Japanese Family Crests and Designs

Understand Japanese family crest designs with actual examples! A gorgeously visual guide to family crests.

Family crests are coats of arms that have been used in Japan since ancient times to identify families and individuals. Today, it is said that there are currently around 200 basic types of family crest, and around 5,000 different designs that use the same motifs.

Family crests exert influence in contemporary culture not only because of their historical and cultural value, but also because they appear in famous manga and anime, and their motifs are often chosen for tattoos, among other things. In this book, we have selected more than 2,500 family crests and explain their designs and meanings. The crests are organized around the motifs of “plants,” “animals,” “natural phenomena,” “martial values,” “patterns and designs,” and “buildings and vessels.”

In addition, this book is gorgeously illustrated with plenty of photographs and illustrated examples of motifs that make up family crests, along with dyeing works, handicrafts, and contemporary designs created in the image of family crests. This beautiful book can be used as a reference book for designs, tattoo motifs, illustration and more.

Author Biography

Nobuyoshi Hamada edits art books on topics ranging from dyeing, craft work, and contemporary art.