[Explanation of a color]

Uguisu-cha (鶯茶) is a subdued yellow-green color with a brownish tint, resembling the hue of a nightingale’s back feathers. It became a widely used dye color from the mid-Edo period onward and, along with Miru-cha (海松色), remains one of the few traditional Japanese color names in the yellow-green spectrum still in use today.

During the Edo period, Uguisu-cha gained popularity as a refined and sophisticated color, especially for women’s komon (小紋) patterns, and became a major trend. This color name frequently appears in ukiyo-zōshi (浮世草子) and jōruri (浄瑠璃) literature and was often used for the clothing of courtesans and actors in ukiyo-e (浮世絵) prints. At that time, the term “uguisu” generally referred to Uguisu-cha, rather than Uguisu-iro (鶯色).

Additionally, brownish hues were in vogue during the Edo period, leading to further differentiation of similar shades. A darker variation of Uguisu-cha was known as Omeshi-cha (御召茶), while a more yellow-toned variant was called Hiwa-cha (鶸茶). These subtle gradations of color were meticulously classified, reflecting the Edo-period trend known as “Shijūhachi-cha Hyakunezumi (四十八茶百鼠)”, which categorized numerous shades of brown and gray. This trend also contributed to the creation of unique color names for commercial purposes.

Furthermore, the shade of Uguisu-cha itself evolved over time. Compared to the early Edo period, it gradually became lighter and took on a greener hue during the mid-to-late Edo period, likely influenced by changing fashion trends and advancements in dyeing techniques.

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