Which colours were commonly used for painted decoration on traditional Japanese pottery?

Traditional Japanese pottery and porcelain have utilized a variety of colors for painted decoration, depending on the period, style, and type of ware.

• Blue and Brown: Early and traditional painted decoration often featured simple, calligraphic designs in blue or brown. Underglaze blue, in particular, was a foundational technique for many Japanese wares, including early Arita porcelain and sometsuke.123
• Polychrome Palettes: With the development of overglaze enamels in the 17th century, the color palette expanded significantly. The famous Kakiemon style is characterized by a palette of iron red, light blue, bluish green, and yellow, often accented with gilding.24
• Rich and Bold Colors: Kutani ware is noted for its bold designs executed in rich, often darker colors.25
• Glaze Colors: Beyond painted pigments, Japanese pottery historically employed various colored glazes. For instance, early wares from the Nara and Heian periods utilized green, yellowish brown, and white glazes. Additionally, celadon (a light green monochrome) was highly valued and imitated.163

These decorative choices evolved from the subdued, monochrome tastes of earlier periods to the vibrant, polychrome styles that flourished during the Edo period.5