The book you are looking for is titled A Dictionary of Color Combinations
by Japanese artist Sanzō Wada. It is a seminal work based on his original 6-volume series from the 1930s, featuring hundreds of traditional Japanese and Western-influenced color palettes. PDF & Digital Links
You can find digital versions and community-curated archives of the book at the following links:
Full PDF (Bilingual Edition): A downloadable digital version of Volume 1 via DOKUMEN.PUB.
Volume 2 (Scribd): Access the second volume, which includes seasonal patterns and mid-20th-century designs, on Scribd.
Interactive Color Swatch Archive: A highly useful web-based companion that catalogs the colors with HEX codes and names like "Seashell Pink" and "Yellow Ocher" for digital design use. japanese dictionary of color combinations pdf link
Figma Community File: A resource on Figma that converts all 348 combinations into digital assets. Book Overview
Content: The collection starts with two-color combinations and progresses to more complex three- and four-color schemes.
Historical Context: Wada was a pioneer who founded the Japan Color Research Institute in 1927. His work helped define contemporary color research by blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern theory.
Language: Most editions are bilingual (Japanese/English), but the primary focus is on visual swatches and CMYK values.
A Dictionary Of Color Combinations Vol 1 [Vol 1, Bilingual The book you are looking for is titled
You can try searching for the following keywords on your favorite search engine:
You can also try visiting online archives and libraries that provide free e-books and PDF files, such as:
If you're looking for a specific dictionary, you can try searching for the title or author of the dictionary you're interested in. Some popular Japanese color dictionaries include:
You can also try visiting online marketplaces or bookstores that sell e-books and PDF files, such as:
If you're unable to find a PDF link, you can also consider purchasing a physical copy of the dictionary or looking for an online version that you can access through a subscription or a one-time payment. You can also try visiting online archives and
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Get the PDF (via the legal Japanese Dictionary of Color Combinations PDF link) if you:
Get the Hard Copy if you:
Unlike modern swatch books, Wada’s book does not give you RGB/Hex values. You must extract them manually.
The Dictionary of Color Combinations (originally published as Nihon no Dento Iro to Haishoku), created by the Japanese artist and costume designer Sanzo Wada in the 1930s, is widely considered a masterpiece of color theory. For graphic designers, artists, and historians, obtaining a digital copy (PDF) is often a priority for quick reference. However, finding a legal, high-quality PDF link requires understanding the distinction between the original public domain work and modern reprints.
In the world of graphic design, fashion, and interior decorating, color is more than just decoration—it is a language. No culture speaks this language more poetically than Japan. For decades, designers have sworn by a legendary reference book: "The Japanese Dictionary of Color Combinations" (Nihon Shikisai Haishoku Kyōkasho).
But what makes this book so special, and is there a legal PDF link available? Let’s dive in.
