The conventional cherry blossom dyeing technique of making cherry blossoms bloom on fabrics is not the same as dyeing with cherry blossoms, but is generally called “sakura-overlay,” in which a white cloth is layered on top of a red cloth dyed with safflower to express the gentle color of the flowers, or sakura-zome, in which a thin layer of cloth is dyed with Akane (madder). In other words, “sakura-zome” was a technique in which only cherry blossoms were used for dyeing. In other words, it was not “cherry blossom color” dyed only with cherry blossoms.

The betel nut (Areca catechu L.) is native to Malaysia and grows in East Asia and parts of East Africa. The seeds are called 'Binrouji' in Japan, and are used as a luxury item in Asia, similar to chewing tobacco. Medicinally, they were used for deworming and improving gastrointestinal function. The seeds are also used to dye reddish beige, gray, and black.

In the deepening autumn, cone-shaped fruits borne at the tips of branches are harvested and utilized for dyeing purposes. These fruits are rich in tannins and have historically been employed both as a black dye and as a medicinal agent to alleviate skin inflammations. Owing to their high fastness properties, they are capable of producing a range of hues, from light brown and dark brown to gray.

As its name suggests, Akane (meaning "red root") was so named because of its red roots. These roots are believed to possess properties such as purifying the blood, detoxification, and tonic effects. Furthermore, it was one of the oldest red dyes used in Japan, and the red color of the national flag, the Hinomaru, is dyed using this very pigment.

The insect-induced galls that form on the Chinese sumac (Rhus javanica) are known as gobōshi (gallnuts), and have been traditionally used for both dyeing and medicinal purposes. They have been valued for their therapeutic properties, particularly as antitussive, anti-inflammatory, and dermatological agents. During the Heian period (794–1185), gobōshi was employed to produce black dyes and served as a key ingredient in ohaguro, the traditional practice of tooth blackening. These galls are rich in tannins and are used to dye a variety of subdued hues, including fuji-nezumi (wisteria gray), ao-kaiiro (bluish gray), and murasaki-nezumi (purple gray).

It was introduced from China in ancient times and became popular as a color for common people in the Edo period. With its strong sterilizing effect, dyed clothes prevented skin diseases and poisonous insects. There are various varieties of indigo, such as “Kojoko”(小上粉), "Hyakkan"(百貫), and “Senbon”(千本). MAITO mainly uses “Sukumo,” which is made by fermenting “Kojoko” indigo produced in Tokushima, which has been highly regarded as the best since the Edo period.

The plant is commonly known as kusagi (literally, "malodorous tree") due to the unpleasant odor emitted by its leaves. During the summer, it produces distinctive inflorescences consisting of white corollas with vivid red calyces, and in autumn, it bears striking blue drupes. These blue fruits are harvested individually and used as a source of natural dye. Kusagi is one of the rare botanical sources capable of producing blue hues in dyeing. It was also traditionally employed in a preparatory dyeing technique known as aosarashi ("blue exposure"), which involves a preliminary treatment to enhance colorfastness and hue stability. In addition to its use in textile dyeing, the plant has been cited in traditional medicine for its potential antihypertensive properties, suggesting possible efficacy in reducing high blood pressure.

Murasaki (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) is a perennial herb that produces white flowers between June and July. Its roots are harvested around October to November and sun-dried to produce what is known as "shikon" (紫根), or purple root. There are several varieties, including Japanese Murasaki (soft shikon), Western Murasaki, and Inu-Murasaki (literally, "dog Murasaki"). Dyeing with the root of this plant, known as shikon-zome (紫根染), is considered one of the three major traditional dyes of Japan, along with ai-zome (indigo dyeing) and benibana-zome (safflower dyeing). In the ancient Japanese court rank system known as the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System (Kani Jūnikai), deep purple (komurasaki) and light purple (awamurasaki), both derived from shikon, were designated as the colors of the highest ranks. This underscores the long-standing value and prestige associated with shikon as a precious dye. Historically, during the Asuka, Nara, and Heian periods, purple was a prohibited color (kinjiki), reserved exclusively for emperors and the aristocracy. In the Kamakura period, it was used for the murasaki-odoshi (purple lacing) of the armor worn by high-ranking samurai. By the Edo period, shades such as Kyō-murasaki (Kyoto purple) and Edo-murasaki (Edo purple) were considered luxurious and aspirational colors, far beyond the reach of the common people.

The dye is derived from a purple-colored, gelatinous stick secreted by the male lac insect, a type of scale insect parasitic on trees such as Butea monosperma (Flame of the Forest), Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian Jujube), and Flemingia macrophylla. These insects feed on tree sap and excrete this substance, which is collected primarily in regions such as India, Myanmar, Tibet, Thailand, and Bhutan. The dye, known historically in Japan since the Nara period, was introduced for medicinal and dyeing purposes. Numerous examples of textiles dyed with this purple pigment, known as shikō-zome (紫鉱染), remain in artifacts preserved at historic sites such as Hōryū-ji Temple and the Shōsōin Repository. In fact, the pigment is still stored under the name shikō (紫梗) in the Shōsōin. Furthermore, the residual matter left after pigment extraction yields shellac, a natural resin. Shellac has long been utilized as a varnish, electrical insulator, and coating material. This dye is chiefly used to produce hues such as crimson, reddish purple, and deep violet-black.