iro Traditional Japanese Colors
Red & Pink

茜色

Akane-iro
Madder Red

A deep, glowing red dyed from the roots of the madder plant (akane).

Color codes

HEX
#B7282E
COPIED
RGB
rgb(183, 40, 46)
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HSL
hsl(357, 64%, 44%)
COPIED
CMYK
cmyk(0, 78, 75, 28)
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Origin

Madder is one of Japan's oldest natural dyes, mentioned in the Man'yōshū with the phrase 'akane sasu murasaki-no.' The color was worn in Shinto rituals and used to dye armor cords, and 'akane-iro no sora' is still how Japanese poets describe a sunset sky.

Where you'll see it

Shrine goshuin, martial-arts equipment, autumn design, sunset imagery.

Contrast & accessibility

Calculating contrast against black and white…

Harmony palette

Computed from the color wheel — base, analogous (±30°), complementary, and triad. Click any swatch to copy.

Tip: analogous colors read as calm; complementary and triad add contrast for calls-to-action.

Related traditional colors