, also , , and , are Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese emblems used to decorate and identify an individual or family. While mon is an encompassing term that may refer to any such device, kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to emblems used to identify a family.

The devices are similar to the badges

Heraldic badge

A heraldic badge is an emblem or personal device worn as a badge to indicate allegiance to or the property of an individual or family. Medieval forms are usually called a livery badge, and also a cognizance...

 and coats of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

 in European heraldic

Heraldry

Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...

 tradition, which likewise are used to identify individuals and families. Mon are often referred to as crests

Crest (heraldry)

A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....

 in Western literature, which is another European heraldic device that approximates the mon in function.

History

It is thought that mon originated as fabric patterns to be used on clothes in order to distinguish individuals or signify membership in a specific clan

Clan

A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...

 or organization. By the twelfth century, sources give a clear indication that heraldry had been implemented as a distinguishing feature, especially for use in battle. It is seen on flags, tents, and equipment.

Like European heraldry, mon were initially held only by aristocratic

Aristocracy (class)

The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...

 families, and were gradually adapted by commoners. On the battlefield, mon served as army standard

Heraldic flag

In heraldry and vexillology, an heraldic flag is any of several types of flags, containing coats of arms, heraldic badges, or other devices, used for personal identification....

s, even though this usage was not universal and uniquely designed army standards were just as common as mon-based standards. (cf. sashimono

Sashimono

Sashimono were small banners historically worn by soldiers in feudal Japan, for identification during battles.-Description:The sashimono poles were attached to the backs of the chest armor by special fittings. Sashimono were worn by common soldiers, known as ashigaru, to elite samurai, and in...

, uma-jirushi

Uma-jirushi

' were massive flags used in feudal Japan to identify a daimyo or equally important military commander on the field of battle. They came into prominence during the Sengoku period...

) Mon were also adapted by various organizations, such as merchant and artisan guild

Guild

A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...

s, temples and shrines, theater troupes and even criminal gangs. In an illiterate society, they served as useful symbols for recognition.

Japanese traditional formal attire generally displays the mon of the wearer. Commoners without mon often used those of their patron or the organization they belonged to. In cases when none of those were available, they sometimes used one of the few mon which were seen as "vulgar", or invented or adapted whatever mon they wished, passing it on to their descendants. It was not uncommon for shops, and therefore shop-owners, to develop mon to identify themselves.

Rules regulating the choice and use of mon were somewhat limited, though the selection of mon was generally determined by social customs. It was considered improper to use a mon that was known to be held by someone else, and offensive to use a mon that was held by someone of a high rank. When mon came into conflict, the lower-ranked person sometimes changed their mon to avoid offending their superior. The mon held by the ruling clans of Japan, such as Tokugawa

Tokugawa clan

The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...

's hollyhock

Hollyhock

Alcea , commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. Most species are native to southwest and central Asia, although a few are native to southeast Europe or Egypt...

 mon and the Emperor's chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...

 mon, were legally protected from unauthorized usage.

Occasionally, patron clans granted the use of their mon to their retainer

Retainer

Retainer may refer to:* Retainer , a person, especially a soldier, in the service of a lord in the late Middle Ages** Retainer sacrifice, the sacrifice of a human servant* Retainer...

s as a reward. Similar to the granting of the patron's surnames, this was considered a very high honor. Alternatively, the patron clan may have added elements of its mon to that of its retainer, or choose a completely different mon for them.

Design

There are no set rules in the design of a mon. Most consist of a roundel

Roundel

A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...

 encircling a figure of plant, animal, man-made, natural or celestial objects, all abstracted to various degrees. Religious symbols, geometric shapes and kanji

Kanji

Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

 were commonly used as well.

Similar to the blazon

Blazon

In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...

 in European heraldry, mon are also named by the content of the design, even though there is no set rule for such names. Unlike in European heraldry, however, this "blazon" is not prescriptive – the depiction of a mon does not follow the name – instead the names only serve to describe the mon. The pictorial depictions of the mon are not formalized and small variations of what is supposed to be the same mon can sometimes be seen, but the designs are for the most part standardized through time and tradition.

