Color Day (Iro no Hi)

What is "Color Day"?

January 6 (1/6) is "Color Day." The date comes from a wordplay where "1" is read as "i" and "6" as "ro," together forming "i-ro" — the Japanese word for "color." It is regarded as a day for color coordinators and others in color-related professions, though the group that established it is unclear. January 6 is also known as "Karā no Hi" (Color Day, using the English loanword). As the new year gets going and work and daily life settle into their routines, it's a good chance to notice the colors around you and welcome a vibrant year ahead.

Color in Japanese history

In Japan, color has long been closely tied to rank and the seasons.

• The Twelve Level Cap and Rank System: Under the cap-rank system established in 603, ranks were shown by the color of officials' caps, and the highest rank is said to have been assigned purple. The dye from the root of the gromwell plant (shikon) took great effort to use, and purple long remained a noble color in Japan.
• Traditional colors from the seasons: From the changing seasons, the Japanese created many color names such as "sakura-iro" (cherry blossom pink), "moegi-iro" (fresh green), and "asagi-iro" (pale blue-green). These traditional colors live on in kimono, crafts, and modern design.

Color in world history

How we perceive and assign meaning to color varies greatly across eras and cultures.

• Purple from shellfish: In the ancient Mediterranean world, "Tyrian purple" dye, obtained in tiny amounts from sea snails, was extremely expensive, and purple became a symbol of kings and emperors.
• Different ways of naming colors: Languages and cultures divide and name colors differently. Even the number of colors in a rainbow isn't counted as seven everywhere.

Fascinating facts about color

• A green light called "blue": In Japan, a green traffic light is called a "blue light" (ao shingō). One reason is that the Japanese word "ao" has traditionally covered a wide range of colors, including green.
• A popular color: In international surveys asking people their favorite color, blue often ranks near the top.
• Colors humans can't see: Many birds and insects can see ultraviolet light, living in a world of color different from our own.
• Why "brown" is "tea color": The Japanese word for brown, "cha-iro" (tea color), is said to come from the color of cloth dyed with tea leaves — which is why it's "tea color" even though green tea is green.
• Other color days: Besides January 6, November 16 is "Ii Iro no Hi" (Good Color Day) in Japan, from another numeric wordplay.

Express your individuality through vivid color

Color Day is about finding the "personal colors" that resonate with your heart and expressing your individuality. Just as light passing through a prism creates a rainbow, your own being is a layering of many emotions and traits that together create something irreplaceably brilliant. On January 6, try wearing a color you wouldn't normally choose, or place a single flower in your room, and enjoy the stimulation that comes through your eyes. Simply changing a color can make familiar surroundings feel a little fresher. Start filling your blank canvas of a year with colors that are uniquely yours.

Tips for enjoying Color Day

• Pick a "theme color" for the day on a whim and wear an accessory in that color for a small change of mood.
• Look up Japan's traditional color names and try describing the things around you with names like "sakura-iro" or "moegi-iro."
• Step outside and observe the gradients of the winter sky and the subtle colors of winter plants — real-world colors that no screen can fully replicate.
• Inspired by "January 6 (iro)," reflect on what "color" (mood or direction) you want this year to take, and try expressing it with a single kanji character or color name.

Vivid colors make life more dramatic

January 6 is a day when the passion and warmth inside you become vivid colors that brighten everything around you. Just as colors blend to create new beauty, your individuality resonates with others to create wonderful harmony. A colorful perspective makes every day richer and more three-dimensional. May today be a day where your vision opens up and you feel wonderfully "colorful and full of life"!