EFNIR: Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi

This is review #381 in my series. Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: I got this ink sample from Anderson Pens in November of 2024. In the vial, it's easy to see a purple dye. On paper, this is a neutral black, similar to a *lot* of the standard blacks. I chose a few for comparison and De Atramentis Document Black to show how black Take-sumi isn't.

The microscope smear was dullsville. The base was a red-leaning purple, with a couple of dots of bright blue and numerous yellow-green "bubbles" scattered all around the edges.

Cleaning was easy with plain water. You may need a few extra flushes just due to dye concentration.

Zoomed in photo

Screenshot

Scan of Completed Review

Absorbent Paper Close-up (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper)

Line width (Roughly 305µm. The "I" in "Ink:". Magnification is 100x. The grid is 100x100µm. The scale is 330µm, with eleven divisions of 30µm each. With 381 inks measured, the average line width is 299µm.)

Swatch card comparison (If anything, all the blacks look a little too dark in their darkest areas and a little too "cool".)

Void Comparison (The Void could not be bothered to pose for this picture. Also, he was kinda squished under his brother. Clearly, this ink is no match for The Void.)

Previous Review: Yunjingtang Departing Imminently.

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap.

Want to influence the inky sequence? Take the "next ink" poll.

View a list of my inks, complete with review results in a google sheet.

Need to catch up on The Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh? Find the whole story here. Or read Part 8: The Ice Fields Adventure.

Hope you enjoy. Comments appreciated!

[inkstainedruth]

While Take-sumi may not be the "blackest black" out there, I've found it to be very well behaved in general (if I want some black ink that is super-permanent, I've got a bottle of Noodler's Heart of Darkness).  

Thanks as usual for the comprehensive review.  And also for the link to The Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh (I've not been keeping up with those when I'm looking at the reviews themselves...).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[LizEF]

52 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

While Take-sumi may not be the "blackest black" out there, I've found it to be very well behaved in general (if I want some black ink that is super-permanent, I've got a bottle of Noodler's Heart of Darkness).  

Thanks! Always appreciate a longer-term perspective.  I had hoped for better lubrication from Take-sumi.  Either way, it's fine for a black ink, just nothing to set it apart, IMO.

 

52 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Thanks as usual for the comprehensive review.  And also for the link to The Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh (I've not been keeping up with those when I'm looking at the reviews themselves...).

 You're most welcome. 

[InkyProf]

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

this ink is no match for The Void

 

A decent match for the inside of The Void's ear, though. Also, the comparison suggests a useful synonym for "hairy" ink: "whiskery" on absorbent paper.

 

Thank you for the review! I've wondered about this ink. But I also don't know what would move me to buy another black, so the wondering is academic -- not that there's anything wrong with that. 🙂

[Lithium466]

Thank you for your review 😊 

Which other better options would you recommend instead? I do find this ink to work very well in some of my Pilot pens, but I'm always looking for good black options!

[yazeh]

Great review @LizEF.

The best part of this review is the name (bamboo charcoal) that reflects well  the VOID, the highlight of the review. 

Interesting that Takesumi is used when a polar bear appears. 😃

Ironic how the difference between the blacks is visible through the swatches but not with EF nibs. 

 

Thanks for bringing pictures polar bear magic to this windy freezing day. 🙏🙏🙏

[LizEF]

49 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

A decent match for the inside of The Void's ear, though.

 

50 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

Also, the comparison suggests a useful synonym for "hairy" ink: "whiskery" on absorbent paper.

 

50 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

Thank you for the review!

You're most welcome!

 

50 minutes ago, InkyProf said:

I've wondered about this ink. But I also don't know what would move me to buy another black, so the wondering is academic -- not that there's anything wrong with that. 🙂

 There were other blacks that I enjoyed using, despite their being black.  Could be entirely subjective, though - I have a hard time fingering the reason, other than better lubrication...

[LizEF]

27 minutes ago, Lithium466 said:

Thank you for your review 😊 

You're most welcome!

 

27 minutes ago, Lithium466 said:

Which other better options would you recommend instead? I do find this ink to work very well in some of my Pilot pens, but I'm always looking for good black options!

I do agree with you that Pilot inks work really well in Pilot pens.  That said, I remember enjoying Waterman Intense Black, though at the time, I couldn't say why.  Just recently (#375), Private Reserve Velvet Black seemed enjoyable - again, for uncertain and entirely subjective reasons.  I have vague memories of liking R&K Leipziger Schwarz - probably because it's got a blue-black undertone...  Since I don't like or use black ink, it's hard for me to remember details. Instead, I have vague notions...   (I highly recommend sampling for yourself.)

 

That said, objectively, the higher the lubrication, the more likely I am to enjoy it, especially in finer nibs.

[LizEF]

35 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Great review @LizEF.

Thanks!

 

35 minutes ago, yazeh said:

The best part of this review is the name (bamboo charcoal) that reflects well  the VOID, the highlight of the review. 

 Now you have me thinking about barbecue...

 

36 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Interesting that Takesumi is used when a polar bear appears. 😃

 Fluke. Total fluke.

 

36 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Ironic how the difference between the blacks is visible through the swatches but not with EF nibs. 

