About this combination
Enji is a deep, slightly cool crimson — a lake dye traditionally made from cochineal insects. Matsuba is the dark green of pine needles. Together they are the auspicious color scheme of New Year decorations: pine branches tied with red cord.
Where it works
- Winter campaigns, holiday branding
- Wine and spirits
- Heritage editorial
Historical context
This combination from Wada's catalog anchors Enji, Matsuba, Kinari and Kogane in the red family — a 4-colour grouping with a bold, solemn, warm 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 — Matsuba on Kinari — reaches a contrast ratio of 7.93:1, clearing the WCAG AAA bar for body text, so it holds up for text-on-colour layouts as well as decorative use.