Pilot Iroshizuku Murasaki Shikibu

**crazystan** · May 2nd, 2013, 06:20 PM

My favorite purple. Seriously well behaved, even on the cheap papers that my undergraduates hand in. It has fantastic shading, and makes a great ink for a billet doux.

Murasaki_Shikibu Review by crazystan 77, on Flickr

**The Good Captain** · May 3rd, 2013, 02:32 AM

This is a great-looking ink. If ever I was tempted by one of these expensive bottles, this might just be the colour.

**crazystan** · May 3rd, 2013, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by The Good Captain

This is a great-looking ink. If ever I was tempted by one of these expensive bottles, this might just be the colour.

This was the one that got me hooked. I picked up a sample from Todd at isellpens.com. Loaded it up, and was back on the site within the week to order a full bottle.

**Laura N** · May 3rd, 2013, 12:34 PM

Thanks for the review. This looks much darker on my monitor than the sample of Murasaki Shikibu I had many months ago. Mine was essentially pastel, even in broad nibs, whereas this looks similar to Imperial Purple or Waterman Purple. Do you find yours dark or pastel in real life?

**crazystan** · May 3rd, 2013, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by Laura N

Thanks for the review. This looks much darker on my monitor than the sample of Murasaki Shikibu I had many months ago. Mine was essentially pastel, even in broad nibs, whereas this looks similar to Imperial Purple or Waterman Purple. Do you find yours dark or pastel in real life?

Yep, you're correct, it should look more pastel than it does. I think I may have screwed up. I'll have my wife (a very talented graphic artist, with a perverse knowledge of Pantone colors) have a crack at it. Thanks for pointing that out.

**earthdawn** · May 3rd, 2013, 10:24 PM

Great review...

The yama-budo has always been on my list as the first of these inks to try. BUT that may have just changed.

**manoeuver** · May 4th, 2013, 05:20 AM

I had a sample from an ink drop and checked it out. Turns out I don't care for purple.
But now I'm glad to know they're not wasting those awesome bottles on ink nobody likes!

**crazystan** · May 4th, 2013, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by earthdawn

Great review...

The yama-budo has always been on my list as the first of these inks to try. BUT that may have just changed.

The Goulet's just sent Yama Budo off in last months ink drop. I didn't save enough to review, I used it all to grade papers, but it's definitely worth a shot. I typically don't go for inks that lean magenta, but I really liked it.

**crazystan** · May 4th, 2013, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by manoeuver

I had a sample from an ink drop and checked it out. Turns out I don't care for purple.
But now I'm glad to know they're not wasting those awesome bottles on ink nobody likes!

LOL!

These inks really do deserve their reputation. I have yet to have a problem with them, and I've tried 6 or 7 of them at this point. It's usually a battle to stop myself from buying them every time I am browsing pen shops.

**TZidaroff** · June 8th, 2013, 08:22 PM

Great review. I've never thought of purple before, but your review has sparked my interest. I like that it leans to the blue side. I will have to try it.