thINKthursday
Iroshizuku Yu-Yake

Iroshizuku Yu-Yake is like the setting sun hitting golden Autumn leaves.

thINKthursday – Iroshizuku Yu-Yake

Iroshizuku inks receive much well-deserved praise. Produced by Pilot, Iroshizuku inks provide a beautiful palette of inks that behave wonderfully. Yu-Yake is a bright tangerine orange that produces stunning shading. Iroshizuku ink comes in a 50ml glass bottle that is one of the prettiest on the market. An indentation at the bottom of the bottle makes filling super easy until the last drop. This review was done with a Sailor 1911 F, Lamy Studio B and on Rhodia blank No.18 paper.

In a fine and broad nib, Yu-Yake shades well and produces a vibrant array of warm colors. At its lightest, the ink is a marigold orange that flirts with honey tones. The ink then shades to a more traditional carrot orange. The darkest, most saturated areas of the ink really pop off the paper. The ink in these areas is a vivid tangerine orange that can lean towards darker amber hues.

Besides their great colors, Iroshizuku inks are popular because they simply write really well. Yu-Yake has good flow with no feathering or bleedthrough on Rhodia paper. It has good dry times at 20-30 seconds. While the ink doesn’t have any water resistance, clean up is very easy.

Yu-Yake is a great Autum ink that matches the changing foliage around you. It’s also just a cheerful ink that puts a smile on your face. In a fine, nib there is no issue with readability, and while the ink is vivid, it doesn’t fall into the neon category.

As with any ink review, the pen, paper, and person doing the writing will influence the way the ink looks. If you’re not sure about a color, try a sample to see if it’s the one for you.

Ink it Up!
Chris

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