# Why are many Japanese restaurants (in the USA) painted orange inside? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361 "2004-12-11T22:33:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PecanSandy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@PecanSandy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PecanSandy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/1 "2004-12-11T22:33:01Z")
As in title… ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/2 "2004-12-11T23:40:26Z")
😕 None in the New Orleans area, nor in the Jackson, MS area, are painted that way. Can’t speak for elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/3 "2004-12-12T00:38:47Z")
Can’t think of a single Japanese restaurant I’ve every been to that had orange walls. Most of the ones I’ve been to feature light, natural wood, like pine or bamboo sort of colors. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/4 "2004-12-12T00:51:17Z")
I don’t know about proper Japanese restaurants, but I’ve been to a few orange-walled sushimi places in British Columbia, Washington, and California. Ranging from sort of reddish/burnt-orange to bright kindergarten orange. I don’t think there’s a “why” for it. On the other hand, I suspect that a lot of take-away curry shops are that particular shade of dark yellow to minimize the appearance of grease and cumin stains. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/5 "2004-12-12T03:52:59Z")
At Chinese New Year, they give an offering of oranges and lettuce to the dancing lion to bring prosperity. The oranges symbolize gold and the lettuce symbolizes money. Maybe the orange color is meant to bring prosperity to the restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/6 "2004-12-12T04:28:55Z")
😕 The only Japanese ‘restaurants’ I’ve seen with walls like you describe are of the Yoshinoya chain (fast food). Regular Japanese restaurants tend to be just a tad classier… ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/7 "2004-12-12T04:35:13Z")
Well, by golly. Courtesy of the [Hiroshima Gas Company](http://www.hiroshima-gas.co.jp/english/color/color3.htm): > [@](#): > > Orange represents life, vitality, and the delight of sharing food with families and friends. If you feel extreme fatigue due to prolonged summer heat, use orange, which heals your mind and recovers your strength, just as vitamins do. I don’t know if that’s a widespread cultural convention or not, though. It appears that the Hiroshima Gas Company’s Colour Producer studied under some Western theorists, as well. A bit hippy-dippy, but maybe…? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/8 "2004-12-12T04:49:09Z")
> [@iwakura43](#): > > The only Japanese ‘restaurants’ I’ve seen with walls like you describe are of the Yoshinoya chain (fast food). Maybe a little geographic survey would be enlightening. Where are you, approximately, **PecanSandy**? I’ve definitely noticed this tendency (in sushi places) – can’t say that I go to a lot of Japanese _restaurants_, so I dunno about them, but sushi joints, yeah. Stands out because I really have low tolerance for orange. Could this be something that’s more common on the Pacific coast? What about Japan? ---
**Author:** ![PecanSandy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@PecanSandy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PecanSandy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/9 "2004-12-12T19:51:26Z")
I’m in the Philadelphia PA area. 3 of the sushi places in my area are privately owned, high quality restaurants (very good food, service, and decor), and all 3 of them have bright orange walls. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/10 "2004-12-12T20:15:04Z")
There is a psychology to food and appetite. One link is > **[Branding - Bad restaurant color choices? from Anonymous: MarketingProfs...](https://www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstID=3883)** > > Expert marketing advice on Branding: Bad restaurant color choices? posted by Anonymous, question 3883. Red is touted to whet one’s appetite. Most fast food places’ tables are yellow as their studies found that to do it. Orange is in between. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-many-japanese-restaurants-in-the-usa-painted-orange-inside/279361/11 "2004-12-12T20:20:29Z")
Here’s another goggled for “appetite and color” [http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html](http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html)