Turmeric yellow (ukon-iro) is a warm shade of yellow derived from turmeric, a plant that has long been valued in Japan.

Turmeric belongs to the ginger family, and its rhizomes have been used since ancient times for dyes, fragrance, and a variety of everyday purposes.

Fabrics dyed with turmeric develop a distinctive yellow that feels bright yet gently subdued, lending the color a sense of natural simplicity and refined warmth.

In Japan, a rich tradition of dyeing with natural materials, including plants and minerals, has developed over centuries. A diverse range of colors has been created from familiar grasses, flowers, berries, and other gifts of nature.

Turmeric has been one of these natural gifts, accompanying everyday life and contributing to Japan’s culture of color.

Across cultures, yellow evokes the sun, gold, abundance, and light. Turmeric yellow, however, possesses a gentler warmth, closer to the earth and plants than the more brilliant shades of yellow.

It carries light within its hue while remaining soft and warm, with a subtle sense of nostalgia.

Quietly woven into this color are the memories of Japanese dyeing and craftsmanship, cultivated and passed down over generations.

A yellow born from plants, imparted to fabric by human hands, and preserved through the passage of time.

Turmeric yellow continues to convey a quiet and abundant beauty born where nature, everyday life, and the art of craftsmanship meet.