[ALC Publishing Co., Ltd.] Publication of “Japan’s beautiful colors to enjoy with history: 287 traditional colors traced back to ancient times”
*ALC Publishing Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 27, 2024
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“Enjoy the beautiful colors of Japan with history: 287 traditional colors traced back to ancient times” published
*The first book to learn about the traditional colors that have been nurtured in the seasonal nature and the rich sensibilities of the Japanese people*
“Enjoy the beautiful colors of Japan with history: 287 traditional colors traced back to ancient times” Book image
Masami Uoda, a Japanese color specialist and artist who continues to present contemporary art works using washi paper and straw based on the concept of “fusion of tradition and modernity,” will hold her first exhibition on Monday, August 27, 2024. Books
“Enjoying Japan’s Beautiful Colors with History: 287 Traditional Colors Traced Back to Ancient Times” was published by Kawade Shobo Shinsha and is now on sale at bookstores nationwide.
Our daily life is full of colors. If we turn our attention to the colors that we take for granted every day, we can discover traditional colors, which are beautiful colors unique to Japan. Japan’s
traditional colors are colors that have been nurtured in the natural beauty of the four seasons and the rich sensibilities of the Japanese people, and have been incorporated into daily life and culture in textiles, architecture, ceramics, painting, literature, etc. since ancient times. I’m here.
This book explains these beautiful traditional colors while tracing the history of Japan.
Up until now, “commentary books on traditional colors” have generally been specialized books written by scholars and researchers. In contrast, this book takes advantage of the author’s career, which has been deeply involved with traditional colors in design production, to unravel traditional colors from the perspective of someone with practical experience. While briefly reviewing the history from ancient times to modern times, we provide easy-to-understand explanations of attractive colors such as colors that were popular in each era, colors with interesting anecdotes, and colors with unique names.
In addition to gaining knowledge about traditional colors, you will also realize that “traditional colors are still all around us,” and you will be able to fully feel the charm of colors. This book is perfect as a book.
■ Features of this book
* Packed with the beauty, fun, and charm of Japanese colors! * * A world of traditional Japanese colors that enrich your daily life *
This book divides Japanese history into six eras and uses a gentle and warm writing style to introduce the beautiful colors of Japan that are related to each era in an easy-to-understand manner, based on the concept of “enjoying history along with history.” It is also important to consider the rich sensibilities and playfulness of the Japanese people, and to further deepen your understanding, content that requires a deeper dive is explained separately in “More Detail” sections.
In addition, we have included a wealth of illustrations in full color so that you can visually experience the beauty of traditional colors. By using author’s works created in traditional colors on the chapter doors, you can not only develop your knowledge but also enjoy the “pleasure of seeing with your eyes.”
In addition, we have enriched reading columns such as “Colors of Japan found in towns connected to the author” and “Connecting the times and the present” in Kyoto and Kinosaki Onsen, both of which are closely related to the author. The structure is a little different from traditional “traditional color books”, as it incorporates a perspective that allows readers to enjoy traditional colors even in modern times, giving readers an opportunity to enjoy Japanese colors on a daily basis. Through traditional colors, this book not only introduces you to the aesthetic sense and culture of the Japanese people, but is also full of fun that will enrich your daily life.
■ Introduction of the author and background of publication of this book
* I want to convey the charm of the wonderful colors that Japanese people have from a new perspective *
The author, who has dealt with colors in her planning work, became deeply involved with traditional colors through her newspaper column “Color Variety,” which began serialization in 2016. At that time, the author was already working as a color instructor and had some knowledge of traditional colors.When writing “Color Variety”, which introduces traditional colors one day at a time, he read literature and books again. You will become even more aware of how interesting traditional Japanese colors are.
I was moved by the naming from a perspective that would be
unimaginable to us living in modern times, the worldview of colors created by a genius artist, and above all, the colors created by the rich sensibilities of the Japanese people, which are a combination of “seasons” and “stories.” This later led to the creation of
contemporary art using traditional colors.
