The Traditional Colors of Japan
Introduction
Some years ago I found by accident the book The Traditional Colors of Japan by Nobyoshi Hamada in a bookstore. He also wrote the sister book Traditional Japanese Color Palette.
It’s the best book about Japanese colors I know. The book has beautiful photography showing examples of nature, craftsmanship, and art applying the colors.
I took the time and converted all colors in the book into an ASE (Adobe Swatch Exchange) file that is usable in all Graphic software. You can download the file or browse all colors on this page.
Download the Color PaletteBooks
The vivid pink of Dianthus chinesis flowers.
The purplish pink of orchids.
The rich purplish red of raspberries.
A soft, light red; a washed-out vermilion.
A soft pink.
The dark reddish-purple of ripe mulberries.
The pink of fuchsia flowers.
The rich red of strawberries.
The pale vermilion of classic pink roses.
A deep red.
A pink with a hint of purple.
The pink of cherry blossoms, the Japanese national flower.
Gray with a hint of rose-red.
The familiar red of roses.
A deep red originally derived from the cochineal insect.
A bright red originally derived from the cochineal insect.
The color of fringed pinks, also known as Dianthus or pink carnations.
A faded rose-red.
A deep, rich brown.
Pink with a hint of silver.
A bright crimson.
A deep reddish brown.
A reddish-brown used on ancient Greek pottery from Corinth.
The strong red of geraniums, flowering perennials in the geraniaceae family.
A vivid red, named for the color of the cassocks worn by cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pink with a hint of silver.
A dark reddish brown.
A dark red of garnets.
A pure, clear red.
The deep brown of a woodland floor.
A reddish-brown reminiscent of the houses of Pompeii.
The bright pink of salmon.
Red with a hint of orange.
A pale rose with a hint of ash gray.
The characteristic pink of coral.
A rich reddish brown.
A strong red with a hint of orange.
A bright reddish-orange, named for the pigment red lead or minium.
Rose red with a hint of copper.
The deep reddish-brown of mahogany wood.
A dull brick red.
A vivid red with a hint of yellow.
A red-brown color.
A color of a ripe tomato.
The reddish brown of chestnuts.
A rich coppery brown.
A deep orange.
A reddish brown.
A pale vermilion.
A dark red.
The light reddish-brown of cinnamon.
The orange-pink of cantaloupe melon.
A strong orange vermilion.
The pale crimson of flamingo plumage.
Coral pink with a hint of brown.
The orange with a hint of brown characteristic of Etruscan art.
A deep reddish chocolate brown.
The light brown of the bark of the cork tree.
A mellow reddish brown.
A peach-hued skin color.
A soft pinkish brown.
An orange-brown.
A dull apricot yellow.
The brown of ripe walnuts.
A rich brownish orange, as in unglazed roof titles.
A dull, pale orange.
A rich golden brown.
Tan with a hint of red.
The clean brown of unweathered bronze.
A beige with a touch of pink.
A warm light brown.
The golden yellow of dried saffron stigmas.
A pale ripe apricot color.
The orange found in Majolica ceramics.
A pale reddish tan.
A pale yellow-brown.
A golden brown, seen in some fawn’s coats.
Gold with a touch of brown.
The golden yellow of amber.
Pale vanilla extract.
A deep reddish brown.
A light yellow-brown, the color of buffalo leather.
A light olive brown.
The pale brown of sandy soil in fallow fields.
A gold with a hint of brown.
A brownish-yellow.
A dark brown like the pigment derived from cuttlefish ink.
The pale straw color of champagne.
A soft pinkish-orange, the color of peach flesh.
The light brown of maple sugar.
A natural yellow-brown pigment.
The very pale brown of unbleached linen or silk.
A dark yellow.
A golden brown.
The bright yellow of the marigold, a member of the chrysanthemum family native to Mexico.
The warm yellow of the metal gold.
The yellow of the metal gold.
A light yellow-brown, the color of buffalo leather.
The rich yellow of egg yolks.
A pale yellowish gray.
The rich yellow of turmeric.
The yellow of kernels of ripe maize (corn).
The true gold of the sun.
Olive green with a hint of brown.
A pale yellowish white.
The delicate yellow of dry straw.
Honey yellow.
A muted reddish-yellow pigment containing lead antimonate.
The yellow of sunflower petals.
A vivid yellow.
The dull yellow of mustard.
