Pilot Iroshizuku Kosumosu (Cosmos Flower)

[kp288908]

First, I want to take the opportunity to thank FP Geeks for this exquisite bottle of ink. I happened to win one of their podcast contests and I was offered an Iroshizuku bottle of my choosing. After much consideration, I opted for this new color so that I could try something different. This is my first bottle of Iroshizuku, ever. So, thank you very much Eric and Dan for your generosity. I am very grateful.

 

I won this little contest right around the holidays, and it just so happened to arrive in time for Santa to put it under my Christmas tree. (Is that a poor excuse for a Christmas tree in that photo, you ask? Well, yeah. I have a little Charlie Brown tree that I put out every year on a side table. This fake Charlie Brown tree was given to me by a dear friend many years ago on my first Christmas inside my first apartment that I had on my own. I didn't have a tree that year, and she insisted that I have one. I still put the tree out every year for sentimental reasons.)

 

 

 

I have to admit that I am impressed by the stature of the bottle itself, and with the quality textured paper that the ink label is printed upon. It's a very striking bottle indeed. Although Kosumosu is named after the Cosmos Flower, this light pink shade is reminiscent of cherry blossoms that bloom here in the Northeast U.S. during springtime. Cherry blossoms are one of my favorite spring things. Kosumosu displays beautiful shading in a darker pink. There is also a fleck of orange that comes through and it is not unattractive. I say this, because I really don't like orange, but I quite like it here. It is not overpowering. I tried to capture this by taking a photo of the ink on the inside of the cap, and on a paper towel.

 

 

I inked my Pink LAMY Safari which was waiting patiently on stand-by for Kosumosu to arrive. My first test drive was with a 1.5 italic. Thus far, this is the only pen I've used Kosumosu in, so I cannot speak to its performance in other pens. I did adjust this nib to write on the wetter side. I very much like the shading. It also played well in my Leuctturm1917 dot notebook, which can sometimes get fussy with pens or inks that are too wet.

 

 

Everyone always comments on the nice behavior, and excellent lubrication of the Iroshizuku line. I'm still relatively new to fountain pens, and I'm still trying various inks from various manufacturers and such. Prior to this bottle, I had only tried samples of Asa-Gao, Ku-Jaku, and Kon-peki; all displayed nice behavior with excellent lubrication. Thus, I have only a few inks in the line that I could possibly compare this to, but that being said, I think it holds the line in terms of the behavior standard that Iroshizuku is known for. It is definitely smooth and enjoyable.

 

Drying time with this wet writing 1.5 italic and Leuchtturm1917 paper is approximately 13 seconds.

 

I've tried Kosumosu on both white and ivory papers. I prefer the ivory; it gives it a little extra something. Although, the orange tint does come through a little bit more on white paper.

 

I enjoy using Kosumosu in my journal. I wanted something cheery as we enter the New England winter months. Because of its whimsical nature, it's unlikely that I will use Kosumosu at work.

 

Here are some more photos for your viewing pleasure. If you wouldn't mind, please forgive my terrible handwriting.

 

 

 

 

[Those "things" you see on the page are a weak attempt at drawing cherry blossoms.]

 

Lastly, a quick thanks to FPN members slowpoke2 and shaylenwilliams for helping me choose Kosumosu. I love how FPN members are always at the ready to help another member. Thank you!

 

Cheers and Happy Trails and all that-

kp

[plc123]

What a lovely ink! Thanks for your review!

p-

[taranir]

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

I just got a sample of this ink, and now I can't wait to try it in an italic pen.

[owenj]

Very pretty ink, though probably not one I'll add to my collection. Nice to see reviews of the newer releases

[swanjun]

Ooh, very pretty indeed. I just tried a sample of another of the newer Iroshizuku inks yesterday, though it was Chiku-Rin.

[meghan]

This ink is so gorgeous! I've literally just sealed up a letter to a friend saying that I thought I had all the Iroshizukus worth having for my color preferences, and now you've made a liar of me.

[Laura N]

Oh my gosh, that looks fabulous. I love Pilot Iroshizuku ink, and I love pink. This is looking like a must-have.

 

Your sample looks less vivid, or hot pink, than some others I've seen. Is the scan pretty true to life? Would you consider it a softer pink or a hotter pink? Any comparable inks? Thanks!

[Uncle Red]

Beautiful Review.

