COLOUR SCHEMES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 226, 21 June 1935, Page 4

COLOUR SCHEMES

Importance in Life of Japanese Women There was tin attendance of over ISO in the jacobean room at Kirkcaldie and Stains at a luncheon given yesterday by the Y.W.C.A. Business and Professional Women’s Round Table Club, the guest of honour being the Rev. Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa, noted Japanese Christian and social reformer. Miss E. Fitzgerald, president of the club, who presided, introduced Dr. Kagawa, whose address was on the women of his land. The speaker referred to the progress made of late years by the Japanese women, and then gave many details regarding the importance of colour and colour schemes in their life. To them, the choosing of colours and their blending was of paramount importance. Even in their pictures it played a great part. If a Japanese woman’s mood was dull, then she hung bright, pictures in the room, and if her mood was bright, then her choice fell upon duller pictures. Not many were hung, the European method of having a. number of pictures in a room being anything but acceptable to the Japanese way of thinking. Beauty to them consists of simplicity. Referring to the drinking of tea, Dr. Kagawa. said that to the Japanese woman it was a ceremony. Their tea rooms must conform to type and must have a garden on to which oue side opens. They look upon tea drinking as a means of meditation. New Zealand tea sets, he added, would not appeal to them, for they like a very much more definite’ colour scheme than is customary here. Incidentally, the aroma of tea. plays a big part in Japan.

Dr. Kagawa spent a little time in describing the importance of arranging flowers, stating that a. Japanese woman studied for years to gain proficiency in the art of correct floral decoration.