Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun
Ink Review #49
*Please note that the scan is the accurate representation of this color.
Overview
The color/properties:
Fuyu-syogun is a deep grey with heavy blue undertones. It shades with a soft cut between minimal tonal variation where the ink pools. The strong blue undertones give this ink a distinctively dark and shadowy presence on the paper.
Ink splat
Ink droplets
Performance on paper:
Aside from the typical light bleed-through on Kokuyo, there was also some minor feathering on Leuchtturm as well. Otherwise, Fuyu-syogun was well-behaved and there wasn’t any bleeding or feathering on the other test pages. This ink should work fine on most fountain pen-friendly papers. The dry times were a notch above average with all the larger nibs drying within the 20-second mark, and the lighter nibs lingering in the 10-15 second range. The water resistance was surprising! When exposed to water there was minimal loss and minor smearing, but Fuyu-syogun retained its crisp readability.
Light feathering on Leuchtturm
Water resistance
Chromatography
Performance in the pen:
Fuyu-syogun has a mostly consistent medium-wet flow. The ink is lubricated enough to provide a comfortable writing experience, but I did feel that as the nib sizes went up, the nib would feel less slick on the paper. I had some minor issues with dry flow while testing the extra fine nib on Tomoe River, and I experienced some hard starting on all of the papers while testing with the broad nib. Regardless, this ink should work just fine in most pens. The cleaning process was easy, and the color washed out in a single flush before any need for soaking.
Value/cost per ml:
At the time of writing, Fuyu-syogun can be purchased for $23.73 (from US retailers) for an 50ml bottle putting this ink at $0.47 per ml.
The bottle/packaging:
Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun comes in a decorative glass bottle that exhibits excellent clarity, allowing the color to easily be seen inside the bottle. There’s a textured label marking the name of the ink, as well as a silver tassel around the neck of the bottle creating an especially elegant appearance. The cap is faceted to allow for easier opening and the opening is wide enough to suit filling most pens. The bottle is reasonably stable for filling, and it even has a small divot at the bottom to allow you to get as much of the ink out as possible.
Score: 66/70
Price per ml: 6/10
Performance in a pen: 8.5/10
Performance on paper: 8/10
Color saturation: 5/10
Sheening: 0/10
Shading: 4/10
Dry time: 7.5/10
Water resistance: 8/10
Ease of cleaning: 10/10
Bottle form: 5/5
Bottle function: 4.5/5
*Only 70 of the 100 available points are required for an outstanding score.My personal thoughts…
When looking into the meaning of “fuyu-syogun” I came across differing interpretations between “Rigor of Winter” and “Old Man Winter.” Is Old Man Winter even a phrase that’s used outside of the Western world? I’m going to go with Rigor of Winter because honestly, that’s way cooler and I love it. It also makes a lot more sense. The first thing that came to mind when I swatched this ink was “gloomy.” It’s wintry, sure, but it doesn’t bring to my mind the magical, beautiful purity of a bright snowy day. For me, it is deeply moody and conjures a sense of melancholy, perhaps even poignancy. This is partly why I like the “Rigor of Winter” meaning. “Rigor” literally means “strict, harsh, severe,” and that’s what I picture as I consider this ink — the bleakness, isolation, and loneliness of the landscape on a dark winter evening.
Written in an Apica Premium C.D. notebook with a Parker Sonnet “Metro” (18k medium nib)
More images/info:
Tools and materials used in the writing samples:
A TWSBI Diamond 580 AL with 7 nib units including a Needlepoint grind, EF, F, M, B, 1.1mm stub, and an Architect grind. All nibs are tuned to perform at the same medium wetness.
A Rhodia No16 A5 DotPad
A Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook
A 68gsm A5 Tomoe River Notebook
A Maruman Mnemosyne A5 Spiral Notebook
A Kokuyo Campus A5 Notebook