Navy Blue

Navy Blue is the deepest and richest shade in the Japanese traditional indigo dyeing system. 'Kon' means deep, rich blue, and 'Jo' generally refers to blue in Japanese. Navy Blue requires fabric to be repeatedly dipped in the indigo vat dozens or even hundreds of times to achieve this near-ink-black deep blue.

In the Edo period, Navy Blue was an important color in samurai society. The samurai's kamishimo, hakama, and kataginu often used Navy Blue; its deep blue, almost black tone suited the samurai class's temperament of unostentatious authority. The Shogunate even had an admonition that 'samurai should esteem Navy Blue.'

Navy Blue was also the classic color for Noren curtains. Edo merchants hung Navy Blue Noren at shop entrances; the white lettering using the 'dye-removal' technique stood out vividly on the deep blue background. The Noren was not just a signboard but a symbol of family honor, with Navy Blue carrying the pride passed down through merchant generations.

The Japanese Navy chose Navy Blue as its uniform color upon its establishment in the Meiji period. The deep blue offered both concealment and authority at sea, and also approximated the uniform color of the British Royal Navy. From then on, 'Navy Blue' was not just a traditional color but also a color symbol of modernization and the dream of a strong nation.

Modern Japanese school uniforms and business suits still extensively use Navy Blue. From the gakuran of middle schools to the commuter suits of office workers, Navy Blue spans a long history from the warrior class and navy to modern citizens, becoming the most common formal occasion color in Japanese society.