The degree of variation tolerated differ from mon to mon as well. For example, the paulownia crest with 5-7-5 leaves is reserved for the prime minister, whereas paulownia with fewer leaves could be used by anyone. The imperial chrysanthemum also specifies 16 petals, whereas chrysanthemum with fewer petals are used by other lesser imperial family members.

Japanese heraldry does not have a cadency

Cadency

In heraldry, cadency is any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family. Cadency is necessary in heraldic systems in which a given design may be owned by only one person at once...

 or quartering system, but it is not uncommon for cadet

Cadet

A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...

 branches of a family to choose a slightly different mon from the senior branch. Each princely family (Shinnōke

Shinnoke

was the collective name for the four cadet branches of the Imperial Household of Japan, which were until 1947 entitled to provide a successor to the Chrysanthemum throne if the main line failed to produce an heir...

), for example, uses a modified chrysanthemum crest as their mon. Mon holders may also combine their mon with that of their patron, benefactor or spouse, sometimes creating increasingly complicated designs.

Mon are essentially monochrome; the color does not constitute part of the design and they may be drawn in any color.

Modern usage

Virtually all modern Japanese families have a mon, though modern usage is rare. Many Japanese may no longer recognize their own family's mon. On occasions when the use of mon is required, one can try to look it up in the temple registries of their ancestral hometown or consult one of the many genealogical publications available. Professional wedding planner

Wedding planner

A wedding planner is a professional who assists with planning and organization of weddings. Weddings are significant events in people's lives, and those involved are often willing to spend a considerable amount of money to ensure it is organized as perfectly as possible.Professional wedding...

s, undertakers and other ritual masters may also offer guidance on finding the proper mon.

Mon can still be seen widely on stores and shops engaged in traditional crafts and specialties. They are favored by sushi

Sushi

is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...

 restaurants which often incorporate a mon into their logos, while mon designs can be seen on the ceramic

Ceramic

A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...

 roof tiles of older houses. Mon designs also frequently appear on senbei

Senbei

are a type of Japanese rice crackers. They come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, usually savory but sometimes sweet. Senbei are often eaten with green tea as a casual snack and offered to visiting house guests as a courtesy refreshment....

, sake, tofu

Tofu

is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is part of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and others. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu...

, and other packaging for food

Food

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...

stuffs to lend them an air of elegance and refinement. The paulownia mon appears on the obverse side of the 500 yen coin.

Items symbolizing family crafts, arts or professions were often chosen as a mon. A fan design might be chosen by a geisha

Geisha

, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...

. A woman may still wear her maiden mon if she wishes and pass them on to her daughters and does not have to adopt her husband's or father's mon.
Mon add formality to a kimono

Kimono

The is a Japanese traditional garment worn by men, women and children. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear" , has come to denote these full-length robes...

. A kimono may have one or three or five mon. The mon themselves can be more or less formal; more formal kimono display more numerous mon, and frequently in a manner so as to make them stand out more. This may help dress up or dress down the formality of a kimono at the wearer's discretion. In the dress of the ruling class, the mon could be found on the kimono on both sides of the chest, on both sleeves, and in the middle of the back. On the armour, it could be found on the kabuto

Kabuto

A kabuto is a helmet used with traditional Japanese armour as worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan....

(helmet), on the do (cuirass), flags, and various other places. Mon could also be found on coffers, tents, fans, and many other items of importance.

As in the past, modern mon are not regulated by any law, with the exception of the imperial chrysanthemum

Imperial Seal of Japan

The Imperial Seal of Japan is a mon or crest used by members of the Japanese Imperial family. Under the Meiji Constitution, no one was permitted to use the Imperial Seal except the Emperor of Japan, who used a 16 petal chrysanthemum with sixteen tips of another row of petals showing behind the...

, which doubles as the national emblem, and the paulownia, which is the mon of the office of prime minister

Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...

 and also serves as the emblem of the cabinet

Cabinet (government)

A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...

 and the government. Some local governments, associations and businesses may use mon as their logo or trademark

Trademark

A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...

, and thus enjoy all the protection as such, but otherwise mon are not recognized by law. One of the best known examples of a corporate logo in the form of a mon is the logo for Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...

, a name meaning "three water chestnuts

Water caltrop

The water caltrop, water chestnut, buffalo nut, bat nut, devil pod or Singhara or Pani-fol is either of two species of the genus Trapa: Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis...

