I recently painted some plant potters using RAL 5010 (“bleu breton”, a tone of blue), and I wondered what kind of Japanese colors there could be. After a bit of research, I wasn’t disappointed. Japanese traditional colors (日本の伝統色, nihon no dentoshoku) are more than pretty tones. Many of them are tied to seasons, poetry, clothing, incense, and court culture. A color name often carries a story: a plant used as dye, a flower that blooms for only a short moment, or a mood that appears in a specific month.
Here is a quick visual guide with flat color squares and short notes.
A small palette of classic colors
Wabi-cha (侘茶)
A muted tea-brown linked to wabi-sabi taste: quiet, aged, and understated.
Beni-iro (紅色)
A vivid crimson from safflower dyes, historically prized in textiles and cosmetics.
Ai-iro (藍色)
Indigo blue associated with practical cloth, workwear, and deep natural dye traditions.
Moegi-iro (萌黄色)
A yellow-green of fresh shoots in spring, often used to suggest youth and renewal.
Hada-iro (肌色)
A soft skin-tone peach used in classical palettes for warmth and subtle contrast.
Kyo-murasaki (京紫)
A refined Kyoto purple associated with courtly elegance and traditional dye craftsmanship.
Yamabuki-iro (山吹色)
A bright golden yellow inspired by Japanese kerria blossoms in early spring.
Sakura-iro (桜色)
Cherry blossom pink: brief, delicate, and strongly tied to springtime impermanence.
Koke-iro (苔色)
Moss-green earth tone, gentle and quiet, often paired with subdued neutrals.
Sumi (墨色)
Ink black from calligraphy traditions; deep but slightly soft rather than pure digital black.
Note: RAL values above are nearest RAL Classic approximations for practical design reference.