However, in today’s Japan, traditional colors are closely related to Japanese clothing, traditional performing arts,
The world of folk art and Japanese painting is quite limited. In today’s Westernized lifestyle, it is not possible to make full use of it. Therefore, the author began his career as an artist in earnest with the desire to “blend the wonderful colors of the Japanese people into our daily lives.”
Then, by explaining traditional colors from the perspective of a person with practical experience who has built a career as a color instructor or artist, the beauty and charm of traditional colors can be conveyed from a different perspective than in specialized books written by academics and researchers. I’m starting to think that’s the case.
Traditional colors are by no means old-fashioned – the content allows people who don’t know about traditional colors to pick up this book for the first time and feel their beauty and interest, and the Japanese traditions that can still be seen in various situations. We would like to deliver a book that will spark your interest in color and inspire you to “incorporate Japanese colors” into your own life. It was with this in mind that I decided to write this book.
■ Structure and overview of this book
* A book filled with the charm of Japan’s beautiful colors! 287 traditional colors that can be enjoyed with history*
This book is structured as follows;
– *Chapter 1 Ancient Beginnings*
Learn about ancient colors, mythological colors, amulet colors, colors from the Kofun period, and the beginnings of color and dyeing.
– * Chapter 2 Asuka/Nara Aya era *
It was a time when the country took shape and absorbed Chinese culture. Easy-to-understand explanations of pigment-based colors, dye-based colors, and Japan’s first class system based on color.
– * Chapter 3 Heian Era of Elegance *
The heyday of elegant aristocratic society. The Japanese aesthetic sense has matured through “Kokufuka”, and we introduce the elegant and delicate colors, as well as the colors that have been nurtured by the beautiful sensibilities of the Japanese people, who are sensitive to the changes in nature. A detailed explanation with illustrations of the clothing coloring manual for Heian aristocratic women.
– *Chapter 4: Kamakura, Muromachi, Azuchi-Momoyama: The Age of Heroism* A time when the samurai class held the real power. Introducing colors that have changed from simple and powerful colors to the
foreign-oriented Kitayama culture, the “wabi-sabi” Higashiyama culture, and the era that favored flashy and gorgeous things.
– *Chapter 5 Edo era of style*
A time when townspeople held economic control. Introducing many trendy colors created by wealthy townspeople with style and playfulness, such as Japan’s first trendy color, “Oshi,” the actor’s color,
“Forty-Eight Tea Hundred Rats,” and a variety of indigo dyeing colors.
– *Chapter 6 Modern era (Meiji, Taisho, early Showa) Era of Westernization* Introducing colors that have changed dramatically from the modernized West with the addition of synthetic dyes that do not dull. In the author’s subjective selection of 10 interesting color names, we will explain the origins of the names, which will become even more fun once you know them.
■ Book overview
Release date: Monday, August 27, 2024
Price: 2,090 yen (1,900 yen + tax 10%)
Publisher: Kawade Shobo Shinsha Co., Ltd.
Editorial cooperation: ALC Publishing Co., Ltd.
Available at bookstores nationwide, online bookstores, etc.
Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/fWyz3rY
■ Author profile
*Masami Uota*
Japanese color specialist and artist. Born in Kyoto City.
Graduated from Saga Art College in Kyoto and Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo. Has been involved in fashion and interior brand design and planning work in Tokyo for many years. In 2013, U in Kyoto
After that, he started working on projects related to traditional Japanese colors, and in 2016 started serializing a newspaper column called “Iro Iroro”, which introduces traditional colors once a day. At the same time, he began producing art works that incorporated traditional Japanese colors.
In 2020, he opened “Gallery 2626 Kinosaki” in Kinosaki Onsen, where his works are permanently exhibited. In order to introduce Japan’s traditional colors both domestically and internationally, he continues to present contemporary art works using washi paper and straw based on the concept of “fusion of tradition and modernity.”
Currently living in Arashiyama, Kyoto and Kinosaki Onsen.
[Official website]
Masami Uota
Website: https://www.masamiuotaart.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masami.uota/
[Contact information regarding this matter]
Company name: ALC Publishing Planning Co., Ltd. (in charge of editing this book) Public relations person: Tomiyo Misaki
TEL: 050-3593-8829
Email: info@arcpublishing.jp