I like Iroshizuku inks. They perform well, have nice shading, and the bottles are gorgeous. While the American price-tag might be offputting – $28 for a bottle! – Amazon and direct-from-Japan retailers offer it for the much more reasonable price of $13-16.

My first (and only full size Iroshizuku bottle) is Yama-budo, otherwise known as the “Crimson Glory Vine” in English. Like its namesake, Yama-budo is a red-violet color that shades from a bright fuschia to a dark violet. It looks best in a broader nib where the shading is most prominent, and a slight gold sheen may be seen.

Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku Ink in Yama-budo
Nib: Brause Steno Blue Pumpkin
Nib Holder: Cavallini & Co
Paper: Rhodia Black Dot Pad Nº 16, A5