Fanyantan Sakura Blizzard — Ink Review #231

 Fanyantan- Sakura Blizzard

 

Ink Review # 231

 

Originally posted on FPN: Mar 04, 2026

 

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🧾 Description

 

Ink: Sakura Blizzard

Brand: Fanyantan

Country: China

Available: 20 ml bottles, Soe & Soe in Australia, or AliExpress. The brand name is sometimes transcribed as Fangyangtan on online marketplaces.

Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ stub 1.1), Duke Fude with overfeed, Karas Customs Vertex with a FPNIBS ultra flex with an extra wet ebonite feed.

 

This ink is one of the six inks in season 4 by Fanyantan. I had previously reviewed Qinghai wave here: 

 

The name Sakura Blizzard evokes cherry blossoms in Japan. 

 

It’s a chromo-shading ink, but if you think you will get the promotional image effect, think twice. It’s a tan colour, the kind you might see in old buildings from the 70s. 

The only way I got the effect was with Duke fude pen with an overfeed, which gave the ink a yellow-green tinge. Otherwise, with a flex nib with an extra-wet ebonite feed, I got a fleeting hint of something, but nothing as beautiful as walking through a blizzard of cherry blossoms. 

 

Ink is watery, on the dry side, low on lubrication, and needs a soft nib and a wet pen to make it work. 

 

However, when used in ink washes, one can appreciate it in all its glory. It is difficult to clean mainly because of the pink component in the dye. 

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🧪 Chroma

 


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✍️ Writing Samples (photos only)

 

The scans were off, so I took LED and daylight photos. 

 

  

Translations from the original Japanese are provided for reference only. They are unofficial and may differ slightly from published translations.

Rhodia 

“Even in Kyoto, I long for Kyoto when the cherry blossoms bloom.” — Ariwara no Narihira

 


Iroful

“Scattered blossoms — the world feels wider now, and I am left walking through what is no longer there.” — Matsuo Bashō

 

 

Midori 

“Cherry blossoms fall — the temple bell echoes.”  Matsuo Bashō

 

 

Tomoe River 

Note: This is the 68 gsm paper, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews.

“Cherry blossoms — like snow, they fall without regret.”  Saigyō

 


Hammermill 20 lb copy paper

“The cherry blossoms fall, and in their pale drifting I see how this world loosens its hold on us.” — Taneda Santōka

 
 

Closeup

 

 🔍 Comparison

 

Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. 

 

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 💧 Water Test

 


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 🎨 Artwork

 

Lost in a blizzard

Talens Mixed Media Square Sketchbook.

 


 

Every Day is Valentine’s Day

Cat & Mouse bid you a Happy Valentine's day. 

Ackermann fountain pen fitted with a Leonardt Principal EF nib.

Diamine Grey, Noodler's Red Rattler's Red, Fanyantan Sakura Blizzard, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.

 


Sakura 

Cat in form of a Maneki-Neko goes to Japan in quest of good luck and good fortune. 


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- What I Liked: Ink wash. 

- What I Did Not Like: Water ink, lack of lubrication, much ado about nothing. 

- Writing Experience: unpleasant in general.  

 

 🧷 Ink Characteristics

 

- Shading: Yes. 

- Ghosting: Faint with a very wet pen.  

- Bleed Through: Faint with very wet pen

- Flow Rate: Dry

- Lubrication: yuck.

- Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. 

- Start-up: No problems. 

- Saturation: Not saturated. 

- Sheen: Only with a very wet pen

- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.

- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.

- Staining (Pen): No. 

- Clogging: No.

- Cleaning: The pink dye will stick to your feed. Needs a cleaning solution. 

- Water Resistance: Decent. 

 

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 💬 Closing

 

This is another ink, that unless you have very specific conditions, not show the promised colour, and you will be disappointed.  Lack of lubrication and a stubborn ink dye tainted the whole experience. However, doing ink washes redeemed the overall experience slightly. 

 

No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review, but they had to endure special cleaning treatment. ;)

 

Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier. :) 

 

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