", which are represented as rhombuses. Another example corporate use is the logo for Kikkoman

Kikkoman

is an international company based in Japan.Founded in 1917, it is based in Noda, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is a combination of 8 family-owned businesses founded as early as 1603 by the Mogi and Takanashi families....

, which is the mon of the founder.

List of representative kamon

Chigai: crossed; daki: holding; go: five; maru ni: in a circle; mittsu: three; mukai: facing; yottsu: four.

• Abeseimeiban (阿部清明判), Ichikawa, Sakō clans
• Abekezeni (阿部家銭)
• Agehanochō (揚羽蝶), swallowtail butterfly
  Swallowtail butterfly
  Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
  
  , Nishinotōin clan
• Aizu mitsu aoi (会津三葵), wild ginger
  Wild ginger
  Wild ginger may refer to any of a variety of plants, often with a similar appearance, odour or taste to cultivated ginger. Species involved include:*Any of the Alpinia species, especially A. caerulea....
  
   (Asarum caulescens) leaves, Aizu
  Aizu
  is an area comprising the westernmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal city of the area is Aizuwakamatsu.During the Edo period, Aizu was a feudal domain known as and part of Mutsu Province.-History:...
  
   Matsudaira clan
  Matsudaira clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. It first originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province . Over the course of its history, the clan produced many branches, most of which also centered around Mikawa Province...
  
  
• Arimake kara hana (有馬家唐花)
• Arimoji (有文字)
• Chigai bishi (違菱)
• Chigai daikon (違大根)
• Chigai kine (違杵)
• Chigai kuginuki (違釘抜), Asō Tarō
• Chigai masakari (違鉞)
• Chigai takanoha (違鷹羽),
• Chigai yabane (違矢羽)
• Chūwani chigaikama (中輪に違鎌)
• Chūwani gosannokiri (中輪に五三桐)
• Chūwani narabitakanoha (中輪に並鷹羽)
• Daki gyōyō (抱杏葉), Ōtomo
  Otomo clan
  The Ōtomo clan was a Japanese clan whose power stretched from the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, spanning over 400 years. The clan's hereditary lands lay in Kyūshū....
  
  , Tachibana clans
• Daki kajinoha (抱梶葉)
• Daki kashira (抱柏)
• Daki myōga (抱茗荷)
• Daki Omodaka (抱面高)
• Daki ine (抱稲)
• Daki kajinoha (抱梶葉)
• Daki kashiwa (抱柏)
• Daki omodaka (抱面高)
• Eirakusen (永楽銭), Oda
  Oda clan
  The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
  
  , Mizuno
  Mizuno clan
  The was a Japanese clan which claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji branch of the Minamoto clan. In the Edo period, the Mizuno clan produced many men who were fudai daimyo serving the Tokugawa shogun, as well as countless families of hatamoto...
  
  , Sengoku clans
• Fujiwara Clan
• Futowani masakari (太輪に鉞)
• Gaku (額) Koide clan
• Genji kōzu (源氏香図)
• Gion mamori (祗園守)
• Gion mamoriku-zushi (祗園守崩し)
• Gosan no kiri (五三桐), Toyotomi
  Toyotomi clan
  Originating in Owari Province, the served as retainers to the Oda clan throughout 16th-century Japan's Sengoku period. -Unity and Conflict:The most influential figure within the Toyotomi was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three "unifiers of Japan." Oda Nobunaga was another primary unifier and the...
  
  , Hosokawa clan
  Hosokawa clan
  The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
  
  s
• Gohon bone ōgi (五本骨扇), Satake
  Satake clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. Its first power base was in Hitachi Province. The clan was subdued by Minamoto no Yoritomo in the late 12th century, but later entered Yoritomo's service as vassals...
  
  , Ōkōchi clans
• Gomaisasa (五枚笹)
• Goshichi no kiri (五七桐)
• Gyōyō botan (杏葉牡丹), Hayashi
  Hayashi clan
  The was the name of several Japanese clans, of varying origin.*Hayashi clan of Owari Province *Hayashi clan of Confucian scholars *Hayashi clan of the Jōzai Domain...
  
