Pilot Iroshizuku Fountain Pen Ink 15ml — Momiji (Autumn Leaves)
The Colour
Momiji translates from Japanese as the pinkish-red leaves of maple trees in autumn, and the ink earns that name. It reads as a vibrant red-pink: more red on some papers, more pink on others, sitting in that genuinely interesting territory between the two.
It goes down pinkish-red and dries to a red with a hint of orange, so what you see on the nib is not quite what you get on the page - which is part of its appeal. In larger swabs and broader nibs, the ink reveals a subtle golden sheen - not a blinding mirror finish, but something more like the glint of mica in stone, specking through the base colour and drawing out its red warmth.
This is not a fire-engine red, and it is not a Valentine's pink. It occupies a considered, nuanced position that rewards attention.
Performance
The Iroshizuku inks are water-based and low in odour, formulated for a particularly smooth writing experience. Momiji dries in approximately five to six seconds on quality paper, which is reasonable for an ink of this saturation. On good paper it produces no feathering and no bleed-through, with crisp, distinct lines. Flow is consistent across fine to broad nibs, though as with most highly saturated inks, very fine or needle-point nibs may occasionally run dry.
Water resistance is low — if your notes need to survive a downpour, this is not your ink. For correspondence, journalling, annotation, and general writing pleasure, it performs beautifully.
A note on staining
Momiji's high saturation means it can leave traces in light-coloured or translucent pen sections. It is worth being mindful of which pens you fill. Cleaning is straightforward: two rounds of soaking and flushing will clear the colour from most nibs and feeds.
The bottle
The heavy clear glass bottle has a classic, refined shape designed to look as good on a desk as it does in use. The wide mouth accommodates most nib sizes comfortably, making filling easy and largely mess-free. A conical recess at the base of the bottle channels the last of the ink to one point, so you can fill your pen cleanly right to the very end - a small detail that makes a genuine difference.
The 15ml size is ideal for collectors who rotate frequently between colours, or for those wanting to try Momiji before committing to the 50ml bottle.
Compatibility
Compatible with all standard fountain pens fitted with a converter or piston mechanism. Safe for use with vintage pens. Not suitable for rollerball or ballpoint.
Specifications
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$420.00
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