About this combination
Kariyasu is a soft, earthy yellow extracted from wild mountain grass. Rikyū-nezumi — a cool olive-tinted grey — is named for the 16th-century tea master whose wabi-sabi sensibility changed Japanese aesthetics forever. This pairing embodies wabi restraint: warmth present but never loud.
Where it works
- Tea brands, ceramics, artisan food packaging
- Minimalist editorial with a warm undertone
- Interior design mood boards
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.