Japanese Colors
Colors / Yellow in Japan

Yellow in Japan

From the mountain rose (yamabuki) that gilded Heian poetry to the forbidden ōtan of the imperial house, yellow runs from garden flower to sacred rank. Many were dyed from gardenia pods and amur cork bark.

Golden ginkgo tree shedding autumn leaves
Golden ginkgo avenue in autumn
Rapeseed field in bloom below Mount Fuji
Yellow in Japan

35 named colors, dark to light:

蓬色 Yomogiiro 柳煤竹 Yanagisusutake 璃寛茶 Rikancha 海松色 Miru-iro 鶯色 Uguisu-iro 梅幸茶 Baikōcha 青丹 Aoni 鶸色 Hiwa-iro 柳茶 Yanagicha 女郎花 Ominaeshi 柳鼠 Yanaginezumi 黄緑色 Kimidoriiro 根岸色 Negishiiro 山吹色 Yamabuki-iro 菜の花色 Nanohanairo 黄色 Kiiro 金色 Kiniro 鬱金色 Ukon-iro 芥子色 Karashiiro 藤黄 Tō'ō 苅萱 Kariyasu 榛色 Hashibamiiro 浅黄色 Asagiiro 木蘭色 Mokuraniro 生成色 Kinariiro 裏柳 Urahayanagi 檸檬色 Remoniro 麹塵 Kikujin 山鳩色 Yamabatoiro 苅安色/刈安色 Kariyasuiro 梔子色/支子色 Kuchinashiiro 黄蘗色 Kihadairo 砥粉色 Tonokoiro 鳥の子色 Torinoko-iro 練色 Neriiro