About this combination
Asagi, a pale teal-blue, was the color of the Shinsengumi's haori in late-Edo Kyoto. Shu, vermillion, is the color of torii gates and temple pillars. Together they carry the tension of duty and devotion.
Where it works
- Posters with a signal vs. ground dynamic
- Games or films with a historical setting
- Masculine editorial work
Historical context
This combination from Wada's catalog anchors Asagi, Shu, Gofun and Sumi in the blue family — a 4-colour grouping with a bold, solemn, refined character, recorded in the Edo-era volumes of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, where these shikisai names have sat in the public domain for generations. Its strongest pairing — Gofun on Sumi — reaches a contrast ratio of 12.24:1, clearing the WCAG AAA bar for body text, so it holds up for text-on-colour layouts as well as decorative use.