Kakimori Karari Pigment ink

[Yazeh]

Kakimori is a stationary shop in Tokyo Japan.

They have a range of inks and stationery, which epitomizes Japanese minimalism and elegance. They also make personalized handmade inks and notebooks, a specialized dip pen nib and nib holders.


Their pigment line comes in beautiful bottles:

(Photo: curtsey of Kakimori website)
What I’ve noticed in the three inks I reviewed (Kurun, Po and Karari) is: Long dry times, dryish inks, and ease to clean.
According to Kakimori website:
"Fresh like an endlessly clear sky. Karari describes a bright, cloudless day. With this blue in hand, a break in the clouds is never far away."

I really enjoyed using this ink, especially after the disaster with De Atramentis Artist/Document Turquoise/ Cyan. It’s a happy blue, and if you pardon the pun, it takes the blues away. It fills me with joy.
Let's start with the chroma:
Chroma - Karari.jpeg

It’s not a perfect ink, it’s wet, low on lubrication, maybe not very pleasant with Ef1F scratcthy nibs. And you might need a blotter, if you write fast and a neatnik

I wrote copiously on 68gr Tomoe River Paper with a Safari broad. It was just a delight to write with.
TR 68gr.jpg
Rhodia.jpg
Scan on Midori is really off. I had some problems with my fude nib. It wasn't well seated and created huge lines at first.
Midori.jpg
Some photos:
Tomoe River 68gr

Karari - 1.jpg
Rhodia:
Karari - 2.jpg
This line is written with a broad nib on Hammermill 20 lb paper, not bad at all.
CHeap 1.jpeg
Water resistance is quite good:
water 1.jpeg
Comparison:
Compariasion.jpg
You can see the depth of the blue in the sky from a landscape drawing I did on the Dostoyevsky review:
The Sky is Karari
The Trees and Mountains Kakimori Kurun /Gutenberg Urkundentinten G10 IG
And the lake is Noodler's Dostoyevsky





· Pens used: Pilot Kakuna (Ef) Lamy Safari (Ef/F/M/B), Jinhao 450/ Ultraflex nib/ Fude nib
· What I liked: Gorgeous blue colour. It made me happy every time I used it. Excellent on absorbent paper.
· What I did not like: Very long dry times. Not suitable for leftie over writers. It’s a bit pricier than other ink.
· Shading: Ok
· Ghosting: Faint
· Bleed through: None, unless you pool the ink.
· Flow Rate: Excellent
· Lubrication: Dry especially with Ef to Fine
· Nib Dry-out: None.
· Start-up: None. I had the pen uncapped for more than 3 minutes, no problem.
· Saturation: Saturated just enough.
· Shading Potential: Ok.
· Sheen: Faint sheen seen if the ink pools.
· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: None
· Nib Creep / “Crud”: None
· Staining (pen): No.
· Clogging: Did not notice.
· Cleaning: Very easy.
· Water resistance: Excellent
· Availability: 35ml.

Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier

[LizEF]

Thank you, Yazeh, for this review! I prefer it in color over the Cyans, even without the better behavior, so it's good all around. And yes, a happy blue.

[Yazeh]

Thank you, Yazeh, for this review! I prefer it in color over the Cyans, even without the better behavior, so it's good all around. And yes, a happy blue.

Yes, I like this much better than the Cyans. It's a fun unassuming ink

[Yazeh]

And yes, a happy blue.

It's happy. The name is, like something Makhabesh, might be saying when he sees a pile of cheese burgers, Karari! or Essri, when seeing a female Snek, Ka-ra-ri

[Sailor Kenshin]

Pretty color, cool bottle, thanks!

[LizEF]

It's happy. The name is, like something Makhabesh, might be saying when he sees a pile of cheese burgers, Karari! or Essri, when seeing a female Snek, Ka-ra-ri

[Yazeh]

Pretty color, cool bottle, thanks!

Yep, pretty it is

[mizgeorge]

Lovely review.
Lovely ink.
Lovely reviewer.

Thank you as always Yazeh - though you are to blame for my kakimori addiction...

[Yazeh]

Lovely review.
Lovely ink.
Lovely reviewer.

Thank you as always Yazeh - though you are to blame for my kakimori addiction...

Bless you