Relationships between Japanese color score (JCS) and pork quality attributes were studied and three equations were developed to predict JCS. Averages for population one (n=781) traits were used to develop initial prediction equations and traits from population two (n=684) were used to evaluate the success of the prediction equations. The first equation was: JCS=12.698-(0.01128 x firmness)+(0.09008 x pH)-(0.00007199 x drip loss)-(0.266 x L*)+(0.06923 x a*)-(0.201 x b*)+(0.02143 x hue angle); r(2)=0.916. The second equation was: JCS=15.255-(0.259 x L*)-(0.213 x b*)+(0.02518 x hue angle); r(2)=0.931. The third equation was: JCS=12.920-(0.219 x L*)+(0.07342 x a*)-(0.02166 x b*); r(2)=0.906. All equations predicted 92% or more Japanese color scores within +/-0.50. Requiring fewer measurements, the second and third equations would be advantageous when sorting pork on the basis of JCS.