Stationery Hunting in Shibuya: A Tokyu Hands Discovery

Finding the perfect ink shade at Tokyo’s premier creative department store.

5th

Floor

1,500

Yen

2nd

Ink Purchase

Section I

Iroshizuku Ink: Murasaki Shikibu

The name Murasaki Shikibu is a clever play on words, referring both to a famous Japanese author and a purple berry. The author had a penchant for purple clothing, and the berry is also purple in color. It’s intriguing to think that the berry might have been named after the author, which could explain why the ink is colored after her!

In terms of its appearance, Murasaki Shikibu is not as vibrant as Kon-Peki, but I appreciate its more subdued characteristic. The ink flows well, possibly because I left a few drops of water in my Platinum pen after rinsing it before inking.

I'm quite pleased with this color choice and happy I took a chance on it!

Section II

Tokyu Hands Experience

Visiting Tokyu Hands was a delightful experience. They allowed me to try a variety of pens and colors, which was fantastic for testing out different options. While they didn’t have the Pilot Heritage 92 that I was hoping for, I was able to experiment with other types of nibs, from broad to musical.

Pen Nib Comparison

Nib Type	My Experience
Broad	Fun to test, but wide for daily use
Musical	Interesting experimental flow
Fine	Preferred for my current skill level

→Fine Nibs — The current choice for a fountain pen novice.
→Broad Nibs — An interesting experiment, but better for more experienced writers.
→Musical Nibs — A unique writing experience for those looking to explore different stroke styles.

The atmosphere in the store was lively, and it was fun to engage with different inks and pens, deepening my appreciation for the art of fountain pen writing. Overall, it was a highlight of my trip, combining my love for writing instruments with the excitement of exploring a unique store in Tokyo.

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Ink# 2 - Iroshizuku - Murasaki Shikibu (Purple)