Aka-fun (赤粉 [aka-fun])

Aka-fun literally means “red powder,” but in lacquer context it usually points to a special effect powder: a blend where shu (朱)-family red is combined with metal powder to create a warm, glittering red that behaves more like maki-e (蒔絵)material than like paint. It’s used when you want red that has depth and particulate sparkle—think ember-red rather than flat crimson. Because it contains metal powder, it responds to layer thickness and clear coats differently than pure pigment; it can darken or “sink” if over-coated too heavily.