  , Sayama, Kōda, Shigeta clans
• Hanabishi (花菱)
• Hanakage kyōyōbotan (花陰杏葉牡丹)
• Hanatsuki mitsuaoi (花付き三つ葵)
• Hana wachigai (花輪違い), Oki, En'ya, Takaoka
  Takaoka clan
  - Fujiwara clan, Hatta Tomoie's descendant :This clan's origin is a descendant of Hatta clan in Hitachi Province. Hatta clan are descended directly from Lord Fujiwara no Kamatari by his grandson Hatta Tomoie , Takaoka Yasushige, grandson of Hatta Tomoie...
  
  , Toda, Sase
• Hidari futatsu domoe (左二巴)
• Hidari midori (左三ツ巴), Saionji, Utsunomiya, Kii, Kamachi, Okabe clans
• Hinomaru ōgi (日の丸扇)
• Hirai zutsu (平井筒)
• Hiraki kasa (開き傘)
• Hishimochi (菱持)
• Hitotsu tabanenoshi (一束熨斗)
• Hitotsu tsurumyōganome (一蔓茗荷丸)
• Hiyokuzuru (比翼鶴), Kamachi clan
• Hōjōke uroko (北条家鱗)
• Hondake tachiaoi (本多家立葵)
• Honmoji (本文字), Honda clan
  Honda clan
  The ' is a Japanese family that claims descent from the medieval court noble Fujiwara no Kanemichi. The family settled in Mikawa and served the Matsudaira clan as retainers. Later, when the main Matsudaira family became the Tokugawa clan, the Honda rose in prestige. The clan includes thirteen...
  
  
• Hosowani nozoki kajinoha (細輪に覗き梶葉)
• Ichimatsu yotsumeyui (市松四目結) , Nogi Maresuke
• Ichimonji (一文字), Nasu clans
• Ichimonji jimitsuboshi(一文字三星), Mōri clan
  Mori clan
  The Mōri clan was a family of daimyō, descended from Ōe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki Province. Their name was derived from a shōen in Mōri, Aikō District, Sagami Province. The generation of Hiromoto began to name themselves Mōri.After the Jōkyū War, Mōri was appointed to the jitō...
  
  
• Igeta (井桁)
• Igetani mokkō (井桁に木瓜)
• Ikari (碇),the anchor
• Ine no maru (稲の丸)
• Injūchō (因州蝶), Ikeda clan
  Ikeda clan
  The was a Japanese clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji. In the Edo period, several of the clan's branches were daimyo families, most notably of the Tottori Domain, and Okayama Domain. Takamasa Ikeda, present head of the Okayama Ikeda house is a husband of Atsuko Ikeda, fourth daughter...
  
  
• Iori (庵)
• Ippon sugi (一本杉)
• Ishimochi (石餅), Tōyama, Itami clans
• Itōke fuji (伊藤家藤)
• Itowani kawarikochō (糸輪に変り胡蝶)
• Itowani uchiwa (糸輪に団扇)
• Itsutsu rindōguruma (五ツ龍胆), Kuga clan
• Itsutsu warimanji (五割万字), Yokoyama, Hachisuka clan
  Hachisuka clan
  The ' are descendants of Emperor Seiwa and are a branch of the Ashikaga clan and the Shiba clan .Ashikaga Ieuji , son of Ashikaga Yasuuji was the first who adopted the name of Shiba...
  
  s
• Janome (蛇の目)
• Jinuki eirakusen
• Jūjikurusu (十字久留子),the cross
• Jūrokuben yae omotegiku (十六弁八重表菊) - Emperor of Japan
  Emperor of Japan
  The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
  
  
• Jūrokuyou uragiku (十六葉裏菊), Hirohatake clan
• Jūroku uragiku (十六裏菊), Nashimoto-no-miya Princely House
• Jūshiben hitoe uragiku (十四弁一重裏菊)
• Kagekuyō (陰九曜)
• Kageman jimaru (陰万字丸)
• Kagetsuta (陰蔦)
• Kagome (籠目)
• Kaji (卦字), Kosaka, Miki clans
• Kakitsu batabishi (杜若菱), Kazanin clan
• Kama (鎌)
• Kana wakuzushi (金輪崩し)
• Kan-ei Tsūhō (寛永通宝), Fukushima clan
• Kanibami (酢漿草), Nitta, Sakai
  Sakai clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Nitta branch of the Minamoto clan, who were in turn descendants of Emperor Seiwa. Serata Arichika, a samurai of the 14th century, was the common ancestor of both the Sakai clan and the Matsudaira clan, which the Sakai later served...
  
