The original 6-volume work Haishoku Soukan (The complete collection of color combinations), from which this book is derived, was published from 1933 to 1934. The work was compiled in early Showa, which was a turbulent pre-war and post-war period. But it was also a period permeated with a new atmosphere brought on by the influence of western culture.

This book is a collection of 348 color combinations originated by Sanzo Wada (1883-1967) who, in that time of increasingly avant-grade and diversified use of color, was quick to focus on the importance of color and laid the foundation for contemporary color research. Sanzo Wada was active as an artist, art school instructor, costume designer for the movies and the theater, and kimono and fashion designer who employed his extensive and versatile talents to do innovative work that centered primarily on visual perception and form.

The concept of "combining colors" was not generally recognized at the time, so, samplers of color combinations containing specific color combination patterns were highly unusual. Haishoku Soukan was the precursor of such samplers.

Sanzo Wada’s interest in color prompted him to found the Japan Standard Color Association (present-day Japan Color Research Institute) in 1927. Active not only as a color researcher but also as an artist, fashion designer, and stage and film art director, he received the 1954 Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Gate of Hell and was recognized as a Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government in 1958.

Softcover, 352 pages
Language: Japanese with English translation
Publisher: SEIGENSHA
Size:148 × 105 × 20 mm
Release date: 01.07.2010
ISBN: 978-4-86152-247-5