iro Traditional Japanese Colors
Orange & Brown

茶色

Cha-iro
Tea Brown

A basic brown named for the color of steeped tea — one of Edo Japan's most-used colors.

Color codes

HEX
#815B37
COPIED
RGB
rgb(129, 91, 55)
COPIED
HSL
hsl(29, 40%, 36%)
COPIED
CMYK
cmyk(0, 29, 57, 49)
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Origin

In the Edo period, sumptuary laws pushed commoners toward subtle browns and greys. Dyers responded with the shijūhaccha ('forty-eight browns'), each with its own name (kabacha, kogecha, susucha…). Cha-iro is the plain-vanilla brown at the center of that family.

Where you'll see it

Everyday wear, folk crafts, wooden interiors, understated design.

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.

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