The Traditional Colors of Japan

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 Palette
The Traditional Colors of Japan
Traditional Japanese Color Palette

Pink

#DC9FB4

The vivid pink of Dianthus chinesis flowers.

Orchid Pink

#E16B8C

The purplish pink of orchids.

Raspberry Red

#8E354A

The rich purplish red of raspberries.

Old Rose

#F8C3CD

A soft, light red; a washed-out vermilion.

Baby Pink

#F4A7B9

A soft pink.

Mulberry

#64363C

The dark reddish-purple of ripe mulberries.

Fuchsia Pink

#F596AA

The pink of fuchsia flowers.

Strawberry

#B5495B

The rich red of strawberries.

Rose Pink

#E87A90

The pale vermilion of classic pink roses.

Signal Red

#D05A6E

A deep red.

Cherry Pink

#DB4D6D

A pink with a hint of purple.

Cherry Blossom

#FEDFE1

The pink of cherry blossoms, the Japanese national flower.

Rose Gray

#9E7A7A

Gray with a hint of rose-red.

Rose Red

#D0104C

The familiar red of roses.

Crimson

#9F353A

A deep red originally derived from the cochineal insect.

Carmine

#CB1B45

A bright red originally derived from the cochineal insect.

Pink

#EEA9A9

The color of fringed pinks, also known as Dianthus or pink carnations.

Old Rose

#BF6766

A faded rose-red.

Chocolate Brown

#86473F

A deep, rich brown.

Silver Pink

#B19693

Pink with a hint of silver.

French Rose

#EB7A77

A bright crimson.

Russet Brown

#954A45

A deep reddish brown.

Corinth Pink

#A96360

A reddish-brown used on ancient Greek pottery from Corinth.

Geranium

#CB4042

The strong red of geraniums, flowering perennials in the geraniaceae family.

Cardinal

#AB3B3A

A vivid red, named for the color of the cassocks worn by cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.

Silver Pink

#D7C4BB

Pink with a hint of silver.

Dark Cardinal

#904840

A dark reddish brown.

Garnet

#734338

A dark red of garnets.

Blood Red

#C73E3A

A pure, clear red.

Woodland Brown

#554236

The deep brown of a woodland floor.

Pompeian Red

#994639

A reddish-brown reminiscent of the houses of Pompeii.

Salmon Pink

#F19483

The bright pink of salmon.

Amber Red

#B54434

Red with a hint of orange.

Ash Rose

#B9887D

A pale rose with a hint of ash gray.

Coral Pink

#F17C67

The characteristic pink of coral.

Oxblood Red

#884C3A

A rich reddish brown.

Poppy Red

#E83015

A strong red with a hint of orange.

Red Lead

#D75455

A bright reddish-orange, named for the pigment red lead or minium.

Copper Rose

#B55D4C

Rose red with a hint of copper.

Mahogany

#854836

The deep reddish-brown of mahogany wood.

Brick Dust

#A35E47

A dull brick red.

Scarlett

#CC543A

A vivid red with a hint of yellow.

Auburn Brown

#724832

A red-brown color.

Tomato Red

#F75C2F

A color of a ripe tomato.

Chestnut

#6A4028

The reddish brown of chestnuts.

Copper Brown

#9A5034

A rich coppery brown.

Burnt Orange

#C46243

A deep orange.

Garnet Brown

#AF5F3C

A reddish brown.

Indian Pink

#FB966E

A pale vermilion.

Arabian Red

#724938

A dark red.

Cinnamon

#B47157

The light reddish-brown of cinnamon.

Melon Pink

#DB8E71

The orange-pink of cantaloupe melon.

Orange Vermilion

#F05E1C

A strong orange vermilion.

Flamingo

#ED784A

The pale crimson of flamingo plumage.

Coral Rust

#CA7853

Coral pink with a hint of brown.

Etruscan Orange

#B35C37

The orange with a hint of brown characteristic of Etruscan art.

Burnt Umber

#563F2E

A deep reddish chocolate brown.

Cork

#E3916E

The light brown of the bark of the cork tree.

Brick Red

#8F5A3C

A mellow reddish brown.

