Iroshizuku

Pilot just announced that 12 inks from its premium Iroshizuku line will be released in cartridge form next month. (Prior to this, only its basic ink colours could be had as cartridges.) Iroshizuku inks are extraordinarily good (we have nine different colours); this move will make them accessible to people who can’t or won’t use bottled ink. (Pilot’s cartridges are proprietary: they can only be used in Pilot pens. But with just a few exceptions even their most expensive pens can take a cartridge.) At 900¥ (before taxes), a box of six is three times the price of their regular cartridge pack, but not ridiculous compared to premium brands: regular Pilot cartridges are actually pretty cheap as cartridges go. (Also, I’m comparing the Japanese domestic price to the price here: I have no idea whether we’ll be seeing these over here.)

Pilot is discontinuing three of its Iroshizuku inks and replacing them with three new ones. Production will end next month on yellow-brown Ina-ho, royal blue Tsuyu-kusa and medium-brown Tsukushi (which we just bought a bottle of). Replacing them are pink Hana-ikada, yellow-green Hotaru-bi and dark teal Sui-gyoko—which maintains the Iroshizuku line at 24 inks. See Pilot Japan’s website. [Fudefan]

Update, 14 April 2022: The Well-Appointed Desk reviews the new trio. (Also, we just picked up a bottle of Ina-ho, while we still could.)