  , Hirano, Hida, Nakazawa, Taga, Akada, Hirao clans
• Karabishibana (唐菱花)
• Karahana (唐花)
• Kasa (傘)
• Kasa (笠)
• Kasane hanagata genjiguruma (重ね花形源氏車)
• Kasane masu (重ね枡)
• Kashira awasemitsu kasa (頭合三笠)
• Kawari kikusui (変り菊水)
• Kawari uchiwa (変り羽団扇)
• Kayanouchi Jūmonji (榧之内十文字), Itagaki Taisuke
  Itagaki Taisuke
  Count was a Japanese politician and leader of the , which evolved into Japan's first political party.- Early life :Itagaki Taisuke was born into a middle-ranking samurai family in Tosa Domain, , After studies in Kōchi and in Edo, he was appointed as sobayonin to Tosa daimyo Yamauchi Toyoshige,...
  
  (Inui)
• Kichimoji (吉文字), Mōri
  Mori clan
  The Mōri clan was a family of daimyō, descended from Ōe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki Province. Their name was derived from a shōen in Mōri, Aikō District, Sagami Province. The generation of Hiromoto began to name themselves Mōri.After the Jōkyū War, Mōri was appointed to the jitō...
  
  , Nagai clans
• Kikkō (亀甲),the hexagon(s)
• Kikkōni hanabishi (亀甲に花菱)
• Kiku fusen ryō (菊浮線綾)
• Kikusui (菊水), Kusunoki clan
• Kikyō (桔梗), Toki clan
  Toki clan
  The was a powerful clan that ruled in Japan from the Kamakura period to the Edo period. It descended from Emperor Seiwa by Minamoto no Yorimitsu from the Minamoto clan and used Toki in Mino Province as their hometown...
  
  
• Kiriguruma (桐車)
• Kiyobu chō (きよぶ 蝶)
• Kochō (胡蝶)
• Komochi kikkō (子持亀甲)
• Konoe botan (近衛牡丹), Konoe family
  Konoe family
  The Konoe family is a branch of the Fujiwara clan, a powerful noble family in Japan. As one of the five regent houses, the Konoe family monopolized the offices of Sessho and Kampaku along with Takatsukasa, Kujō, Ichijō and Nijō families. They are collectively known as the Five regent houses.With...
  
  
• Kuginuki (釘抜)
• Kujōke fuji (九条家藤), Kujō family
  Kujō family
  The Kujō family was a Japanese noble family and a branch of the Fujiwara clan derived from Fujiwara no Tadamichi. They were counted as one of the Sekke, the five regent houses and therefore one of the most politically powerful families among the kuge .As one of the Sekke, the five regent houses,...
  
  
• Kumihiraizutsu (組平井筒)
• Kurodake tachibana (黒田家橘)
• Kutsuwa (轡)
• Kuyō (九曜), Hosokawa
  Hosokawa clan
  The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
  
  , Sakuma clans
• Manji
  Swastika
  The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
  
   (卍)
• Maruni agehanochō (丸に揚羽蝶), Ikeda
  Ikeda clan
  The was a Japanese clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji. In the Edo period, several of the clan's branches were daimyo families, most notably of the Tottori Domain, and Okayama Domain. Takamasa Ikeda, present head of the Okayama Ikeda house is a husband of Atsuko Ikeda, fourth daughter...
  
  , Hiramatsu clans
• Maruni chidori (丸に千鳥)
• Maruni chigai chōji (丸に違丁字)
• Maruni chigai takanoha (丸に違鷹羽), Asano, Kikuchi
  Kikuchi clan
  The of Higo Province was a powerful daimyo family of Higo, Kyūshū. The Kikuchi lineage was renowned for its valiant service in defense of the emperor and against foreign invaders. The clan first distinguished itself during the Jürchen invasion of northern Kyūshū in 1019...
  