Flesh

#F0A986

A peach-hued skin color.

Etruscan Rose

#A0674B

A soft pinkish brown.

Burnt Sienna

#C1693C

An orange-brown.

Apricot Buff

#FB9966

A dull apricot yellow.

Nut Brown

#947A6D

The brown of ripe walnuts.

Terra Cotta

#A36336

A rich brownish orange, as in unglazed roof titles.

Salmon Buff

#E79460

A dull, pale orange.

Golden Brown

#7D532C

A rich golden brown.

Red Fallow

#C78550

Tan with a hint of red.

Bronze

#985F2A

The clean brown of unweathered bronze.

Peach Beige

#E1A679

A beige with a touch of pink.

Tobacco Brown

#855B32

A warm light brown.

Saffron Yellow

#FC9F4D

The golden yellow of dried saffron stigmas.

Light Apricot

#FFBA84

A pale ripe apricot color.

Majolica Orange

#E98B2A

The orange found in Majolica ceramics.

Peach Buff

#E9A368

A pale reddish tan.

Ocher Beige

#B17844

A pale yellow-brown.

Fawn

#96632E

A golden brown, seen in some fawn’s coats.

Russet Gold

#43341B

Gold with a touch of brown.

Amber

#CA7A2C

The golden yellow of amber.

Vanilla

#ECB88A

Pale vanilla extract.

Russet Brown

#78552B

A deep reddish brown.

Buff

#B07736

A light yellow-brown, the color of buffalo leather.

Drab

#967249

A light olive brown.

Fallow

#E2943B

The pale brown of sandy soil in fallow fields.

Brown Gold

#C7802D

A gold with a hint of brown.

Raw Sienna

#9B6E23

A brownish-yellow.

Sepia

#6E552F

A dark brown like the pigment derived from cuttlefish ink.

Champagne

#EBB471

The pale straw color of champagne.

Peach

#D7B98E

A soft pinkish-orange, the color of peach flesh.

Maple Sugar

#82663A

The light brown of maple sugar.

Yellow Ocher

#B68E55

A natural yellow-brown pigment.

Ecru

#BC9F77

The very pale brown of unbleached linen or silk.

Old Gold

#876633

A dark yellow.

Maple Leaf

#C18A26

A golden brown.

Marigold

#FFB11B

The bright yellow of the marigold, a member of the chrysanthemum family native to Mexico.

Gold

#D19826

The warm yellow of the metal gold.

Yellow Gold

#DDA52D

The yellow of the metal gold.

Buff

#C99833

A light yellow-brown, the color of buffalo leather.

York Yellow

#F9BF45

The rich yellow of egg yolks.

Flax

#DCB879

A pale yellowish gray.

Curry Yellow

#BA9132

The rich yellow of turmeric.

Maize

#E8B647

The yellow of kernels of ripe maize (corn).

Sun Gold

#F7C242

The true gold of the sun.

Tawny Olive

#7D6C46

Olive green with a hint of brown.

Cream

#DAC9A6

A pale yellowish white.

Straw

#FAD689

The delicate yellow of dry straw.

Honeysweet

#D9AB42

Honey yellow.

Naples Yellow

#F6C555

A muted reddish-yellow pigment containing lead antimonate.

Sunflower

#FFC408

The yellow of sunflower petals.

Golden Yellow

#EFBB24

A vivid yellow.

Mustard

#CAAD5F

The dull yellow of mustard.

Oriental Gold

#8D742A

A muted gold.

Citron Gray

#B4A582

Gray with a touch of green.

Covert Gray

#877F6C

An olive gray.

Dusty Olive

#897D55

A dull olive green

Beech

#74673E

A blonde tan.

Oil Yellow

#A28C37

A deep yellow with a hint of green.

Seaweed

#6C6024

A grayish olive.

Seaweed Yellow

#867835

A grayish-olive yellow.

Seaweed Brown

#62592C

A grayish brown.

Chrome Lemon

#E9CD4C

A natural yellow pigment made of lead chromate.

Canary

#F7D94C

A bright yellow with a hint of green.

