"The Earth was blue." These were reportedly the words used by Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, when describing his impressions after returning to Earth. He was referring to what is known in Japan as the color "ruri-iro." This color was used in Egypt as early as 3,400 years ago in jewelry, which came to Japan along the Silk Road. "Ruri-iro" in Japanese means the color of a lapis lazuli orb, in reference to the blue glassware traded across the Silk Road in ages past. In Europe this color is referred to as "ultramarine," meaning that it came from across the sea.

TAG Color in Japan