  , Handa clans, Kubo
• Maruni chigai ya (丸に違矢)
• Maruni dakikashiwa (丸に抱き柏)
• Maruni dakimyōga (丸に抱茗荷)
• Maruni futatsu biki (丸に二引), Akamatsu
  Akamatsu clan
  The was a Japanese samurai family of direct descent from Minamoto no Morifusa. They were prominent shugo-daimyō in Harima during the Sengoku period.-Select members of the clan:* Akamatsu Norimura .* Akamatsu Norisuke ....
  
  , Ashikaga clan
  Ashikaga clan
  The ' was a prominent Japanese samurai clan which established the Muromachi shogunate and ruled Japan from roughly 1336 to 1573.The Ashikaga were descended from a branch of the Minamoto clan, deriving originally from the town of Ashikaga in Shimotsuke province .For about a century the clan was...
  
  s
• Maruni hanaken bishi (丸に花剣菱)
• Maruni hanare kenkatabami (丸に離れ剣片喰), Hirano clan
• Maruni hidari mitsu domoe (丸に左三巴), Matsumata clan
• Maruni hidari sangaimatsu (丸に左三階松) Heishi clan Heike
  Heike
  Heike may refer to:* Heike clan, a Japanese clan name* Heikegani, a species of crab named after the Heike clan* Heike * The Tale of the Heike, an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War...
  
  , Hira
  Hira
  Hira or the Cave of Hira is a cave about from Mecca, on the mountain named Jabal Al-Nūr in the Hejaz region of present day Saudi Arabia...
  
  

, also , , and , are Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese emblems used to decorate and identify an individual or family. While mon is an encompassing term that may refer to any such device, kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to emblems used to identify a family.

The devices are similar to the badges

Heraldic badge

A heraldic badge is an emblem or personal device worn as a badge to indicate allegiance to or the property of an individual or family. Medieval forms are usually called a livery badge, and also a cognizance...

 and coats of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

 in European heraldic

Heraldry

Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...

 tradition, which likewise are used to identify individuals and families. Mon are often referred to as crests

Crest (heraldry)

A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....

 in Western literature, which is another European heraldic device that approximates the mon in function.

History

It is thought that mon originated as fabric patterns to be used on clothes in order to distinguish individuals or signify membership in a specific clan

Clan

A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...

 or organization. By the twelfth century, sources give a clear indication that heraldry had been implemented as a distinguishing feature, especially for use in battle. It is seen on flags, tents, and equipment.

Like European heraldry, mon were initially held only by aristocratic

Aristocracy (class)

The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...

 families, and were gradually adapted by commoners. On the battlefield, mon served as army standard

Heraldic flag

In heraldry and vexillology, an heraldic flag is any of several types of flags, containing coats of arms, heraldic badges, or other devices, used for personal identification....

s, even though this usage was not universal and uniquely designed army standards were just as common as mon-based standards. (cf. sashimono

Sashimono

Sashimono were small banners historically worn by soldiers in feudal Japan, for identification during battles.-Description:The sashimono poles were attached to the backs of the chest armor by special fittings. Sashimono were worn by common soldiers, known as ashigaru, to elite samurai, and in...

, uma-jirushi

Uma-jirushi

' were massive flags used in feudal Japan to identify a daimyo or equally important military commander on the field of battle. They came into prominence during the Sengoku period...

) Mon were also adapted by various organizations, such as merchant and artisan guild

Guild

A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...

s, temples and shrines, theater troupes and even criminal gangs. In an illiterate society, they served as useful symbols for recognition.

Japanese traditional formal attire generally displays the mon of the wearer. Commoners without mon often used those of their patron or the organization they belonged to. In cases when none of those were available, they sometimes used one of the few mon which were seen as "vulgar", or invented or adapted whatever mon they wished, passing it on to their descendants. It was not uncommon for shops, and therefore shop-owners, to develop mon to identify themselves.

Rules regulating the choice and use of mon were somewhat limited, though the selection of mon was generally determined by social customs. It was considered improper to use a mon that was known to be held by someone else, and offensive to use a mon that was held by someone of a high rank. When mon came into conflict, the lower-ranked person sometimes changed their mon to avoid offending their superior. The mon held by the ruling clans of Japan, such as Tokugawa

Tokugawa clan

The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...

