Characteristics of Akane(Japanese madder)

As its name suggests, Akane—meaning “red root”—was so named due to the reddish color of its roots. These roots are traditionally believed to have properties such as blood purification, detoxification, and tonic effects. Moreover, they served as one of the oldest red dyes used in Japan; indeed, the red color of the Japanese national flag, the Hinomaru, was dyed using this very pigment.


Europian madder (Rubia argyi) is one variety among several in the Rubia genus, which also includes Japanese madder (Rubia akane) and Indian madder (Rubia manjith).

Europian madder（Rubia tinctorum L.）。It is also known as Western madder. Four to six leaves grow in a whorled arrangement. Compared to Yotsuba-akane (Four-leaf madder), it exhibits a more yellowish hue.

About madder

Madder dye pigment

Japanese madder root

It contains the red pigment purpurin as well as the yellow pigment munjistin, with pseudo-purpurin present as a secondary component.

Inddian madder root

It contains the red pigment purpurin and the yellow pigment munjistin, with pseudo-purpurin present as a minor constituent.

Europian madder root

It contains the red pigment alizarin, as well as its glycosidically bound form, the glycoside ruberythric acid. In addition, rubiadin is present as a minor constituent.

dyeing method

Using the mordant dyeing method:
Place dried roots and water into a stainless steel pot, bring to a boil, and simmer. After about 60 minutes, strain the liquid through a cloth, using the resulting decoction as the dye stock solution. Approximately four extractions of the dye solution can be obtained.
When dyeing plant fibers, pretreat with soybean milk or similar agents. After mordanting with aluminum using the pre-mordanting method, repeatedly dye the material multiple times to achieve a deep color. Aluminum mordanting produces colors ranging from orange to red, copper mordanting yields brown, and iron mordanting results in a purplish-gray tone.
Moreover, the number of extractions affects color development; the more times the dye solution is extracted and used, the deeper and redder the color becomes. Adding a small amount of lye (alkaline solution) promotes a reaction with potassium in the dye components, further intensifying the redness.

Color difference by mordant

Dye archive

2025.5.13　Examination of conditions for scarlet dyeing in Japanese Akane

Cotton, linen, silk, and wool are each dyed.
amount used：1000%o.w.f　Boiled 9 times＝total Used for 100g cloth/yarn

Using first-year roots harvested from Tokushima Prefecture. After washing with water to remove soil, the roots appear orange in color.

Crush galls (fusi) and simmer them together with Japanese madder (Rubia akane) in rice vinegar.

Just before reaching a boil, the liquid takes on a reddish hue. This process of straining and simmering is repeated nine times.


With each repetition of dyeing and mordanting, the color gradually deepens into a more reddish hue.

After repeating the mordanting and dyeing process 4 to 5 times, the fabric was thoroughly rinsed with water and then dried.