A muted gold.
Gray with a touch of green.
An olive gray.
A dull olive green
A blonde tan.
A deep yellow with a hint of green.
A grayish olive.
A grayish-olive yellow.
A grayish brown.
A natural yellow pigment made of lead chromate.
A bright yellow with a hint of green.
A vivid yellow, the color of lemon peel.
A greenish yellow.
Yellow with a hint of olive green.
A grayish-green yellow.
Pale yellow with a hint of olive green.
A crisp yellow-green.
The gray-green of sage.
A light grayish yellow green.
A dullish yellow-green.
A grayish olive green.
A light olive brown.
A dark olive green.
Grayish olive green.
A grayish olive.
A sage green with a hint of silver.
The bright green of new growth.
The yellow-green of willow leaves.
The delicate grayish green of the backs of willow leaves.
An olive green with a hint of slate blue.
The characteristic vital green of spring growth.
The clear green of green apples.
A deep grayed green.
A bluish green.
A yellow-green with a hint of gray.
A light true green.
The delicate bluish green of robin’s eggs.
A rich leaf green.
A vivid yellow-green.
A dark green often found in glass bottles.
The rich, true green of malachite.
The milky green of opals.
The dull green of marble.
The deep bluish-green of the backs of almonds leaves.
A dull, deep green.
The bluish-green of the patina that forms on copper.
A delicate blue-green.
A deep emerald green.
A deep green used in tartan.
Mallard green.
A dull olive green.
Overglaze green in Chinese ceramics.
The blue-green of the sea.
The gray-green of celadon porcelains.
The blue-green of fir needles.
A blue-green color.
The vivid blue-green of turquoises.
The muted blue-green of pine needles.
A bright navy blue.
A pale true blue.
A grayish olive green.
The pale sky-blue visible on the horizon.
A gray-aqua mixture.
A dull blue-green.
A pale sky blue.
The blue-green of turquoises.
A dark blue with a hint of gray.
The deep indigo blue of Marine Corps uniforms.
A vivid sky blue.
A dull blue-green.
A vivid blue with a hint of green.
A cobalt blue associated with the region of Germany known as Saxony.
The gray-blue of smoke.
A dull blue.
The blue of a clear sky.
A deep grayed blue.
The blue of a perfectly clear sky.
The gray-blue of slate.
The blue of sapphires.
A clear, medium blue.
The color of the blue pigment made from powdered lapis lazuli.
A sky blue named for a pigment of cobalt oxide and alumina.
Blue black.
A deep blue of British navy uniforms.
A dark blue produced by dyeing with indigo.
The soft, slightly purplish blue associated with the semi-precious stone.
A rich purplish blue associated with the British royal family.
The purplish blue of salvia flowers.
Gray with a hint of pale purple.
A gray with the dark bluish hue of steel.
A deep blue produced with ferric ferrocynide.
The soft, purplish blue of gentian flowers.
A deep purple
The purple of wisteria blossoms.
A dull bluish-purple.
A pink-purple, midway between violet and magenta.
The color of the first aniline die, a pale grayed pink-lilac.
A bluish-violet.
A light pinkish-purple.
A deep gray with a hint of purple.
The pale purple of lilacs.
The pale purple of crocus flowers.
A reddish purple.
The deep violet of pansy petals.
A deep reddish purple.
The color of violet blossoms; the name Newton gave to the purple end of the visible spectrum.
A mixture of red and blue, with many hies, including lavender and lilac; the unmodified term usually refers to a reddish purple.
The soft reddish-purple of Japanese irises.
A deep gray with a touch of purple.
A pale purple.
A dark, blackish purple.
A brownish purple.
The grayed purple of plums.
A dull pale purple.
A vivid reddish purple.
A grayed amethyst.
A vivid reddish-purple.
A deep reddish-purple.
A deep grayed purple.
The pinkish purple of azalea blossoms.
A purple with a hint of brown.
Pure white.
White with a hint of yellow.
A pale, warm gray.
A silvery gray.
A medium gray.
A medium gray.
Medium gray.
A gray with a hint of celadon.
Gray with a hint of olive green.
A greenish-gray.
A dark gray.
The dark purple of blackberries.
A dark gray with a hint of blue.
Blackish brown.
The blackish gray of charcoal.
The grey-black of charcoal.
True black; the darkest color.
Lacquer black.