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Modern Colors of Japan: Japanese Color Harmony Dictionary: The Complete Guide for Designers and Graphic Artists
An indispensable guide to the colors and combinations of contemporary Japanese design--by one of Japan's leading colorists!
Color consultant Teruko Sakurai finds inspiration everywhere--in the foods, landscapes and everyday objects of her native land. Flipping through the pages of this book is like taking a tour through modern Japan. The tones, hues and palettes will dazzle and inspire you.
Over 3,300 different color combinations are presented in over 125 different themes. Each two-page section in this book presents a different theme with the following
This is an indispensable guide for graphic designers, illustrators, decorators, artists and publishing professionals. It will also be enjoyable and inspiring for readers planning their own home design or art projects.
Color consultant Teruko Sakurai finds inspiration everywhere--in the foods, landscapes and everyday objects of her native land. Flipping through the pages of this book is like taking a tour through modern Japan. The tones, hues and palettes will dazzle and inspire you.
Over 3,300 different color combinations are presented in over 125 different themes. Each two-page section in this book presents a different theme with the following
This is an indispensable guide for graphic designers, illustrators, decorators, artists and publishing professionals. It will also be enjoyable and inspiring for readers planning their own home design or art projects.
304 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 17, 2022
Beautiful, portable, actionable. I am delighted with this little book and the inspiration it provides me with. I am particularly taken by some of the lovely color names - mouse in snowfield, morning in the fog etc
November 15, 2021
This is a vivid book of color names and descriptions arranged into 127 pleasant and exciting themes. In addition, thousands of sample color combinations are presented. That’s a basic description of what the book contains. I’ll try to convey here briefly how it all feels…
Many of the colors are based on foods, flowers, and other fragrant things. For example a red named Rooibos Tea, Shrimp Pink, Mahogany, Cacao, Mustard Gold and a bluish green named Nile River are parts of the nine colors that make up Recipe 057: African Dresses. Some colors are named for places: Raffles Hotel brown, Zoo Forest green, and Sentosa Beach blue for Recipe 098: Little India, Singapore. Others are more specific to Japan: Somen Noodles white, Yukata blue and a pale sea green called The Color of a Wind Bell’s Ring for 078: Summer in Japan. Almost all of the 127 themes feature colors like this, and that is very inspiring to me. I like to use all of my senses in connection with colors (kind of a controlled synesthesia, perhaps). These kinds of sensory connections are featured in my own artwork.
I stumbled upon Teruko Sakurai’s work when I was searching for more books similar to Naomi Kuno’s Practical Color Combinations. At that point, Sakurai’s books were only in Japanese, but I bought them anyway, even though my Japanese was limited. (I have since learned a great deal more Japanese, in large part thanks to translating these books for myself.) A few small details have been lost in the Tuttle translation, but overall it’s thrilling to now be able to read the books easily.
These books have functioned as lists of good and interesting things in life for me. They’ve helped me overcome boredom and indecision. Each day I pick a different theme and do something fun with it. (I have actually written companion books of lists that pair up music, food, clothing, books, movies and perfumes with each of the color schemes.) This book is not only about Japan, it’s about the good things in life in general. Sorry for my rambling. I hope you’ll check the sample [on Amazon] and give the book a chance. It’s so much better than most other books in English about colors.
Many of the colors are based on foods, flowers, and other fragrant things. For example a red named Rooibos Tea, Shrimp Pink, Mahogany, Cacao, Mustard Gold and a bluish green named Nile River are parts of the nine colors that make up Recipe 057: African Dresses. Some colors are named for places: Raffles Hotel brown, Zoo Forest green, and Sentosa Beach blue for Recipe 098: Little India, Singapore. Others are more specific to Japan: Somen Noodles white, Yukata blue and a pale sea green called The Color of a Wind Bell’s Ring for 078: Summer in Japan. Almost all of the 127 themes feature colors like this, and that is very inspiring to me. I like to use all of my senses in connection with colors (kind of a controlled synesthesia, perhaps). These kinds of sensory connections are featured in my own artwork.
I stumbled upon Teruko Sakurai’s work when I was searching for more books similar to Naomi Kuno’s Practical Color Combinations. At that point, Sakurai’s books were only in Japanese, but I bought them anyway, even though my Japanese was limited. (I have since learned a great deal more Japanese, in large part thanks to translating these books for myself.) A few small details have been lost in the Tuttle translation, but overall it’s thrilling to now be able to read the books easily.
These books have functioned as lists of good and interesting things in life for me. They’ve helped me overcome boredom and indecision. Each day I pick a different theme and do something fun with it. (I have actually written companion books of lists that pair up music, food, clothing, books, movies and perfumes with each of the color schemes.) This book is not only about Japan, it’s about the good things in life in general. Sorry for my rambling. I hope you’ll check the sample [on Amazon] and give the book a chance. It’s so much better than most other books in English about colors.
May 7, 2023
I adore color books. Some are useful and others just lovely to look at. “The Modern Colors of japan” gives us both.
Pages are filled with beautiful color combinations. Nine individual hues, based on a themes such as “Northern lights”, “Sunset on Mt. Fuji” or “Indian Spices”, face a range of possible pairings and graphic design examples. Elsewhere the book gives suggestions on how to come up with your own chromatic combinations.
“The Modern Colors of Japan” delighted and inspired me. I can hardly wait to try some of their recommendations!
Pages are filled with beautiful color combinations. Nine individual hues, based on a themes such as “Northern lights”, “Sunset on Mt. Fuji” or “Indian Spices”, face a range of possible pairings and graphic design examples. Elsewhere the book gives suggestions on how to come up with your own chromatic combinations.
“The Modern Colors of Japan” delighted and inspired me. I can hardly wait to try some of their recommendations!
November 8, 2021
Just a perfect guide for designers, artists, and photographers! A lot of Japanese patterns, color schemes, and pallets that suit each other! Fall in love with this book
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews