About this combination
Entan — red lead — was the pigment of temple pillars and warning marks. Paired with sumi ink, it is the color of shrine gates at night: ceremonial, sharp, a little dangerous.
Where it works
- Film posters with historical themes
- Editorial for drama and stage
- Branding that needs danger without looking cheap
Historical context
This palette is inspired by the tradition of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, which cataloged combinations drawn from centuries of Japanese cultural life. The specific colors here use traditional shikisai names that have been in the public domain for generations.