Not surprising really.  It would have to be a painfully dry or pale black for the EF nib to distinguish them.  For dark inks with reasonable flow, the EF nib seems to concentrate the color.

 

37 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Thanks for bringing pictures polar bear magic to this windy freezing day. 🙏🙏🙏

 You're most welcome!

[Sailor Kenshin]

Top 'o' th' mornin' to ya, me friend!

 

I used to want this black, but then realized I have about ten other blacks.  Question my sanity, if you would.

 

Quin, stay strong!  That polar bear may also be an illusion.  We hope.

 

@LizEF, you make Tuesdays magical and fun... I always look forward to your review and story.  Void Kitteh lookin' handsome as ever.  🐈‍⬛  An' here's a bit-o-green for the day.

🐍

[LizEF]

14 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Top 'o' th' mornin' to ya, me friend!

 🍀 Good morning! (Now afternoon for most.)

 

15 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I used to want this black, but then realized I have about ten other blacks.  Question my sanity, if you would.

 Hey, you came to your senses, that's all that matters.

 

15 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Quin, stay strong!  That polar bear may also be an illusion.  We hope.

 

16 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

@LizEF, you make Tuesdays magical and fun... I always look forward to your review and story.  Void Kitteh lookin' handsome as ever.  🐈‍⬛  An' here's a bit-o-green for the day.

🐍

Thanks! Mr. Void says he's not getting enough love and all ink reviewing will have to stop forever!   Meanwhile, I propose St. Essri's Day!  

[knarflj]

Only the story (polar bear!) and the Void (so handsome!) could keep me reading reviews of black ink.  Thanks, @LizEF!

[LizEF]

55 minutes ago, knarflj said:

Only the story (polar bear!) and the Void (so handsome!) could keep me reading reviews of black ink.

 Thanks!

 

55 minutes ago, knarflj said:

Thanks, @LizEF!

You're most welcome!

[antares1966]

Thank you for this comparison!  Especially useful as I too use almost exclusively Asian and Western F nibs.  

Aurora Black has been my go-to for about 15 years now, still haven't found anything worth making me switch.

[LizEF]

52 minutes ago, antares1966 said:

Thank you for this comparison!  Especially useful as I too use almost exclusively Asian and Western F nibs.  

Aurora Black has been my go-to for about 15 years now, still haven't found anything worth making me switch.

You're most welcome! Happy to confirm your choice.

[Lithium466]

On 3/17/2026 at 4:48 PM, LizEF said:

You're most welcome!

 

I do agree with you that Pilot inks work really well in Pilot pens.  That said, I remember enjoying Waterman Intense Black, though at the time, I couldn't say why.  Just recently (#375), Private Reserve Velvet Black seemed enjoyable - again, for uncertain and entirely subjective reasons.  I have vague memories of liking R&K Leipziger Schwarz - probably because it's got a blue-black undertone...  Since I don't like or use black ink, it's hard for me to remember details. Instead, I have vague notions...   (I highly recommend sampling for yourself.)

 

That said, objectively, the higher the lubrication, the more likely I am to enjoy it, especially in finer nibs.

Interesting. Waterman Black? Ugh, I know it's better now than it was, but I have some past trauma with it 😂

Would you rate Herbin Perle noire higher than Take Sumi? 

[LizEF]

6 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

Interesting. Waterman Black? Ugh, I know it's better now than it was, but I have some past trauma with it 😂

 

 

6 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

Would you rate Herbin Perle noire higher than Take Sumi? 

I have no recollection of Perle Noire, so I probably wouldn't rate either of them.    Perle Noire is lousy on poor (and even copy) paper, and has a very wide line.  So if you want an ink that makes your EF into an F, or a contradiction in terms¹, then sure, go for it.

 

¹Others claim it's dry, but the wide line and feathers + fuzz on absorbent and copy paper all suggest wet.  On the other hand, it takes forever to dry (on Rhodia), which usually goes with high surface tension (dry flow). Lubrication was average, so that could go either way.  The Herbin is likely cheaper...

 

Meh, I'd say don't get either one - get an ink with some color!  

[inkstainedruth]

6 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

Interesting. Waterman Black? Ugh, I know it's better now than it was, but I have some past trauma with it 😂

I wouldn't know.  I just got a bottle of it recently because a pen I had checked out/repaired at the B/W show a couple of weekend ago was tested with Intense Black by the repair person, and I ended buying a bottle of it the next day, just so I'd have one; I often find it's easier to refill a pen -- especially a vintage one like the Lapis Duofold I was having worked on -- with the same ink than to flush and refill with something else....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[USG]

19 hours ago, antares1966 said:

Thank you for this comparison!  Especially useful as I too use almost exclusively Asian and Western F nibs.  

Aurora Black has been my go-to for about 15 years now, still haven't found anything worth making me switch.

 

Me too, Aurora Black was my go to black for a similar number of years. 😀👍

 

@LizEF another fine review. 👍😀  Black is Black...🎵  It's Gray, It's Gray...🎶

 

 

@Lithium466  I thought Herbin Perle Noire  was a weak black. 🤷‍♂️

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, USG said:

@LizEF another fine review. 👍😀 

Thanks!

 

1 hour ago, USG said:

Black is Black...🎵  It's Gray, It's Gray...🎶