Pilot Fountain Pen Ink Iroshizuku "Rikka" (15ml)

Rikka (六花) is the Japanese word for snow crystal – and this mood flows directly into your writing: a cool, clear mid-blue with a subtle green undertone, evoking frosty winter air and the quiet fall of snow. Pilot Iroshizuku Rikka is one of three new colours Pilot added to the Iroshizuku collection in 2024 – a water-based, low-odour ink crafted for fountain pens. It comes in the characteristic slender glass bottle with the distinctive dimple in the base, in a 15 ml format.

Features

• Mid-blue tone with green undertone: Rikka is no classical ink blue, but rather a cool, slightly turquoise-tinted blue – airy and clear on the page, with a whisper of grey. On Tomoe River paper, the green undertone recedes somewhat and the blue appears purer.
• Medium shading: The ink shades noticeably – in broader nib strokes and flourishes, colour depth builds up, whilst fine lines appear lighter and more delicate. Particularly beautiful with stub nibs or flex nibs.
• Balanced ink flow: Iroshizuku inks are renowned for their even, smooth flow. The nib glides across the paper without catching or hesitation – neither too wet nor too dry.
• Water-based and low-odour: The ink contains no aggressive solvents, places no strain on the fountain pen's feed system, and rinses out easily – effortless ink flow maintenance.
• No shimmer, no sheening: Rikka is a restrained, focused ink – without glitter particles and with only minimal sheen. The writing remains clear and legible, even with fine nibs.
• Glass bottle with base dimple: The conical insert in the bottle's base collects ink so that even the last few millilitres are reachable with a converter. The wide opening allows direct filling of even large-format fountain pens.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pen and nib size: On smooth, calendered paper, Rikka reveals its finest shading with a medium or broad nib. With a fine nib, the ink remains easily legible and sharply defined – ideal for everyday notes and journalling.
• Paper recommendation: On Tomoe River paper, the cool blue appears particularly rich and the shading effect is most pronounced. On smooth, ink-fast paper, the ink dries evenly and without feathering.
• Drying time: On good paper with a medium nib, Rikka dries in approximately 20 seconds – sufficient for a fluid writing rhythm without smudging when turning the page.
• Calligraphy: For calligraphy with a stub nib or flex nib, Rikka is particularly rewarding: the colour shift from pale ice blue to full saturation within a single stroke creates a characteristic, wintry script.
• Cleaning: Iroshizuku inks are renowned for their straightforward cleanability – conservative pigmentation prevents deposits in the feed system. Rinsing with lukewarm water is sufficient.
• Not archival: Rikka is water-based and neither waterproof nor archival. For archive purposes or documents that might be exposed to moisture, an archival-grade ink is better suited.

For Ink Enthusiasts

Rikka belongs to the latest expansion of the Iroshizuku collection (2024) and fills a gap in the blue spectrum of the range: a cool, subtly green-tinted mid-blue that clearly distinguishes itself from the existing blue tones in the line. The name 六花 – literally "six petals" – is the poetic term for the hexagonal crystal structure of snowflakes and gives the colour its conceptual anchor. The Iroshizuku collection itself takes its name from the Japanese words "Iro" (colour, colouring) and "Shizuku" (drop, dew) – each colour is dedicated to a natural mood in Japan and developed from this imagery. On Tomoe River paper, Rikka displays particularly nuanced shading, as the smooth surface minutely slows the ink application and causes the light-dark transitions within the stroke to stand out more distinctly.

Technical Specifications