Book excerpt: This is a photographic exploration of the characteristic colours of Japan that have appeared repeatedly throughout the centuries in everything from everyday utensils to works of high art. The Colors of Japan is a visually stunning look into the unique use of color in Japanese culture from prehistoric times to the present day. That the Japanese should possess their own sense of color is not surprising, for like almost every other aspect of human life, color perception varies from culture to culture. The first and most fundamental reason for this variation can be