Himawari-iro (Sunflower Color) refers to a vivid, deep yellow with a slight reddish tint, reminiscent of the blossoms of the sunflower (Himawari). As the name suggests, it is derived from the color of the sunflower’s petals. In English, it is called Sunflower Color.
Sunflowers were introduced to Japan in the mid-Edo period, but the term Himawari-iro became established as a color name only after the Meiji era, making it a relatively recent addition to the Japanese color vocabulary.
Until the Edo period, yellow tones in Japan were mainly subdued shades produced from plant- and mineral-based dyes. However, after the Meiji Restoration, the spread of chemical dyes and synthetic pigments brought forth bright hues like Himawari-iro, which gained popularity along with the era of bunmei kaika (civilization and enlightenment).