on salePilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao - Ink Sample

Product Code IS-PN69203

In Stock

out of stock

on salePilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao - Ink Sample

Product Code IS-PN69203

In Stock

out of stock

$2.06

MSRP $2.75

A 2ml sample of Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao (Morning Glory) fountain pen ink, in a labeled plastic vial.

Condition
New
Brand
Pilot
Type
Ink Samples
Color
Blue
Fast Drying
No
Fluorescent
No
Shimmer

Whether or not the ink contains glittery particles.

No
Freeze Resistant

Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to better withstand freezing temperatures.

No
Volume
2ml
Iron Gall

Ink made from iron salts and tannic acids. Though quite permanent and waterproof, these inks are typically known for causing chemical corrosion to metal pen parts (especially the nib) and should be used sparingly or with less-valuable pens.

No
Lubricated

Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to increase flow in your pen.

No
Pigmented

Whether or not the ink contains finely-ground solid particles in liquid suspension.

No
Scented
No
Water Resistant

Whether or not the ink, once dried on the paper, will resist being washed away with water.

No

Customer Reviews

Based on 43 reviews
51%
(22)
33%
(14)
14%
(6)
2%
(1)
0%
(0)
A
Anonymous
Great blue and great flow

I purchased a sample of Asa Gao in my first order from Goulet Pens (great packaging and shipping by the waythanks Goulet folks!). I have sparingly ink syringed this into a pilot Metropolitan medium, line was too big for me, and a Pilot Explorer fine where the line size was perfect for me. The ink flows well, never seems to clog and cleans up pretty easy. This blue really pops off the page and I like using it to write letters with. Using a fine point a little goes a long way. A bottle of this will be in my next Goblet order!

T
Turtle
I'm kind of new to explaining ink, so take this with a grain of salt.

Asa-Gao was the first bottle of ink I ever purchased a couple of years of go. I loved the way it jumped off the page so vividly. I could see it very clearly and others asked me where I got this ink? My wife (who doesn't care for or use blue ever) wanted this in her pen. Recently, I purchased the asa-gao ink cartridges and put one in my vanishing point and was shocked at how muted the color was. It wasn't the same as my two year old bottle. Maybe my bottle from Amazon was mixed differently because looking at other reviews I see people saying it's not very vivid. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who's experienced this, but I'm still new at this, especially with ink. The ink writes well and dries pretty fast in my bold point.

D
Donald M.
A Perfectly Good Blue

After seeing what Kon-Peki could do, I was expecting similar fireworks from Asa-Gao, especially since it's an absolutely gorgeous ink in the vial. It looks like someone liquefied a high-quality amethyst gem and bottled the result. But when I write with it, it just falls flat, good paper or bad. I get some shading, but none of the color shifting or gradation I see with Kon-Peki. It's a fine, rich blue, but I had hoped for so much more.

D
Dawn K.
It Flows

I feel like a bit of imposter sitting here attempting to write an ink review when I really have only a little fountain pen/ink knowledge. I should add in my own defense, that I got an e-mail requesting a review. I don't possess (at least yet :) ) the insiders jargon, so I will give you an honest review in the language I have in my possession. To begin with, I was looking for an ink to replace my nearest & dearest, Watrerman Florida Blue, which may after all still be made, and sold under the name Serenity, but I have still not confirmed that. Then I discovered this Asa-gao (Morning Glory) by Iroshizuku. I think each of their ink names sounds like a haiku poem in themselves. I am a poet. A few years back I wrote a poem unlike the less- is - more approach more usual to me. It was about writing, and ink and remembering (or was that imagining?) and titled _Following Fancy Down a River_. Imagine my surprise when the Morning Glory ink began to embody what I'd imagined! What a beautiful blue. But it's how this ink feels that gets me! It is like it participates in what I am writing. I may be a novice at all of this but I am a happily amazed one. I have not yet tried the other two Iroshizuku samples I purchased, but can't wait. I love this ink.

A
Anonymous
Love Goulet Pen

It was great to be able to try an ink as I went with another of the samples blue I tried. Had purchased ink before and it did not look like the screen color. Thanks Goulet Pen

FAQ about Ink Samples

How do I fill my fountain pen from an ink sample vial? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It depends on the fountain pen's filling mechanism.

Check out our blog post on How to Fill a Fountain Pen from an Ink Sample Vial.

How much writing can I do with 2ml of ink? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It really depends on how big or small you write, and the nib size you’re using. We find that usually you can get 2 good fills for a typical converter with our Ink samples, or one good fill with a piston-filling pen. How much writing depends on you more than anything else, so we recommend experimenting with different nib sizes to find what works best for you. 

What is shading, sheening, or shimmering ink? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

Shading - A common (and often desired) result of a fountain pen ink pooling in certain parts of a letter when writing, so that the color and saturation of the ink appears different within a single letter or word. This characteristic cannot be achieved with ballpoint or rollerball pens and is a very appealing aspect of fountain pen use for those particularly drawn to all the pretty ink colors.

Sheen - Characteristic of a fountain pen ink where when ink pools another color can be seen on top of the ink, especially when looked at in different light angles using certain paper types. There is no way to guarantee an ink will sheen, but using a larger nib on a pen will help obtain sheening results in your writing.

Shimmering - Fountain pen ink that has small particles of glitter mixed in.

Is shimmering ink safe to use in fountain pens? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

Yes! Shimmering ink is a great way to add some flare to your writing. We have found that a larger nib will showcase more shimmering particles while writing, but you can use any nib size and shimmering ink. All the ink we sell is safe for use in fountain pens.

You can learn more in our blog: How to Write with Shimmering Ink.

What's your return policy for ink samples? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

We do not accept returns for ink that has been used. Otherwise, we accept returns on unused ink products for up to 30 days from purchase. You can read all our Return Policies here.

To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.