Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao (朝顏) — Vivid Royal Blue, Red-Copper Sheen Fountain Pen Ink (50ml)

Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao (朝顏) — Vivid Royal Blue, Red-Copper Sheen Fountain Pen Ink (50ml)

Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao (朝顏 — literally morning glory, the flowering vine whose vivid blue-purple blossoms open at dawn and are among the most beloved flowers of the Japanese summer) is a 50ml fountain pen ink from Pilot's Iroshizuku collection — Japan's most iconic premium ink series, formulated in-house by Pilot and bottled in the distinctive flat-sided glass flask that has become one of the most recognisable objects in fountain pen culture. Asa-gao translates its name directly into colour: a vivid, highly saturated royal blue with a pronounced purple undertone — the specific blue-purple of a morning glory blossom at first light, bright and alive in the way of a flower that holds both blue and violet simultaneously without settling into either. Reviewers describe the colour as blurple — a blue with enough purple presence to be immediately distinctive, enough blue depth to remain fully practical for everyday use. The red-copper sheen that surfaces on premium papers adds an unexpected warm dimension to the cool blue-purple base, and the medium shading gives writing genuine tonal depth and vitality. Asa-gao is a dye-based ink with no shimmer particles; its character comes entirely from colour, shading, and sheen.

The Iroshizuku series was conceived as a celebration of Japanese nature and landscape — each ink named for a plant, flower, or natural phenomenon, each colour formulated to translate that reference into something precise and vivid on the page. Asa-gao is among the series' most versatile and most loved entries: consistently cited as one of the finest blue inks available, widely described as a blue that is never boring, and frequently named as a favourite daily blue by writers who have tried the full range of premium blue inks. The bottle is 50ml glass.

Available at Shosai (shosai.ca) in Gatineau / Ottawa — with in-store pickup (J9J 0K6) and Canada-wide shipping.

What Makes Iroshizuku Asa-gao Different

The royal blue colour space is among the most competitive in fountain pen inks — a category where dozens of inks offer very good blues, but where the difference between a good blue and a genuinely great blue is entirely a function of saturation, undertone, and secondary character. Asa-gao distinguishes itself through the purple undertone. Most royal blues lean either neutral-cool or slightly warm; Asa-gao leans violet — a blue with a distinct purple presence that gives it the specific quality of a morning glory blossom, where the blue and the violet are held together in the same colour rather than resolved into one or the other. The result reads as vivid and distinctive in a way that plain royal blues do not: immediately recognisable as something more considered, more alive, and more rewarding to write with than a standard blue.

The red-copper sheen is the secondary signature. Most blue inks with purple undertones sheen in the red-to-magenta range, and Asa-gao is no exception — but the sheen is warm and copper-tinged rather than purely red, giving it a specific warmth that complements rather than contrasts with the cool blue-purple base. On Tomoe River and Midori MD with heavy application or broad nibs, the red-copper sheen is clearly and beautifully present at stroke edges and pooling points — a warm halo effect that reviewers describe as one of the most attractive secondary effects in the Iroshizuku catalogue. The medium shading rounds out the ink's character, adding visible tonal depth from lighter blue to deeper blue-violet that gives writing liveliness and dimension without demanding premium paper or specialist nibs.

Colour Profile

Colour

Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao (朝顏) is a vivid, highly saturated royal blue with a pronounced purple or violet undertone — a blue-purple that reviewers consistently describe as blurple: clearly and primarily blue, with enough violet presence to be immediately distinctive and to separate it from both plain royal blues and from more obviously purple inks. In the bottle, it presents as a rich, deep blue-purple with visible jewel-toned depth. On the page, it dries to a fully saturated, confident blue-purple: vivid and alive at all nib sizes, with the purple undertone most apparent at pooling points and broader coverage where the colour deepens. The saturation is high — the colour reads with immediate chromatic force on the page, bright enough to be distinctive, composed enough to be fully practical. In different lighting conditions, the colour may shift slightly toward turquoise or toward red-violet, reflecting the complex blue-purple character of the morning glory flower itself. Reviewers describe the base as vivid royal blue, blue with strong purple undertone, blurple, and one of the finest and most characterful daily blues available.

Shading

Medium, well-expressed, and a pleasing complement to the ink's vivid base. Asa-gao shades with a visible tonal gradient that transitions from a lighter, more purely blue tone in fine hairlines and light coverage to a deeper, richer blue-violet at pooling points and heavier stroke widths. The shading is not dramatic in the manner of inks formulated primarily as shading showcase pieces — it is a moderate, well-defined gradient that adds dimension and vitality to writing without dominating the ink's primary visual statement. At fine sizes on everyday papers, the colour reads as close to uniform — clean, consistent, fully saturated royal blue-purple. At medium to broad sizes on quality papers, the gradient from bright blue to deep blue-violet is clearly visible and genuinely beautiful. On absorbent papers (Leuchtturm1917 and comparable), the shading is notably more expressive. Reviewers describe the shading as medium, enough to add layers, and a quality that makes Asa-gao more rewarding to write with than a flat, uniform blue would be.