Lemon Yellow

#FBE251

A vivid yellow, the color of lemon peel.

Chartreuse Yellow

#D9CD90

A greenish yellow.

Olive Yellow

#ADA142

Yellow with a hint of olive green.

Citron Yellow

#DDD23B

A grayish-green yellow.

Light Olive Yellow

#A5A051

Pale yellow with a hint of olive green.

Apple Green

#BEC23F

A crisp yellow-green.

Sage Green

#6C6A2D

The gray-green of sage.

Citron Green

#939650

A light grayish yellow green.

Moss Green

#838A2D

A dullish yellow-green.

Elm Green

#B1B479

A grayish olive green.

Drab

#616138

A light olive brown.

Dark Olive

#4B4E2A

A dark olive green.

Sea Moss

#5B622E

Grayish olive green.

Bronze Green

#B1B479

A grayish olive.

Silver Sage

#89916B

A sage green with a hint of silver.

Fresh Green

#90B44B

The bright green of new growth.

Willow

#91AD70

The yellow-green of willow leaves.

Mist Green

#B5CAA0

The delicate grayish green of the backs of willow leaves.

Slate Olive

#646A58

An olive green with a hint of slate blue.

Spring Green

#7BA23F

The characteristic vital green of spring growth.

Apple Green

#86C166

The clear green of green apples.

Deep Sea Moss

#4A593D

A deep grayed green.

Jade Green

#42602D

A bluish green.

Cactus

#516E41

A yellow-green with a hint of gray.

Light Green

#91B493

A light true green.

Eggshell Green

#808F7C

The delicate bluish green of robin’s eggs.

Evergreen

#1B813E

A rich leaf green.

Porcelain Green

#5DAC81

A vivid yellow-green.

Bottle Green

#36563C

A dark green often found in glass bottles.

Malachite Green

#227D51

The rich, true green of malachite.

Opal Green

#A8D8B9

The milky green of opals.

Antique Green

#6A8372

The dull green of marble.

Almond Green

#2D6D4B

The deep bluish-green of the backs of almonds leaves.

Forest Green

#465D4C

A dull, deep green.

Verdigris

#24936E

The bluish-green of the patina that forms on copper.

Ripple Green

#86A697

A delicate blue-green.

Jewel Green

#00896C

A deep emerald green.

Lincoln Green

#096148

A deep green used in tartan.

Green Duck

#20604F

Mallard green.

Olive Drab

#0F4C3A

A dull olive green.

Chinese Green

#4F726C

Overglaze green in Chinese ceramics.

Sea Green

#00AA90

The blue-green of the sea.

Celadon

#69B0AC

The gray-green of celadon porcelains.

Fir Green

#26453D

The blue-green of fir needles.

Aqua Green

#66BAB7

A blue-green color.

Turquoise Blue

#268785

The vivid blue-green of turquoises.

Blue Conifer

#405B55

The muted blue-green of pine needles.

Canton Blue

#305A56

A bright navy blue.

Pale Ultramarine

#78C2C4

A pale true blue.

Dun

#376B6D

A grayish olive green.

Horizon Blue

#A5DEE4

The pale sky-blue visible on the horizon.

Aqua Gray

#77969A

A gray-aqua mixture.

Light Saxe Blue

#6699A1

A dull blue-green.

Pale Aqua

#81C7D4

A pale sky blue.

Turquoise Blue

#33A6B8

The blue-green of turquoises.

Tapestry Blue

#0C4842

A dark blue with a hint of gray.

Marine Blue

#0D5661

The deep indigo blue of Marine Corps uniforms.

Cerulean Blue

#0089A7

A vivid sky blue.

Goblin Blue

#336774

A dull blue-green.

Electric Blue

#255359

A vivid blue with a hint of green.

Saxe Blue

#1E88A8

A cobalt blue associated with the region of Germany known as Saxony.

Smoke Blue

#566C73

The gray-blue of smoke.

Smoke Blue

#577C8A

A dull blue.

Sky Blue

#58B2DC

The blue of a clear sky.

Oriental Blue

#2B5F75

A deep grayed blue.

Azure Blue

#3A8FB7

The blue of a perfectly clear sky.