[shaylenwilliams]

Fantastic review!!! The shading does look very stunning, and I'm eager to try this ink out! It looks like where Sailor Peche went wrong (IMHO), this one goes right! Very nice.

[kp288908]

Thanks to everyone for your kind remarks!

 

I am adding a couple of photos of Kosumosu on white paper, in response to questions regarding what inks this may be similar to, as well as the degree of pinkness. First, let me caveat that I am not a pink expert. I hover in a very defined green-black, blue-black comfort zone. I am only recently becoming daring enough to try "non-quiet" inks with color. There may be some other members out there who could provide more meaningful feedback with respect to other inks that may be similar.

 

That being said, I am uploading a few extra photos of Kosumosu on white paper (Clairefontaine Graf-it), and then in the same exact spot on ivory paper (Leuchtturm). You can see a little bit more of the range, I think. Perhaps that might be helpful for those with more experience than I.

 

Also, I would say Kosumosu can be bright-ish, or soft or hot, depending on lighting and paper. Ivory paper brings out the warmth, while it appears cooler on white papers. These two were taken indoors under traditional indoor lighting.

 

 

 

 

 

Another on ivory paper; same spot with indoor lighting

 

 

In trying to capture the true color, I attempted a photo next to a window for natural light. It doesn't really represent reality too much; in fact, not at all. Although as soon as I sat next to the window with my white graf-it pad, the true beauty of Kosumosu really came through and I fell in love with it all over again. In fact, it had a sense of "quietness" in direct sunlight that was really charming. However, I include these photos because, interestingly, I detected a slight golden "sheen". This is for those of you that are interested in that kind of thing.

 

 

 

I'm not the greatest photog, but I try my best. I do hope these are helpful, and not confusing.

[Laura N]

Thanks so much. It just looks better and better.

[Toolattack]

Thanks for the review and 'Think Pink'!

[shaylenwilliams]

This picture is really hinting at a sheen. I can't wait to try this one!!!

GREAT photos KP, this is an excellent and thorough review. Is this offering as lube-y as other Iroshis?

[kp288908]

This picture is really hinting at a sheen. I can't wait to try this one!!!

GREAT photos KP, this is an excellent and thorough review. Is this offering as lube-y as other Iroshis?

 

 

 

Thank you, Shaylen. That's a high compliment. And, I do appreciate it very much. You are too kind.

 

In terms of lubrication, I think it has the same quality as the others, but that is why I couched my statements about the ink's behavior. I have only worked with samples of other iroshi inks in the past. Since I'm not what I would call a frequent or regular iroshi user, I didn't feel qualified to make such a comparison. But, I do find this one to be nicely lubricated and comparable to the others I've used in the past.

 

 

[GemMayhem]

Thanks very much for this lovely review! I agree that Northeast USA winters need all the cheeriness we can add to them!! This ink looks like the perfect match for your Lamy. I hope you enjoy the ink as much as I enjoy the iroshizuku line. In broad, wet nibs, the shading is divine, as seen in your samples.

 

Enjoy and thanks for sharing!

 

All the Best,

Gem

 

P.S. I also like your handwriting and doodles!

[JonB55198]

Hi KP,

I remember seeing this ink/pen combo when we met at one of the pen meetings. Awesome review

-Jon

[kp288908]

Thanks very much for this lovely review! I agree that Northeast USA winters need all the cheeriness we can add to them!! This ink looks like the perfect match for your Lamy. I hope you enjoy the ink as much as I enjoy the iroshizuku line. In broad, wet nibs, the shading is divine, as seen in your samples.

 

Enjoy and thanks for sharing!

 

All the Best,

Gem

 

P.S. I also like your handwriting and doodles!

 

Thank you!

 

 

Hi KP,

I remember seeing this ink/pen combo when we met at one of the pen meetings. Awesome review

-Jon

 

 

 

Thank you, Jon!

[Flake]

I almost bought this a while back, but couldn't see how pink it was, I was afraid it was too pale. Guess I'll need to get a bottle now. xD

[beurling]

great review..thanks...every review i read of iroshizuku inks makes me want to try them all the more

[vrgelinas]

How does the drying time and waterfastness stand? I'd love to get my fiancee a pink Safari or Al-Star and some of this ink, because she LOVES pink, but she's a lefty so it would need to dry quickly and not smear from hand oils.