iro Traditional Japanese Colors
Orange & Brown

弁柄色

Bengara-iro
Bengal Red

A rich iron-oxide red-brown that colors the lattices of Kyoto machiya townhouses.

Color codes

HEX
#9B533F
COPIED
RGB
rgb(155, 83, 63)
COPIED
HSL
hsl(13, 42%, 43%)
COPIED
CMYK
cmyk(0, 46, 59, 39)
COPIED

Origin

Bengara is a Japanese contraction of 'Bengal', where iron-oxide pigment was originally imported. From the Edo period onward it was painted onto the wooden frames and shutters of merchant homes across Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Kurashiki.

Where you'll see it

Historic architecture, machiya restoration, wa-modern branding.

Contrast & accessibility

Calculating contrast against black and white…

Harmony palette

Computed from the color wheel — base, analogous (±30°), complementary, and triad. Click any swatch to copy.

Tip: analogous colors read as calm; complementary and triad add contrast for calls-to-action.

Related traditional colors