[Explanation of a color]

Urumi-iro (潤色) refers to a deep, subdued blue-gray color. The term “urumi (潤み)” means “moisture” or “luster,” giving the impression of a slightly glossy yet subdued hue. It is an old color name, recorded as early as 1548 in the Japanese dictionary Unpo Irohajuu (運歩色葉集) from the Muromachi period.

On the other hand, the Shikimei Daijiten (色名大辞典) (1956) describes “urumi-iro” as “a dull, murky color,” but since no color sample is provided, the exact shade remains unclear.

Additionally, urumi-iro is sometimes simply referred to as “urumi.” However, urumi-shu (潤朱), a deep, subdued red, is also known as “urumi,” making it necessary to determine the intended color from the surrounding context.

Furthermore, when pronounced junshoku (潤色) instead of urumi-iro, it carries entirely different meanings unrelated to color. It can mean “adding embellishment or luster,” “embellishing or altering facts,” “moisturizing or revitalizing,” “mediating or arranging,” “supplementing or editing,” “exceptional cases or special treatment,” or “covering expenses.” For instance, in the Heian-period anthology Koudanshou (江談抄) (circa 1111), the phrase “斎名作非詩。雑筆も猶採古集潤色之誠而有験” uses junshoku in the sense of “embellishment.”

Although urumi-iro is an old color name, its ambiguous meaning due to the multifaceted nature of the word urumu (潤む) and its potential confusion with urumi-shu have led to its rarity in literary works and historical records. It remains one of the more uncommon Japanese color names.

-read: Urumi-iro-