Sheen

Red-copper sheen, paper- and application-dependent, and a warm, charming secondary characteristic. Asa-gao's sheen is a warm, reddish-copper or copper-red metallic edge that appears at stroke boundaries, pooling points, and large swab surfaces on smooth, slow-absorbing papers with sufficient ink volume — most clearly on Tomoe River and Midori MD paper, where the halo effect at stroke edges is most apparent. In everyday fine-nib writing on standard papers, the sheen is largely invisible or very subtle. In heavy application, broad-nib writing, or large swabs on premium papers, the red-copper edge is clearly and beautifully present — a warm counterpoint to the cool blue-purple base that adds unexpected depth and elegance. Reviewers describe the sheen as ranging from slight to medium to strong red sheen depending on conditions, with those writing on Tomoe River with broader nibs consistently reporting the most spectacular expression. No shimmer; the red-copper effect is entirely sheen.

Ink Properties at a Glance

Flow

Smooth, wet, and well-lubricated — characteristic of the Iroshizuku line as a whole. Asa-gao flows freely and consistently across a wide range of nib types and pen bodies, contributing to both comfortable everyday writing and to the ink's shading and sheen expression by ensuring sufficient ink volume at pooling points. A practical, universally well-behaved ink.

Dry Time

Fast — approximately 15 seconds on quality papers. Asa-gao dries quickly enough for practical everyday use without smearing, while allowing the full colour saturation and sheen to develop at pooling points.

Water Resistance

Low to medium. Asa-gao is a water-based dye ink; it will fade or run with significant water exposure but holds some legibility after light moisture contact. Slightly more resistant to cleaning than some other Iroshizuku inks — worth noting for pen maintenance. Not suitable for documents requiring archival permanence.

Feathering and Bleed-Through

Minimal on quality papers (Rhodia, Tomoe River, Clairefontaine, Leuchtturm1917, Midori MD). Well-behaved and clean on fountain-pen-friendly papers. Some feathering may occur on standard copy paper or highly absorbent surfaces.

How to Get the Most Out of Iroshizuku Asa-gao

Recommended Paper

Asa-gao rewards smooth, quality papers that allow the vivid blue-purple saturation, medium shading gradient, and red-copper sheen to develop fully:

• Tomoe River (52gsm or 68gsm) — the premier recommendation for showcasing Asa-gao's red-copper sheen and full colour expression simultaneously; the slow absorption allows the sheen to develop at maximum intensity at stroke edges and pooling points, producing the most beautiful halo effect; the vivid blue-purple reads with full chromatic depth; the semi-transparent surface showcases the ink's jewel-toned character most beautifully
• Midori MD Paper — an excellent surface for sheen expression; the smooth surface allows the red-copper sheen to develop clearly; the vivid blue-purple reads with full saturation and the shading gradient is cleanly expressed; a reliable everyday pairing
• Leuchtturm1917 — good overall performance with notably more expressive shading than on faster-absorbing papers; the purple undertone is particularly warm and vivid against cream-toned pages; a strong notebook pairing for writers who value visible shading
• Rhodia / Clairefontaine — the most reliable everyday pairing; full blue-purple saturation cleanly and consistently expressed; shading visible at medium to broad nib sizes; a strong practical daily option
• Cosmo Air Light (Yamamoto Paper) — an excellent surface for maximum sheen expression; the ultra-smooth, slow-absorbing paper allows the red-copper sheen to develop at full intensity

Avoid highly absorbent papers. Fast-absorbing surfaces suppress both shading and sheen, reducing Asa-gao's layered character to a clean but comparatively flat royal blue.

