4A90A4

Japan · Blue

Izumi Blue

Izumi Blue

#4A90A4
HEX#4A90A4
RGB74, 144, 164
CMYK55 12 0 36
HSL193° 38% 47%
Color FamilyBlue
JapanBlueTextilePaintingCraft
Cultural Story

Izumi Blue

Izumi Blue comes from traditional Japanese indigo dyeing. "Izumi" means "harmonious spring," suggesting clarity and tranquility. Indigo has about 20 color levels from lightest to darkest, each with a specific name. Izumi Blue sits in the lighter range, the most common blue for Edo period commoner clothing.

Origin

Derived from traditional Japanese indigo dyeing with fewer dipping cycles for a lighter blue.

Symbolism

Izumi Blue symbolizes tranquility, depth, and resilience.

Historical Origin

Japanese indigo dyeing dates back to the Nara period (710-794).

Traditional Applications
Textile
Painting
Craft
Related Poems
蓝染の色は深く。
—— 松尾芭蕉
Related Colors

Indigo

Indigo

Japan

Japanese indigo is celebrated as "Japan Blue." Hokusai and Hiroshige's ukiyo-e extensively used this deep blue, stunning European artists after Japan's 1853 opening. Van Gogh collected Hiroshige prints, and "The Starry Night"'s swirling blues were directly influenced by "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." The 30+ step dyeing process transforms fabric from yellow-green to deep blue through oxidation.

TextileCraftPainting

Sakura Pink

Sakura Pink

Japan

Sakura Pink is one of Japan's most representative traditional colors. The Japanese feeling for cherry blossoms is rooted in "mono no aware" aesthetics—the beauty of impermanence. The cherry blossom forecast ("sakura front") is a national event, making sakura pink a symbol of life's fleeting beauty.

TextilePaintingCeremony