's hollyhock

Hollyhock

Alcea , commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. Most species are native to southwest and central Asia, although a few are native to southeast Europe or Egypt...

 mon and the Emperor's chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...

 mon, were legally protected from unauthorized usage.

Occasionally, patron clans granted the use of their mon to their retainer

Retainer

Retainer may refer to:* Retainer , a person, especially a soldier, in the service of a lord in the late Middle Ages** Retainer sacrifice, the sacrifice of a human servant* Retainer...

s as a reward. Similar to the granting of the patron's surnames, this was considered a very high honor. Alternatively, the patron clan may have added elements of its mon to that of its retainer, or choose a completely different mon for them.

Design

There are no set rules in the design of a mon. Most consist of a roundel

Roundel

A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...

 encircling a figure of plant, animal, man-made, natural or celestial objects, all abstracted to various degrees. Religious symbols, geometric shapes and kanji

Kanji

Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

 were commonly used as well.

Similar to the blazon

Blazon

In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...

 in European heraldry, mon are also named by the content of the design, even though there is no set rule for such names. Unlike in European heraldry, however, this "blazon" is not prescriptive – the depiction of a mon does not follow the name – instead the names only serve to describe the mon. The pictorial depictions of the mon are not formalized and small variations of what is supposed to be the same mon can sometimes be seen, but the designs are for the most part standardized through time and tradition.

The degree of variation tolerated differ from mon to mon as well. For example, the paulownia crest with 5-7-5 leaves is reserved for the prime minister, whereas paulownia with fewer leaves could be used by anyone. The imperial chrysanthemum also specifies 16 petals, whereas chrysanthemum with fewer petals are used by other lesser imperial family members.

Japanese heraldry does not have a cadency

Cadency

In heraldry, cadency is any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family. Cadency is necessary in heraldic systems in which a given design may be owned by only one person at once...

 or quartering system, but it is not uncommon for cadet

Cadet

A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...

 branches of a family to choose a slightly different mon from the senior branch. Each princely family (Shinnōke

Shinnoke

was the collective name for the four cadet branches of the Imperial Household of Japan, which were until 1947 entitled to provide a successor to the Chrysanthemum throne if the main line failed to produce an heir...

), for example, uses a modified chrysanthemum crest as their mon. Mon holders may also combine their mon with that of their patron, benefactor or spouse, sometimes creating increasingly complicated designs.

Mon are essentially monochrome; the color does not constitute part of the design and they may be drawn in any color.

Modern usage

Virtually all modern Japanese families have a mon, though modern usage is rare. Many Japanese may no longer recognize their own family's mon. On occasions when the use of mon is required, one can try to look it up in the temple registries of their ancestral hometown or consult one of the many genealogical publications available. Professional wedding planner

Wedding planner

A wedding planner is a professional who assists with planning and organization of weddings. Weddings are significant events in people's lives, and those involved are often willing to spend a considerable amount of money to ensure it is organized as perfectly as possible.Professional wedding...

s, undertakers and other ritual masters may also offer guidance on finding the proper mon.

Mon can still be seen widely on stores and shops engaged in traditional crafts and specialties. They are favored by sushi

Sushi

is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...

 restaurants which often incorporate a mon into their logos, while mon designs can be seen on the ceramic

Ceramic

A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...

 roof tiles of older houses. Mon designs also frequently appear on senbei

Senbei

are a type of Japanese rice crackers. They come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, usually savory but sometimes sweet. Senbei are often eaten with green tea as a casual snack and offered to visiting house guests as a courtesy refreshment....

, sake, tofu

Tofu

is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is part of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and others. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu...

, and other packaging for food

Food

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...

stuffs to lend them an air of elegance and refinement. The paulownia mon appears on the obverse side of the 500 yen coin.

Items symbolizing family crafts, arts or professions were often chosen as a mon. A fan design might be chosen by a geisha

Geisha

, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...

. A woman may still wear her maiden mon if she wishes and pass them on to her daughters and does not have to adopt her husband's or father's mon.
Mon add formality to a kimono

Kimono

The is a Japanese traditional garment worn by men, women and children. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear" , has come to denote these full-length robes...

