Gold

Gold was first discovered in Japan in the 8th century. Emperor Shomu (701 CE-756 CE) used gold extensively to gild Buddhist statues. The color gold came to be associated with holiness, nobility, and luxury. In Japan, where a sense of the seasons is valued, gold is associated with autumn, a time of abundant harvest, and the New Year, and conveys an auspicious atmosphere.

Traditional Japanese decorative techniques, such as maki-e and kinsai, use real gold dust and gold paint, giving this material a unique brilliance and sense of luxury.