About this combination
Matcha-iro is the slightly yellow-tinted bright green of freshly whisked powdered tea. Kinari is the pale cream of undyed silk or paper. Together they ARE the tea ceremony, distilled to two colors.
Where it works
- Tea brands, matcha cafés
- Japanese-inspired restaurants
- Wellness and meditation
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.