Japanese Colors

Colors by season

Japan's color names follow its calendar: named for blossoms, leaves, harvests and snow. Browse the palette the way the court did — by season. Colors without a clear seasonal identity (the indigo and tea-brown workhorses) live in the full collection.

Spring

Blossom pinks, fresh sprout greens, wisteria and the mountain rose — the colors named for what breaks into bloom.

桜鼠 Sakuranezumicherry blossoms 唐棣色 Hanezuirobush cherry blossoms 桜色 Sakura-irocherry blossom petals 灰桜 Haizakuraash-muted cherry blossom 山吹茶 Yamabukichayamabuki kerria blossoms 山吹色 Yamabuki-iroyamabuki kerria blossoms 鶯茶 Uguisuchaspring bush warbler plumage 裏柳 Urahayanagiunderside of willow leaves 菜の花色 Nanohanairospring rape blossoms 鶯色 Uguisu-irobush warbler, herald of spring 蓬色 Yomogiirospring mugwort leaves 若草色 Wakakusairoyoung spring grass 若菜色 Wakanairoyoung spring greens 若芽色 Wakameironew spring buds 萌黄色 Moegiiroyoung sprouting shoots 若葉色 Wakabairofresh young leaves 淡萌黄 Usumo'egipale young sprouts 柳色 Yanagiirofresh willow leaves 裏葉柳 Urahayanagiyoung spring willow leaves 若緑 Wakamidorinew pine growth 萌葱色 Moegiirosprouting onion shoots 勿忘草色 Wasurenagusairoforget-me-not blossoms 藤納戸 Fujinandowisteria blossoms 藤色 Fuji-irowisteria blossoms 藤紫 Fujimurasakiwisteria blossom clusters 菫色 Sumire-irospring violets 藤鼠 Fujinezumiwisteria blossoms 躑躅色 Tsutsujiiroazalea blossoms of late spring 牡丹色 Botanirotree peony blooms 紅藤 Benifujiwisteria blossoms 梅紫 Umemurasakiplum blossoms 梅鼠 Umenezumiplum blossoms of early spring 紅梅色 Kōbai-irored plum blossoms of early spring 桃色 Momo-iropeach blossoms

Layered pairs of the season:

Ume-gasane 梅重Deep crimson over plum pink — red plum against late snow.Sakura 桜White silk with pink beneath — petals lit from within. The most celebrated kasane of all.Yamabuki 山吹Bright yellow over russet — flowers over last year's leaves.

Summer

Iris and dayflower, deep water blues and cooling greens — colors for linen, rain and shade.

枇杷茶 Biwacharipe loquat fruit 杏色 Anzuiroripe summer apricots 玉蜀黍色 Tōmorokoshi-iroripe summer corn 萱草色 Kanzō-irosummer daylily blossoms 小麦色 Komugiiroripened wheat of early summer 卯の花色 Unohanairodeutzia blossoms of early summer 若苗色 Wakanaeiroyoung rice seedlings 苗色 Naeiroyoung rice seedlings at planting time 若竹色 Wakatake-iroyoung summer bamboo 深緑 Fukamidoridense summer foliage 露草色 Tsuyukusairodayflowers on summer mornings 楝色 Ōchiirochinaberry blossoms of early summer 杜若色 Kakitsubatairorabbit-ear iris of early summer 茄子紺 Nasukonglossy summer eggplant 菖蒲色 Ayameiroiris blossoms of early summer

Layered pairs of the season:

Fuji 藤Pale violet over young green — racemes hanging in new leaves. Worn by the Fujiwara in their glory.Unohana 卯の花White over blue — hedge flowers against June sky.Shōbu 菖蒲Iris purple over leaf green, for the sweet-flag festival.Nadeshiko 撫子Pink over pale blue — the 'Yamato nadeshiko' flower that named an ideal.

Autumn

Maple reds, fallen-leaf golds, chestnut and persimmon — the palette of things ripening and falling.

栗色 Kuriiroripe autumn chestnuts 水がき Mizugakiautumn persimmon 栗皮茶 Kurikawachaautumn chestnut shells 照柿 Terigakiripe autumn persimmon 柿色 Kakiiroripe autumn persimmon 薄柿 Usugakiwashed persimmon orange 洒落柿 Sharegakipale autumn persimmon 洗柿 Araigakiwashed pale persimmon 赤朽葉 Akakuchibareddened fallen autumn leaves 黄橡 Kitsurubamiacorns in autumn sunlight 朽葉色 Kuchiba-irofallen autumn leaves 櫨染 Hajizomeglowing autumn foliage 黄朽葉 Kikuchibagolden fallen leaves 蒸栗色 Mushikuri-irosteamed autumn chestnuts 榛色 Hashibamiiroripe autumn hazelnuts 青朽葉 Aokuchibaearly fallen leaves 女郎花 Ominaeshiautumn patrinia blossoms 竜胆色 Rindōiroautumn gentian blossoms 紺桔梗 Konkikyōautumn bellflower deepened with navy 紫苑色 Shioniroautumn aster blossoms 桔梗色 Kikyō-irobellflower of autumn's seven grasses 葡萄染 Ebizomeautumn-ripened wild grapes 蒲萄 Ebizomewild autumn grapes 撫子色 Nadeshikoirofringed pink of autumn's seven grasses 葡萄鼠 Budōnezumiripe autumn grapes

Layered pairs of the season:

Ominaeshi 女郎花Autumn-field yellow over gray-green.Hagi 萩Clover purple over green — the Man'yōshū's favorite flower.Shion 紫苑Soft aster violet over pale blue mist.Momiji 紅葉Maple red over gold — the mountainside in one sleeve.

Winter

Snow whites, charcoal grays, deep evergreens and the reds that survive the frost.

柑子色 Kōjiiroripe winter mandarin orange 蜜柑色 Mikanirowinter mandarin oranges 橙色 Daidaiirowinter daidai citrus, New Year ornament

Layered pairs of the season:

Yuki-no-shita 雪の下White over crimson — life waiting under snowfall.