A Color Named Blue

Two Japanese indigo dyers embark on a transformative, inner journey: one uncovers the profound meaning within the hues of blue, while the other finds a new way to see through his colorblindness.



Driven by the memory of a deep shade of blue he cannot forget, Watanabe dedicates his life to the pursuit of recreating Japan’s most perfect shade of indigo. With each passing season, he seeks to understand the unique alchemy of factors that will bring forth his ideal hue — but none succeed. Fate introduces him to Kato, a young artisan who is colorblind. Kato too stands at a crossroads—will he let his condition limit him, or will he use his ability to see color in a way no one else can?



As both men embark on their individual, inner journeys — we witness the deeply personal story of Japan’s most famous color, and uncover the emotional and physical transformations that create this shade of blue.