Inktend / Ink library / Murasaki-shikibu

Pilot Iroshizuku

Murasaki-shikibu

Purples#6D4E8E

A premium Japanese ink line named after natural imagery: each color takes its name from a scene like moonlight, autumn leaves, or morning glory.

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Specs

Color familyPurples
Approx. hex#6D4E8E
SheenNot typically noted

Paper & pairing

Purples sit at the boundary of professional and playful, one of the more personality-forward choices that still reads clearly on the page. This ink will behave predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Cheap, highly absorbent paper (standard copier paper) will dull any ink's saturation and can cause feathering or bleed-through with wetter nibs.

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About Pilot Iroshizuku

Iroshizuku is Pilot's premium ink line, launched to critical acclaim in the early 2010s. Each color is named after a scene from nature, from moonlight (Tsuki-yo) to autumn leaves (Momiji).

Japan Founded 2010s
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Storing and using the bottle

Bottled fountain pen ink has an effectively long shelf life when kept capped and out of direct sunlight: most inks remain usable for years. The main risk isn't the ink spoiling, it's a pen sitting inked and unused for weeks: that's what causes clogs, not the ink's age.

Frequently asked questions

What color family is Murasaki-shikibu?
Murasaki-shikibu falls into Inktend's purples family based on its typical swatch color.
Does Murasaki-shikibu have sheen?
Murasaki-shikibu is not typically noted for sheen. If you want that effect, browse similarly colored inks tagged with sheen in the ink library.
How should I store a bottle of Murasaki-shikibu?
Years, easily, as long as it stays capped and out of direct sunlight. The thing that actually shortens an ink's usable life is sitting unused inside a pen, not sitting on a shelf.
What paper works best with Murasaki-shikibu?
It behaves predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Stick to something reasonably absorbent-resistant, since cheap copier paper dulls saturation and can feather.

Similar shades By colour distance

Twinkle Formula - Purple Heart Urchin Twinkle
Birmingham Pen Co.
The Wilderness Series - Spotted Sun Orchid
Van Dieman's
Violet
Callifolio
Murasaki (Purple)
Taccia
Inception - Fuji Purple
Natami
Color Bar Ink - Gin Daisy
Stylo+

Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.