Slate Blue

#2E5C6E

The gray-blue of slate.

Sapphire Blue

#006284

The blue of sapphires.

Forget Me Not Blue

#7DB9DE

A clear, medium blue.

Ultramarine

#51A8DD

The color of the blue pigment made from powdered lapis lazuli.

Cobalt Blue

#2EA9DF

A sky blue named for a pigment of cobalt oxide and alumina.

Midnight Blue

#0B1013

Blue black.

Navy Blue

#0F2540

A deep blue of British navy uniforms.

Indigo

#08192D

A dark blue produced by dyeing with indigo.

Lapis Lazuli

#005CAF

The soft, slightly purplish blue associated with the semi-precious stone.

Royal Blue

#0B346E

A rich purplish blue associated with the British royal family.

Salvia Blue

#7B90D2

The purplish blue of salvia flowers.

Lavender Gray

#6E75A4

Gray with a hint of pale purple.

Steel Gray

#261E47

A gray with the dark bluish hue of steel.

Prussian Blue

#113285

A deep blue produced with ferric ferrocynide.

Gentian Blue

#4E4F97

The soft, purplish blue of gentian flowers.

Victoria Violet

#211E55

A deep purple

Wisteria

#8B81C3

The purple of wisteria blossoms.

Aster

#70649A

A dull bluish-purple.

Helitrope

#9B90C2

A pink-purple, midway between violet and magenta.

Mauve

#8A6BBE

The color of the first aniline die, a pale grayed pink-lilac.

Bell Flower

#6A4C9C

A bluish-violet.

Heliotrope

#8F77B5

A light pinkish-purple.

Skark

#533D5B

A deep gray with a hint of purple.

Pale Lilac

#B28FCE

The pale purple of lilacs.

Crocus

#986DB2

The pale purple of crocus flowers.

Royal Purple

#77428D

A reddish purple.

Pansy

#3C2F41

The deep violet of pansy petals.

Deep Royal Purple

#4A225D

A deep reddish purple.

Violet

#66327C

The color of violet blossoms; the name Newton gave to the purple end of the visible spectrum.

Purple

#592C63

A mixture of red and blue, with many hies, including lavender and lilac; the unmodified term usually refers to a reddish purple.

Iris

#6F3381

The soft reddish-purple of Japanese irises.

Prune

#574C57

A deep gray with a touch of purple.

Lilac

#B481BB

A pale purple.

Dusky Purple

#3F2B36

A dark, blackish purple.

Eggplant

#572A3F

A brownish purple.

Plum Purple

#5E3D50

The grayed purple of plums.

Lilac Hazy

#72636E

A dull pale purple.

Amethyst

#622954

A vivid reddish purple.

Amethyst Mauve

#6D2E5B

A grayed amethyst.

Peony Purple

#C1328E

A vivid reddish-purple.

Amaranth Purple

#A8497A

A deep reddish-purple.

Plum

#562E37

A deep grayed purple.

Azalea Pink

#E03C8A

The pinkish purple of azalea blossoms.

Indian Purple

#60373E

A purple with a hint of brown.

Snow White

#FFFFFB

Pure white.

Chalk

#FCFAF2

White with a hint of yellow.

Pearl Gray

#BDC0BA

A pale, warm gray.

Silver Gray

#91989F

A silvery gray.

Lead Gray

#787878

A medium gray.

Ash Gray

#828282

A medium gray.

Mouse Gray

#787D7B

Medium gray.

Celadon Gray

#707C74

A gray with a hint of celadon.

Olive Gray

#656765

Gray with a hint of olive green.

Steel Gray

#535953

A greenish-gray.

Dove Gray

#4F4F48

A dark gray.

Black Berry

#52433D

The dark purple of blackberries.

Dark Slate

#373C38

A dark gray with a hint of blue.

African Brown

#3A3226

Blackish brown.

Charcoal Gray

#434343

The blackish gray of charcoal.

Charcoal Gray

#1C1C1C

The grey-black of charcoal.

Lamp Black

#080808

True black; the darkest color.

Ivory Black

#0C0C0C

Lacquer black.