red-hinted to earthy-tan depending on paper and nib width. A grown-up orange.
What I’d Skip (For Now)
A few colors that I think are less essential, at least until you’ve worked through the highlights above:
- Chiku-rin (light yellow-green) — beautiful but too pale for regular use
- Asa-gao (royal blue) — good ink, but Kon-peki is more versatile and interesting
- Fuyu-gaki (coral orange) — nice, but Yu-yake and Momiji cover the warm spectrum better
None of these are bad inks. They’re just lower priority if you’re building a collection.
Final Verdict
Pilot Iroshizuku has earned its reputation as the gold standard workhorse ink line. Every color is well-formulated, every bottle is a minor work of art, and the sheer variety of the lineup means you can find an Iroshizuku ink for virtually any mood or use case. The lack of waterproofing is the one real limitation — but for everyday writing, journaling, and letter-writing, it simply doesn’t matter.
If you’re buying your first bottle, start with Kon-peki. If you want something with more personality, go for Syo-ro or Yama-budo. If you need a grey, Fuyu-syogun is one of the best inks I own, full stop.
You won’t regret building out this collection one beautiful bottle at a time.
Browse all Pilot Iroshizuku colors on Amazon: See current prices and availability →