Red in most cultures is a symbolic representation of blood and fire, passion and emotion.

In Japan, as
elsewhere, red is also the color of the sacred. Shrines and torii gates used red in the past centuries and
they can be seen today throughout Japan. Japanese lacquer ware, red on the outside and black inside
(there is opposite combination, too: red inside and black outside), was a symbol of authority or wealth.
Red or vermilion (also called Chinese red—vivid red to reddish orange) lacquer was used for women’s
combs and hair accessories, for sheaths for samurai swords, and for numerous interior decorations. 2
Imari ceramic ware, famous today throughout the world, first used red in the 17th century. Seals used to
stamp documents use vermilion (or cinnabar) pigment. Textiles utilized red pigment dyes. Emiko: Red
Interior decorations of house reminds me the place for prostitution, too. In the houses of ordinary
people, we hardly can find red decoration in Japan because red is an emotional and sexual color for us.
Red is a most sensitive color for us because it has a lot of meanings and its meaning has been changed
throughout our long history. Red is also the color of our national flag. We usually avoid wearing red
clothes in formal situations because red is considered an aggressive color.

RED:

1. piece of Imari—Iro-e. polychrome over glaze-red predominates—large Imari bowl.

2. red carved lacquer plate

3. red and black lacquer ware

4. red obi-ceremonial gift in original box

5. pair of red lacquer candlesticks 5

6 red and black obi

7. red undergarment for wedding kimono

8. pillow- red made from a kimono (Peggy)

9. red with white chrysanthemums kimono that would have been worn by a teenager. (Peggy)

10. Emperor and Empress doll (red and blue represented)

11. sake container (Peggy)

“THE COLORS OF JAPAN” BY SADAO HIBI.

Red is generally called "aka （赤）" in Japanese. There are

many traditional shades of red. The Japanese gave each
shade of red its own elegant name in the old days. Shuiro
(vermilion), akaneiro (madder red), enji (dark red),
karakurenai (crimson) and hiiro (scarlet) are among of them.
The Japanese especially love the red that is obtained from
safflower (benibana), and it was very popular in the Heian
period (794-1185). Some of the beautiful clothing that were
dyed with safflower red are well-preserved in the Shousouin
at Todaiji Temple, more than 1200 years later. Safflower dyes
were also used as lipstick and rouge by court ladies. At
Horyuji Temple, the world's oldest wooden buildings, their
walls were all painted with shuiiro (vermillion). Many torii
(Shinto shrine archways) are also painted this color.

The history of red in Japan traces back to ancient times. The country’s oldest earthenware
(Jomon), and other woodenware made in the same era are painted with a lacquer called
‘sekishitsu’ (a mixture of cinnabar and lacquer) In the old graveyards for those in power
(called kofun), pictures are painted with an Indian red made of iron oxide. This red was
meant to protect the body of the man in power from evil.
The red you can see a lot in Japan is the one on the shrine gates (called torii). This
particular red is called akani. Each shrine uses a slightly different red, but akani
protects against rust because of the cinnabar mercury in it and is meant as protection
from evil and disaster. The red also increases the power of the kami
During the Japanese civil wars (1467-1568), red was loved by the samurai and
worn as a symbol of strength and power in battle. Red was also used as makeup
in Japan long before lipstick became popular. Noble women would use safflowers as a
base for their lipsticks. This flower is still picked today to make more traditional lipstick
and is said to protect the beauty of Japanese women.
https://tadaimajp.com/2015/05/purple/
The sanctuary is bounded by two semicircular walls enclosing a wooden structure built
on the traditional model of Shingon temples, with a statue of Amida Buddha in the
centre. (Image no.12) The sacredness of the room is accentuated by the use of color
and light; Natural light from a single source filters through a grating behind the statue of
the Buddha and floods the nave, warming up the vermilion red in which the room is
painted. Furthermore, Ando inspires from Buddha mandala when designing the
Temple's plan (Image no.13). Meditation technique is one of the main principals in
Shingon sect, that is done by two specific mandalas: Kongo-Kia or World of Diamond-
like transparent wisdom, (Image no.14) and Taiko-Kia or World of Womb-like
phenomenal experience (Image no.15). Ando's design reminds Kongo-Kia mandala
when the blue sky reflects in oval shape of the pool. (Image no.14) Besides the small
temple below the lotus pool which has decorated with red color and light, symbolize the
World of Womb-like phenomenal experience. (Nitschke, 1993, 62-83, Zanchi, Aug, 2002
)

Ethical and Traditional Concerns in Contemporary Japanese Design Parisa

Yazdanpanah Abdolmaleki

The red color has different, profound meanings in many cultures. In Japan, a particular shade of
red, Vermilion - sRGB (227, 66, 52), is so present throughout the Japanese landscape that one
can say that this is a color defining Japan.
The reason of this popularity lies in the Shinto religion, where vermilion is the color which
expels evil and diseases. That’s why the Shinto torii are often painted in this shade and in some
cases entire architectural complexes, like the one in the photo, are colored vermilion

