Ink Review #1746: Kobe 71 Ikuta River Cherry Blossom

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Valentine’s Day is coming up so let’s switch over to some pink inks this week, starting with Kobe 71 Ikuta River Cherry Blossom. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Ikuta River is a pale baby pink.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink shades from medium pink to a slight orange.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Low

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in the larger nib sizes but no bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Ikuta River is cooler-toned than Octopus Fluids Living Coral, and lighter than Monteverde Rose Pink. Click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Kaweco Sport Frosted Pink with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a dry flow.

Overall, this is a cute color but it’s too light and dry for me to use everyday. It’s better as an art ink than a writing ink.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1745: Kobe Wind Blue

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Let’s take a look at Kobe Wind Blue. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Wind Blue is a bright Turquoise Blue.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has a little bit of shading but no sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in the larger nib sizes but no bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

There are a lot of similar blue inks, Wind Blue is closest to Montblanc Unicef in swabs and closest to Vinta Magnetic Blue in writing. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Lamy Al-star Pacific Blue with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a nice blue ink but there are a lot of similar blues out there, so I don’t need a full bottle of this one.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1744: KWZ Brown Green

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KWZ Brown/Green is a Cult Pens Exclusive ink. It’s called a “duo-colour” meaning it looks different wet vs. dry and can look different on different papers. I purchased my bottle of ink from Cult Pens.

The color:

Brown/Green is a deep green-brown.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks more black than green or brown.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, low black sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in the larger nib sizes and some bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Brown/Green is darker than KWZ Confederation Brown. Click here to see the brown inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a vintage Mabie Todd Swan on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this ink does look different wet vs dry, but for me it dried to more brown than green on all the papers. I enjoyed this ink-it flows nicely and behaves well. If you have been looking for an alternative for KWZ Confederation Brown, this is a great option!

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1743: Kobe DEN Premium Blue

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Today’s ink is Kobe DEN Premium Blue. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

DEN is a deep royal blue.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some pretty coppery sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, high copper sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in the larger nib sizes but no bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

DEN is a little darker than Kaweco Royal Blue. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M805 Vibrant Blue with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a wet flow.

Overall, this is a lovely blue ink, smooth and wet. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, Kaweco Royal Blue is a good choice.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1742: Kobe Santica Port Blue

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Today’s ink is Kobe Santica Port Blue. This ink was available in the past, but I can’t find any retailers that sell it currently.

The color:

Port Blue is a deep royal blue.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has a little bit of pink and green sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, medium sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in the larger nib sizes and a bit of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Port Blue is a little darker than Kaweco Royal Blue. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI ECO Transparent Blue with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a wet flow.

Overall, this is a nice blue, but it can be hard to find for sale now so Kaweco Royal Blue is a good alternative.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1741: Kobe 73 Hyogo Tsu History Blue

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Let’s take a look at Kobe 73 Hyogo-tsu History Blue. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

History Blue is a bright summery blue.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has a little bit of pink sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, medium sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in the larger nib sizes but not much bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

History Blue is darker than PenBBS 41 and lighter than Pennonia Embroidery Blue. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M600 Turquoise with an extra fine nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a wet flow.

Overall, this is a nice blue ink, great for the summer season.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1740: Kobe 70 Rokko Forest Blue

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Let’s take a look at Kobe 70 Rokko Forest Blue. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Rokko Forest Blue is a deep midnight blue.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has a little bit of black and green sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, low sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in the larger nib sizes but not much bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Rokko Forest Blue is closest to Sailor Shikiori Yonaga. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Platinum 3776 Nice with a broad architect nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a nice dark blue. It has a little bit of shading and sheen to make it interesting, and it’s well behaved so it’s a yes for me.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1739: Kobe 68 Maiko West Pearl Blue

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Let’s take a look at Kobe 68 Maiko-West Pearl Blue. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Maiko-West Pearl Blue is a pale dusky pigeon blue.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks darker and more grey.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in the larger nib sizes but not much bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Maiko-west is lighter than Kyo-no-oto Hisoku. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Kaweco Sport Ciy with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a slightly dry flow.

Overall, I find this color interesting, but it’s too light for me to use for everyday writing, and the flow is a little bit drier than I prefer. It’s rare for me not to love a Kobe ink, but this one is not for me.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1738: Pelikan Edelstein Golden Beryl

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Each year Pelikan releases an Edelstein ink of the year. 2021’s ink was Golden Beryl. I purchased my bottle of ink from Pen Chalet.

The color:

Golden Beryl is a bright yellow with gold shimmer.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has a little bit of shading and lots of shimmer.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and gold shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Beryl is closest to Diamine Gold Star. Click here to see the yellow inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M200 Gold Marbled with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a nice shimmer ink. It flows well and is well-behaved. If you want to give this ink a try snag a bottle before it’s gone.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1737: Kobe 66 Seishin Cobalt Blue Sky

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Let’s take a look at Kobe 66 Seishin Cobalt Blue Sky. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Seishin Cobalt Blue Sky is a medium blue with a slight green undertone.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some pretty pink sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 70 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, high pink sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Seishin is closest to Backpack Ink Athens Blue. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Montagrappa Elmo with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a wet, sticky flow.

Overall, this ink does have some issues due to its high sheen-long dry time and sticky flow, but I didn’t notice any smearing. Neither issue is sever enough for me not to use up the sample that I have, but I wouldn’t buy a full bottle of this ink.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.