Fifty shades of orange - Senbon Torii, Kyoto Tile

Vermilion torii gateways are a famous feature of Inari shrines, and the colour evokes a strong sense of spirituality for Japanese people. The torii gateways of Inari shrines are painted by the same Inari-nuri technique as the building. The Japanese word for “vermilion”, ake, can be written in various different characters, each with a different meaning. In addition to its meaning as a shade of red, the word can also refer to red in general, dawn and light. These meanings convey a sense of bright