Joe's Picks: Five Favorite Inks From Pilot's Iroshizuku Lineup

I had someone come into the shop the other day and ask: “All these inks are overwhelming. If you could pick five to show me, what would they be?” That’s a hard question to answer, especially for someone who’s been into fountain pens and inks for well over a decade and have had so many inks rotate through my pens that they all start to blur together! It’s easier for me to point people to one or two preferred brands, based on their experience level and specific needs, and recommend a handful of inks within those lines. Pilot’s Iroshizuku line is one of my go-to overall recommendations for experienced and novice users alike.

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I’ve been using Iroshizuku inks for over a decade now, and even after all this time it remains one of my favorite workhorse fountain pen inks, with reliable performance and an interesting range of colors. Generally regarded as a safe, low-maintenance ink that works well in nearly all fountain pens, you could live comfortably in the Iroshizuku line without exploring much else, especially since Pilot has also issued a large number of the inks in cartridge form. See below for the five colors that have carved out a permanent role in my personal collection, which I was somewhat surprised to discover has a pretty good variation across the range, and actually includes some brighter tones as opposed to my preferred muted shades. Wherever possible, I’ve linked to past reviews of each individual ink, which may contain additional photos.

1. Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo. The first Iroshizuku Ink I ever purchased remains a go-to workhorse that I usually have loaded into at least one pen. At first glance, it appears like a simple blue-black with hints of teal, but on certain papers you can get a bit of red sheen, and the ink has some depth that I still find myself admiring 10 years later.

2. Iroshizuku Yama-Budo. Another classic that was my “signature” ink for a couple of years before I went through a dark red phase. Yama-Budo defies characterization. Many people call it a purple, some call it a magenta/dark pink. I’m a fan of of these off-red shades, so however you describe it, it’s really nice to use to mark-up or annotate documents when you don’t necessarily want an eye-searing red.

3. Iroshizuku Sui-Gyoku. One of the newer Iroshizuku inks, from the second-most-recent batch of releases, Sui-Gyoku rapidly became my favorite teal. Leaning more bright green than blue, it’s easier on the eyes than a pure turquoise and still dark enough for me to use professionally.

4. Iroshizuku Kon-Peki. The first cult favorite from the Iroshizuku lineup, Kon-Peki topped many “best of” ink lists for years. A bright cerulean blue, it became popular because it offered a safer alternative to certain vivid, heavily pigmented blue inks that caused clogging issues for fountain pen users.

5. Iroshizuku Syun-Gyo. I was shocked to see Pilot add a red-black to the Iroshizuku line in their most recent refresh. Like Yama-Budo, Syun-Gyo defies characterization, with some people seeking more brown than black, and more purple than red. Either way, I love these muddy, muted shades because I find that they add character to my handwriting.

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All Pilot inks show a lot of depth, but Tsuki-yo (second from top) remains a favorite, because it has so much depth.

If you’re interested in exploring the Iroshizuku line for yourself, we carry the full lineup of inks in our shop, in both bottle and cartridge formats, and we also stock a curated selection of Pilot fountain pens. Our brick and mortar store is open this weekend from 1-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday.

Joe's Picks: Five Underappreciated Stationery Items Across Five Different Categories

For today’s post, I thought it might be fun to offer five different “picks” from five different stationery categories, highlighting what I’d consider to be underappreciated products that don’t get as much attention as they perhaps should. Most aren’t trendy, and some have been around for quite a while. Someone asked me this question the other day when I was in the shop and I thought it might make for an interesting exercise on the blog.

Some of these picks highlight a specific product, while others name a brand or product line if the individual items are heavily dependent on personal preference (i.e., ink color). Note that this isn’t a “best of” list, but rather my response to the question: “What should I try that often goes overlooked?”

1. Fountain Pens. Pilot Kakuno. No, it’s not just for kids! (Though it’s a great first fountain pen to give anyone, regardless of age.) Because of the smiley-face nib, the Kakuno tends to get written off as a novelty, but it features the same excellent nib as the Pilot Explorer, Metropolitan, and Prera. I have one of the red and grey models, and for a no-nonsense cartridge pen that comes in at under $20, the Kakuno should get way more mainstream attention than it does.

2. Fountain Pen Inks. Anything by Taccia. I won’t pick a color here, but I’ve repeatedly discussed here how Taccia inks are criminally underrated. While certain Ukiyo-e inks (such as Sabimidori and Aomurasaki) receive most of the attention, the standard Taccia line is excellent and competitively priced. The offbeat “Jeans” line has some interesting blacks and blue-blacks.

3. Notebooks. Quo Vadis Habana. One of the brands from within the Exaclair family, the Quo Vadis Habana is a go-to for personal journaling. Slightly larger than standard A5, the Habana contains Clairefontaine paper, but be sure to opt for the bright white dot grid version, as I’ve had mixed results with the ivory lined version in recent years. Featuring a leatherette cover, I’ve always considered this particular notebook higher-end than the Rhodia Webnotebook. The “Webbie” is also good, but I prefer the Habana’s slightly larger page and better paper.

