Do you know "Our Family Crest"?
Many Japanese homes have a family crest passed down through generations.
Even today, you can still see them on shop signs and noren curtains, the roof tiles of traditional Japanese houses, kimonos worn for formal occasions, and gravestones.
Family crests are often used to symbolize a family or household, and are said to express the history of the family and the spirit of unity that strengthens its bonds.
History of Family Crests
History of Family Crests
It is said that family crests were created during the Heian period.
At that time, aristocrats added unique patterns to their oxcarts so that it would be clear at a glance who they belonged to, which is considered the origin of family crests.
In the aristocratic society of that time, family crests were used to symbolize the status of the family, and people of lower status would give way to oxcarts bearing a family crest.
During the Sengoku period, family crests were used on military banners called "hatajirushi."
Because they needed to be able to distinguish friend from foe quickly during battle, simple designs were preferred.
By the Edo period, many people had family crests as "symbols" in place of surnames.
Family Crests as Wards Against Evil
Family Crests as Wards Against Evil
Family crests are sometimes used as talismans to protect people and their land from misfortune and evil spirits.
At that time, medical technology was not advanced, so family crests were used as symbols of longevity and prosperity to ensure the family line would not die out.
They were placed on Jizo statues at the edge of villages and on shrines and temples to ward off evil and prevent bad things from entering the town or village.
Many such customs still remain today.
Family Crest Design
Family Crest Design
The motifs are composed of plants, animals, stars, and other elements that have long been cherished in Japan.
When designs are classified in detail, it is said that there are over 30,000 types of family crests.
Their exceptional design has been highly acclaimed overseas, with their greatest characteristics considered to be the abundance of motifs and the high artistic quality of the patterns.
Many family crests embody various meanings, such as "passing down the lineage" and "prosperity of descendants."
Its appeal as a cultural phenomenon
Its appeal as a cultural phenomenon
During the Edo period, the use of surnames was strictly restricted depending on one's social class.
As a result, many people adopted a family crest in place of a surname.
True to its name, the family crest serves as a symbol of the "household," strengthening family bonds and playing a role as something passed down through generations.
In modern society, as nuclear families become more common and Japan faces a declining birthrate and aging population, family crests are attracting renewed attention as a way to reflect on the culture built by the Japanese people, the history of the land, and the heritage passed down by one's own family.
Furthermore, amid global social circumstances, the desire to "strengthen family bonds" has grown stronger, and from overseas, the appeal of the "family crest culture" as a culture imbued with the sentiment of protecting what is precious is attracting attention from many fields.
To know your family crest is to know your family.
To inherit your family crest is to inherit the “sentiments” imbued within it.
Why not create a one-of-a-kind original item featuring the family crest passed down through generations?
As the directly operated online shop of the long-established koinobori company Tokunaga Koinobori,
Hare to Ikiru provides full support for adding family crests and names, drawing on our expert craftsmanship and extensive experience.
List of Family Crest Examples
If your family crest is listed in the table, please specify the name of the crest and its corresponding number.
◉ The crests shown above are just examples. We accept any family crest for the same flat fee.
◉ For complex family crests, please send us a sample by email.
◉ Please note that the names of family crests may vary depending on the crest book used.
◉ If your family crest is not listed in the table, please send an image of your desired crest to the email address you receive after placing your order.
We can accommodate virtually any family crest.
◉ You cannot purchase a single item with only a "family crest/name" added.
About the Hanakomon Crest
For those who don't know their family crest or would like to use a different symbol,
"366 Days of Floral Crests" is highly recommended.
It includes February 29th, which only occurs during leap years every four years, covering all 366 days of the year.
A floral crest is a birthday symbol for each of the 366 days, expressing the flowers of the four seasons as a "crest."
The Japanese love of flowers, a sensitivity to the changing seasons, and an intellect that finds profound meaning in simple forms.
The spirit of Japan is reflected in its family crests, and through the new culture of "personal crests," the 366-Day Flower Personal Crest was born.
For each personal crest, a flower symbolizing "that day" is selected based on its appearance, characteristics, and history.
Flowers associated with blooming seasons, long-standing Japanese traditional ceremonies, seasonal festivals, and other recurring events are incorporated.
