November 9th Color Calendar Benikabairo (Red Birch)

November 9th Color Calendar: Benikabairo

"The memory of life that resides in the bark of wood."

Benikabairo is a deep reddish-brown color reminiscent of the autumn leaves of birch trees. Unlike the fiery splendor of autumn leaves, this color evokes the quiet warmth that lingers on the trunks and branches.

This color contains the memory of the tree. Even after the leaves have fallen, a hint of crimson remains on the bark. It is like life preparing to return to the earth, and also like a quiet promise of the next season.

Benibaba is a color often used in folk crafts and antique fabrics. It is also a color that evokes the "accumulation of time" found in everyday life, such as in well-used wooden tools and the handle of a brush that has become familiar to the hand.

On a day like today, try brewing some hot tea in a red birch colored cup. The moment you pick it up, you may feel a tranquil sensation, as if the life of the tree and your own breathing are intertwined.

References

• "Traditional Japanese Colors" by Shikosha • "Japanese Color Handbook" edited by the Plant Dyeing Research Group • "Benikabairo" — irocore.com
• "Dictionary of the Color Names of the Four Seasons" Kodansha