4. Ballpoint Pens: Bic Cristal. I always get criticized for being a proponent of this mass-produced pen, but I consider it a classic of modern consumer design and actually like how it writes. I’m not alone: The original creator of Spoke Design used to make the “Baux Pen”, which is an aluminum upgraded barrel for the Bic Cristal refill that I still love. I guess there’s not enough of a demand to keep these going full time, though the website says they might be coming back in 2025?

5. Rollerballs/Gel Pens: Anything by Ohto. Ohto is a Japanese company that specializes in lower-cost rollerballs and needle-tip gel and ballpoint pens. I also strongly suspect that they are the “white label” manufacturer for many similar products on the market. The pen bodies themselves are nothing fancy, but the refills are always fantastic and the overall price makes for an attractive value proposition. Examples include the CR01 and CR02 Rollerballs, as well as the Jotter-inspired Flash-Dry gel pens.

Unpacking Our First Curated Stationery Box: Check Out T.G.S. on YouTube

We recently did something special, and offered our Patreon supporters a limited run of 10 Curated Stationery Boxes with the same theme as today’s post. Each box included around a half-dozen hand-picked items that fall into what I consider the “underappreciated” category, whether they’re long-existing items buried in manufacturer’s back-catalogs or newly released items that haven’t received much attention. If you’re interested in getting in on the next round, be sure to check out our Patreon program.

If you’re ever in the Nashville, Tennessee area, please stop in and see us! We’d love to welcome you in store and answer any questions you may have. The Gentleman Stationer is open this week Thursday (1-6) and Friday (1-6) and Saturday from 10-4. Our site is entirely self-supported through the shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

The Updated 2025 "Best Pens" Page Is Live!

Longtime T.G.S. readers know that I update the “Best Pens” list annually, typically around the T.G.S. Anniversary in mid-to-late April. I’m a little late this year, but not by much, and in any event this year was more of a maintenance update because as the list matures, there’s simply not as much movement between the categories. I’ve made a few adjustments to account for pens moving between the different price points - who knows what the coming year will bring - but I always enjoy this exercise.

As with previous updates, the last 10 or so lists remain live so that you can see how my opinions and tastes have changed over time. View the 2025 Best Pens List and prior lists here, and if you see something you like, please consider supporting us by shopping our store* or pledging via Patreon. We’ve recently launched a T.G.S. Discord forum for Patreon members, and so far it seems that everyone has enjoyed being able to interact in a much more user friendly format that what Patreon can offer with its build-in features.

*The “Best Pens” list goes back to at least 2017, and predates our shop by several years. You’ll see that these lists have informed how we built out our own retail operation, as I knew when I opened my own shop that I would only want to sell stuff that I could readily recommend to other people.

5 Reasons Why General Stationery Is Important at Pen Shows

Pen Shows and “Stationery Fests” have been drawing growing numbers of attendees, as more people discover these events and, in general, turn to analog as a way to push back against ever-encroaching digitalization of life. When longstanding events - pen shows in particular - start to change, you always hear a certain amount of griping. A few years ago the complaints centered around how shows were focusing more on modern pens, as opposed to vintage fountain pens. Today, you’re more likely to hear talk about the growing presence of “stationery” (i.e., not just pens, but the broader category of journals, planners, letterpress cards, pencils, and more), and the fact that fewer vendors are showing up with pure fountain pen displays. While some may not like this development, for several reasons, which I discuss below, I don’t think that it’s a bad thing at all. Great, in fact, because it helps grow our community!

1. General Stationery Expands the Community By Drawing in People with Different Interests. I’ve long believed that if we want pen shows to continue to grow and be sustainable, they need to expand their appeal beyond the fountain pen enthusiasts who started the shows and who have continued to form the core of show attendance. Opening up the shows to different types of vendors by encouraging existing vendors to bring a broader range of products to shows creates a broader and more stable attendee base.

2. A Range of Less Expensive Items Allows More People to Participate in the Fun. While there certainly are less expensive fountain pens, some people - especially new pen and paper enthusiasts - aren’t yet comfortable spending even $15 or $20 on a pen. Having a selection of excellent stationery products in the $2-5 range encourages newbies to participate in the show experience and lets everyone had the chance to take home something fun, whether it be a fine-tipped Japanese gel pen or a roll of washi tape.

3. Expanding into Non-Fountain Pens Makes the Show Experience (and the Entire Industry) Less Sensitive to Price Fluctuations. So what happens if prices skyrocket due to tariffs or other price pressures, and there are high-end fountain pens are less economically accessible? Well, because general stationery (gel pens, ballpoints, washi, notebooks, etc.) can be relatively inexpensive, demand for these products might be less sensitive to the price swings that could be coming. (i.e., a gel pen increasing from $3 to $3.75 feels like less of a big deal than a $400 fountain pen increasing to $500). I suspect that if we see steep price increases due to the tariffs that were just announced, traditional pen shows could start to feel more like general “stationery festivals” catering to a more cost-conscious consumer. Of course, some would argue that buyers on the higher end are less price-sensitive to begin with, so all we can really do is wait and see what actually ends up happening.