Red came to be associated with authority and wealth, as attested to by red-sheathed

samurai swords and ornamental combs. It also has ties to religion, as demonstrated by
the red torii of Shinto shrines, whose shrine maidens are traditionally clad in red
hakama 袴はかま. White is godly and pure; sacred places are strung with shimenawa
注連縄しめなわ festooned with white shide 紙垂しで, or strewn with white pebbles or
sand. Black exudes dignity and formality, and is used for the robes of Buddhist monks,
as well as for montsuki 紋付もんつき, the kimono that bears the family crest.
Japan’s red brick buildings
How turn-of-the-century European style became a fixed element of the Japanese
architectural landscape.
Found in many of Japan’s major cities, red brick buildings have a distinct Western
style that was found in continental Europe, London or New York around the turn of
the last century. Red clay bricks, often adorned with white quoins (corner stones),
give them their typical charming appearance. Government buildings and other public
properties were built in this style during the late Meiji (1868–1912) and Taisho
(1912–1926) eras. And while European in appearance, the bricks of the buildings in
Tokyo were in fact burned from clay from the Tone River that flows through the
Kanto Region, where the capital is located.
Why does Japan have them?
In fact, they style was first introduced to the Meiji government by two German
architects, Wilhelm Böckann and Hermann Ende. The Meiji revolution saw Japan
abolish its feudal system and with it, also the old ways and culture. As the Meiji
government was turning its back on old Japanese culture, it was looking for new
inspiration, and embraced Western culture in many ways. This ranged from
modelling the Japanese legal and medical system on the German and French ones,
to Victorian fashion becoming en vogue with the upper classes. The government
turned to the European architect duo — Böckmann and Ende — with a vision of
redesigning Tokyo as a grand and modern capital. The plans included public parks,
squares and government buildings in the style of those found in Europe at the time,
heavily relying on brick as the main building material.
However, Böckmann and Ende lamented that they could not find enough bricks for
their ambitious plans of the new Tokyo Station that required more than 8 million of
them. Brick production was still in its infancy in Japan at the time and they declined
to accept bricks from different origins, as they feared the patchwork appearance of
the resulting structure would take away from the splendour they envisioned. In the
end, the building was finished many years later, after the architects had already left
Japan again. However, the trend was set and spread from the capital to Hokkaido,
where a number of red brick buildings have been preserved and can still be seen
today, namely in Sapporo, Hakodate, and Otaru.
Eventually, the style fell out of fashion, as more flexible materials that can withstand
the pressure of frequent earthquakes were favoured.
Notable examples
When the Marunouchi area, which surrounds Tokyo Station, was first opened to
house Japanese companies in modern office buildings, its original plans were
modelled on the streets in London and slated to be built completely in red brick and
white quoin style. The only — and most impressive —preserved building from the
early plans is the Tokyo Station building.
It has been completely remodeled in a large-scale redevelopment project in 2012.
The old, picturesque structure has been revived and infused with the conveniences
of a modern train station alongside shopping malls. Parts of the old walls have been
preserved for historical purposes and can be viewed by visitors. On the outside, the
historical station building with a backdrop of Tokyo’s central business district is one
of the city’s most photographed buildings. On the inside, it is a great destination for
souvenir shopping and dining. Tokyo Station is located on the JR Chuo and
Yamanote Lines and the Metro Marunouchi Line.
Yokohama’s Red Brick Warehouse, called Yokohama Akarenga Soko in Japanese,
is another iconic building from the same area. It lacks the decorative white quoins as
it was originally designed as storage for the port, but has now been turned into a
high-end shopping mall with stores selling selected fashion, art and interiors.
Several areas are dedicated to cafes and restaurants and all areas are connected
via glass and steel staircases and escalators, adding a modern touch to the old
warehouses. The Akarenga Building can be reached via Sakuragicho Station on the
JR Negishi Line in Yokohama. From here, it is about 15 minutes on foot. Another
option is to get off Nihon-odori Station on the Minato Mirai Metro Line and walk for
about 6 minutes.
Another example is the Ministry of Justice building, designed by Böckmann and
Ende themselves. It houses the ministry’s museum, library, and research and
training facilities. Visitors to the museum can enter for free. It is located in Chiyoda
ward, and is a 3-minute walk from Kasumigaseki Station on the Marunouchi,
Chiyoda, or Hibiya Line.

There are also many white torii around Japan, such as Ise Jingu, Izumo
Taisha Shrine and so on. Originally, the torii was dominated by white with a
sacred meaning.
Why are torii mostly in red
In Japan, red has represented fire and sun since ancient times, which is
considered to be the color that can bring life and energy or resist disaster. The
use of red for the torii means that there is an enchantment in the god domain
that cannot be invaded by evil spirits.