Recommended Nibs

• Medium to Broad nibs — the primary recommendation for full colour depth, shading expression, and sheen development; more ink on the page activates the full tonal gradient from bright royal blue to deep blue-violet and gives the red-copper sheen sufficient surface area to develop; the purple undertone becomes most apparent and most beautiful at broader coverage
• Stub or Italic nibs — the variation between thick and thin strokes showcases the shading gradient and red-copper sheen most dramatically; the contrast between bright blue thin strokes and deep, copper-sheening pooling points is Asa-gao's most spectacular writing quality; highly effective for calligraphic and expressive writing
• Fine nibs — the vivid royal blue-purple reads with full clarity, saturation, and energy at fine sizes; an excellent everyday pairing; shading less prominent but colour performs at full chromatic force; the purple undertone remains perceptible and distinctive
• Extra-fine nibs — fully functional; the blue-purple base remains vivid and precise; shading largely absent; sheen not visible at this coverage level; a reliable choice for fine annotation and compact writing
• Eyedropper pens — high ink volume ensures full colour saturation and consistent shading and sheen expression; the generous Iroshizuku flow benefits from eyedropper capacity; particularly effective for showcasing the red-copper sheen on premium papers
• Dip pens — excellent for fully showcasing Asa-gao's saturation, shading, and red-copper sheen; broad dip nibs allow large coverage areas that reveal the full sheen effect; effective for decorative writing, morning-glory-inspired illustration, and ink swatch art

Pen Maintenance

Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao (朝顏) is a pH-neutral, dye-based ink safe for all pen materials including resin, celluloid, and ebonite. As a no-shimmer formulation, it carries no particle clogging risk. Note that Asa-gao is slightly more resistant to flushing than some other Iroshizuku inks — flush thoroughly every 4–6 weeks under normal use and ensure complete cleaning when changing inks.

Recommended Uses

• Everyday writing and personal correspondence — the vivid royal blue-purple is brilliant, fully legible, and immediately distinctive; one of the most characterful and rewarding daily blue inks available; a blue that is never boring and never plain; equally suited to professional and personal writing contexts
• Note-taking and study — the fast dry time, smooth flow, and high legibility make Asa-gao an excellent note-taking ink; the vivid blue reads clearly and energetically under all lighting conditions; a natural choice for writers who want a daily blue with genuine chromatic personality
• Journaling and creative writing — the morning glory inspiration, vivid colour, and layered shading give Asa-gao a lively, seasonal character that suits personal journals and creative writing; a colour with the specific energy of early morning and summer flowers
• Calligraphy and expressive lettering — the medium shading and red-copper sheen are a pleasing combination for decorative calligraphy; stub and italic nibs bring out the full tonal and sheen range; the blue-purple reads with brilliance and warmth in large-format lettering
• Art and illustration — compatible with dip pen and brush application; the vivid blue-purple base, medium shading, and red-copper sheen add depth and floral vitality to illustration, botanical art, and mixed media; particularly effective for morning-glory-inspired and summer-themed artwork
• Ink collection and Iroshizuku series building — Asa-gao is one of the Iroshizuku catalogue's most beloved blue entries and an essential addition to any collection of Japanese inks; pairs naturally with Kon-peki (vivid cerulean), Shin-kai (smoky blue-black), and Yama-budo (fuchsia-purple) for a complete Iroshizuku blue-to-purple palette
• Fountain pen photography and swatching — the vivid blue-purple photographs brilliantly under natural light; the red-copper sheen is most apparent in raking light at stroke edges and swab centers on Tomoe River; a highly photogenic ink with immediate visual appeal and a warm, glowing secondary character

About the Iroshizuku Collection

The Iroshizuku (色彩雫 — literally drops of colour) collection is Pilot's premium fountain pen ink series — a range of sixty inks, each named for a plant, flower, or natural phenomenon drawn from the Japanese landscape, and each formulated by Pilot's in-house ink chemists to translate that natural reference into a precise, vivid, and beautifully behaved fountain pen ink. The series was first launched in 2008 and has remained, in the years since, the benchmark against which Japanese premium inks are measured: consistent, safe for all pens, beautifully bottled in the flat-sided 50ml glass flask with its built-in ink well, and formulated to a quality standard that has established Pilot as one of the world's great fountain pen ink makers.

About Pilot

Pilot Corporation is one of Japan's oldest and most respected writing instrument manufacturers, founded in 1918 and producing fountain pens, inks, and writing instruments for over a century. Pilot's commitment to precision manufacturing and ink formulation is reflected throughout the Iroshizuku line — inks that are among the most consistently well-reviewed, most widely used, and most beloved in the global fountain pen community.

Product Specifications

Available at Shosai — Ottawa–Gatineau

Shosai (shosai.ca) is a fine stationery boutique serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region. We carry a curated selection of premium fountain pen inks, papers, and writing instruments from the world's most respected stationery brands.

• 📍 In-store pickup: Gatineau, QC — J9J 0K6
• 🛵 Local delivery: Available in the Ottawa–Gatineau area
• 🚚 Canada-wide shipping available
• 🇫🇷 Service bilingue — français et anglais

Whether you are new to fountain pens or a seasoned collector, Shosai is your local destination for inks that go beyond the ordinary.