4. For Those of Us Who Use Our Pens Everyday, We Like to See Complementary Products and Accessories in Person. And, perhaps, view them together with the accessories we plan to buy or already own so that we can better pair our planners, notebook covers, pen cases, and more. In recent years, I’ve been most excited to see more case and bag manufacturers (like Rickshaw) attend shows and give people all sorts of options for bringing home their new pens.

5. Encouraging Vendors to Diversify What They Sell Leads to a Better Result for both Vendors and Attendees. I’ve always wondered why people try to sell the same pens and ink that everyone else at the show is carrying. Be unique, which not only gives people a reason to shop with you (and remember your table) but also offers attendees a fun show experience. My tables at the recent Arkansas show were somewhat unusual, in the sense that I decided to bring those things particular to my shop, like Roterfaden, Anterique, Tom’s Studio Lumos Fineliners, and assorted multi-pens. (I know I’m not the only one who carries these things, but at shows they do tend to be under-represented.) I’m planning something similar for Atlanta this weekend!

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Ask for the “special washi”. I have lots of it.

So what’s in store for the Atlanta Pen Show? For starters, I’ll be bringing what’s left of my current Roterfaden stock, my Traveler’s Notebook setup, Lochby cases, and all of my recently arrived Uni gel pens and Jetstream Multi Pens. I’ll have some fountain pen options as well, and maybe some washi tape surprises! While the Atlanta Pen Show website is a touch behind schedule, and I can’t see an official layout, I understand that I’ll be next to Hinze Pens in the first room.

Is there anything you all would like me to bring to the show? Anything you wish dealers would bring more of to pen shows and events in general? Drop a comment! Also, we will have regular hours tomorrow (Thursday) in our Nashville shop from 1pm-6pm before I have to take off for Atlanta.

Desk Accessories: What's on My Desk, at Work and at Home?

I’ve written a lot about desk accessories this week, and I mentioned in an earlier post that as a shopkeeper, the desk and reading accessories section is probably my own favorite area of the shop since so much of myself goes into the curation. In talking to customers, I’ve found that a lot of people focus on the pens, pencils, and paper side of things but don’t put as much thought into other aspects of analog work. Today I want to talk about three categories of desk accessories that I personally recommend, and which can immediately upgrade your workflow.

• A Book or Pad Holder. In today’s world, even if you take notes by hand, on paper, you will, in all likelihood, eventually need to either type those notes up and/or incorporate them into a longer form piece of writing. The single most used piece of office equipment (other than my pens and my computer) is the Hightide folding metal bookstand. I keep one in my home office and one at each of my work desks, and use them to hold notebooks, notepads, tablets, or anything else I want to be able to look at while I transcribe notes or review source material. Anecdotally, I’ve heard they are also very useful for those who transcribe books as part of their journaling practice. I’m not sure there are a ton of options on the market here, and in any event I’ve settled on the Hightide version because (1) they’re relatively inexpensive, making it easy for me to have duplicates pretty much everywhere I work; and (2) they fold flat, so they slip into a briefcase and I can take them with me when I travel.

• Scissors. Don’t underestimate the utility of a quality pair of scissors. I used cheap scissors for years, but until I spent just a little bit more money on a pair of Allex desk scissors at C.W. Pencil Enterprise (R.I.P.), I didn’t realize what I was missing. Quality scissors tend to be sharper, more precise, and don’t gum up when you have to cut through things like glue and tape, especially if you buy scissors with fluorine-coated blades.

• Page Markers. I’m a heavy annotator, meaning that I mark up documents and books as I read, and I nearly always end up tagging passages for later review. My own personal favorite is the Book Dart, but people also love Levenger Page Nibs and even Washi Tape, where you can mark a passage by folding a tiny piece over the edge of the page. If there’s one category of office supplies where I probably should try to economize but can’t, it’s on page markers, because I go through tins of these things and can’t stop. Pro tip: use them to divide your notebooks into multiple sections.

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Why Do You Focus on This Stuff and Where Can I See It in Person?

I enjoy helping people assemble a workspace that’s both functional and enjoyable for them to use, which is why I like maintaining a physical shop location in addition to having an online presence because this type of product can be hard to visualize without seeing it in person. I can talk about this stuff for hours, and even though T.G.S. would probably make more money focusing on more expensive luxury goods, desk accessories provide a LOT of value to users because they tend to be “buy-it-once” items. (My Allex Scissors are now six or seven years old and work as well as they did when I bought them, and my Hightide Bookstands are the same ones I purchased for myself back in 2020.) If you can’t come see us in person in Nashville, I’ll be taking T.G.S. to the Arkansas Pen Show at the end of March 21-23, where I’ll have desk accessories as well as all the pens, pencils, and paper you can handle.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.