Pilot Iroshizuku Asa Gao (Morning Glory) By Madeyouink.com

[madeyouink]

Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku – Asa Gao

Pens Used: Mont Blanc 149 (F/M) and Platinum Preppy (F)

Paper: Georgia Pacific Premium Bright Paper (90g/m^2)

This ink is a wonderful shade of blue – enough purple to not look to washed out, but not too much. The ink is pretty saturated, and really jumps off the page. It isn’t overly saturated whereas it would compromise flow or performance, which is really nice. The ink seems to flow perfectly out the pen, with very little issue, which has been the norm with other Iroshizuku inks I’ve tried. The ink also sported a good dry time, as well as an easy cleanup. It is an all-around great ink.

The chemical and solvent tests were average for this ink – the water removed the majority of the ink, leaving only a stain on the page. The bleach oxidized the color almost entirely, which is standard for a blue in this range. This is not a permanent ink by any means.

The reason for this otherwise perfect blue ink to be only worth 4 stars is its high price tag. Iroshizuku inks are on the very high end of ink prices (even if you get a really nice bottle too), so for me, it wasn’t worth the full 5 stars. If price isn’t really an issue for you, then this is a 5-star ink for sure. Price not withstanding, the ink is a very well-behaved, and well colored ink that deserves at least a sampling.

http://www.madeyouink.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Pilot-Iroshizuku-Asa-Gao.jpg

*Scan adjusted for color correctness

More reviews available at MadeYouInk.com

[seapin]

The Salix looks almost faded being on the page with all those other wonderful blues. I think I'm still sticking with Omas Blue as my go to for true blue however.

[PenPat]

Is Asa Gao the darkest blue in the Iroshizuku line of inks?

 

I currently use Kon-peki, and while I like the ink flow and dry time, I find it a tad light.

[Nick T]

Is Asa Gao the darkest blue in the Iroshizuku line of inks?

 

I currently use Kon-peki, and while I like the ink flow and dry time, I find it a tad light.

Try Tsuki yo.

[Ego Id Veto]

I love this ink. It's a gentler version of Private Reserve Tanzanite, in that it has very generous flow and can act as a sort of "pen laxative" to get dry pens to flow better.

 

I love the bottle, with its ease of filling and beautiful look, and the colour itself is a lovely bright blue, bright enough to please the eye, but not so bright as to preclude its use on documents and note-taking.

 

The price tag for me wasn't too bad, as I managed (somehow, I'm assuming it was a glitch) to get it for around 23 USD with free shipping directly from Japan! A little steeper than most inks, still, but it's definitely one of my favourites, and a definite go-to ink!