Japanese Colors
Colors / Red in Japan

Red in Japan

Red is Japan's color of life and protection — the vermilion of shrine gates, the safflower rouge of Heian court ladies, the deep madder of ancient banners. Akai is among the oldest color words in the language; for centuries, dyeing a true red was so costly that some reds were reserved by law.

Vermilion torii gates at an Inari shrine in Tokyo
Autumn maples at Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto
Rows of red daruma dolls at a temple
Red in Japan

57 named colors, dark to light:

黒鳶 Kurotobi 似せ紫 Nisemurasaki 紅消鼠 Benikeshinezumi 涅色 Kuriiro 百塩茶 Momoshiocha 紫鳶 Murasakitobi 栗梅 Kuriume 栗皮茶 Kurikawacha 栗色 Kuriiro 海老茶 Ebicha 丼鼠 Dobunezumi 赤銅色 Shakudōiro 藤煤竹 Fujisusutake 紅檜皮 Benihibata 葡萄茶/海老茶 Ebicha 檜皮色 Hihada-iro 葡萄鼠 Budōnezumi 真朱 Shinshu 紅蓮色 Gureniro 深緋 Kokiake 真紅 Shinku 紅鳶 Benitobi 煤竹色 Susutake-iro 雀色 Suzumeiro 鳶色 Tobi-iro 鳩羽鼠 Hatobanezumi 梅紫 Umemurasaki 蘇芳色 Suōiro 紅色 Kurenaiiro 紅色 Beniiro 小豆色 Azuki-iro 茜色 Akaneiro 蘇芳香 Su'ōkō 赤紅 Akabeni 銀朱 Ginshu 臙脂色 Enji-iro 猩々緋 Shōjōhi 中紅 Nakabeni 赤 Aka 照柿 Terigaki 薄紅 Usukurenai 唐紅/韓紅 Karakurenai 長春色 Chōshun-iro 苺色 Ichigoiro 水がき Mizugaki 紅緋 Benihi 梅鼠 Umenezumi 今様色 Imayōiro 緋色 Hiiro 桜鼠 Sakuranezumi 柑子色 Kōjiiro 朱色 Shu-iro 鉛丹色 Entaniro 浅緋 Asaake 甚三紅 Jinzamomi 紅梅色 Kōbai-iro 曙色 Akebono-iro