Synesthetic colors for Japanese late acquired graphemes

► Determinants of synesthetic colors for Japanese logogram, Kanji, were studied. ► Kanji characters are acquired later in development than other types of Japanese graphemes. ► Results showed that colors for Kanji characters depend on meaning and phonology. ► Colors are generalized from graphemes acquired early in life to Kanji characters acquired later. ► Substantial involvement of normal language processing in synesthesia is suggested.