. A kimono may have one or three or five mon. The mon themselves can be more or less formal; more formal kimono display more numerous mon, and frequently in a manner so as to make them stand out more. This may help dress up or dress down the formality of a kimono at the wearer's discretion. In the dress of the ruling class, the mon could be found on the kimono on both sides of the chest, on both sleeves, and in the middle of the back. On the armour, it could be found on the kabuto

Kabuto

A kabuto is a helmet used with traditional Japanese armour as worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan....

(helmet), on the do (cuirass), flags, and various other places. Mon could also be found on coffers, tents, fans, and many other items of importance.

As in the past, modern mon are not regulated by any law, with the exception of the imperial chrysanthemum

Imperial Seal of Japan

The Imperial Seal of Japan is a mon or crest used by members of the Japanese Imperial family. Under the Meiji Constitution, no one was permitted to use the Imperial Seal except the Emperor of Japan, who used a 16 petal chrysanthemum with sixteen tips of another row of petals showing behind the...

, which doubles as the national emblem, and the paulownia, which is the mon of the office of prime minister

Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...

 and also serves as the emblem of the cabinet

Cabinet (government)

A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...

 and the government. Some local governments, associations and businesses may use mon as their logo or trademark

Trademark

A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...

, and thus enjoy all the protection as such, but otherwise mon are not recognized by law. One of the best known examples of a corporate logo in the form of a mon is the logo for Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...

, a name meaning "three water chestnuts

Water caltrop

The water caltrop, water chestnut, buffalo nut, bat nut, devil pod or Singhara or Pani-fol is either of two species of the genus Trapa: Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis...

", which are represented as rhombuses. Another example corporate use is the logo for Kikkoman

Kikkoman

is an international company based in Japan.Founded in 1917, it is based in Noda, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is a combination of 8 family-owned businesses founded as early as 1603 by the Mogi and Takanashi families....

, which is the mon of the founder.

List of representative kamon

Chigai: crossed; daki: holding; go: five; maru ni: in a circle; mittsu: three; mukai: facing; yottsu: four.

• Abeseimeiban (阿部清明判), Ichikawa, Sakō clans
• Abekezeni (阿部家銭)
• Agehanochō (揚羽蝶), swallowtail butterfly
  Swallowtail butterfly
  Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
  
  , Nishinotōin clan 
• Aizu mitsu aoi (会津三葵), wild ginger
  Wild ginger
  Wild ginger may refer to any of a variety of plants, often with a similar appearance, odour or taste to cultivated ginger. Species involved include:*Any of the Alpinia species, especially A. caerulea....
  
   (Asarum caulescens) leaves, Aizu
  Aizu
  is an area comprising the westernmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal city of the area is Aizuwakamatsu.During the Edo period, Aizu was a feudal domain known as and part of Mutsu Province.-History:...
  
   Matsudaira clan
  Matsudaira clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. It first originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province . Over the course of its history, the clan produced many branches, most of which also centered around Mikawa Province...
  
   
• Arimake kara hana (有馬家唐花)
• Arimoji (有文字)
• Chigai bishi (違菱)
• Chigai daikon (違大根)
• Chigai kine (違杵)
• Chigai kuginuki (違釘抜), Asō Tarō
• Chigai masakari (違鉞)
• Chigai takanoha (違鷹羽),
• Chigai yabane (違矢羽)
• Chūwani chigaikama (中輪に違鎌)
• Chūwani gosannokiri (中輪に五三桐)
• Chūwani narabitakanoha (中輪に並鷹羽)
• Daki gyōyō (抱杏葉), Ōtomo
  Otomo clan
  The Ōtomo clan was a Japanese clan whose power stretched from the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, spanning over 400 years. The clan's hereditary lands lay in Kyūshū....
  
  , Tachibana clans
• Daki kajinoha (抱梶葉)
• Daki kashira (抱柏)
• Daki myōga (抱茗荷)
• Daki Omodaka (抱面高)
• Daki ine (抱稲)
• Daki kajinoha (抱梶葉)
• Daki kashiwa (抱柏)
• Daki omodaka (抱面高)
• Eirakusen (永楽銭), Oda
  Oda clan
  The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
  
  , Mizuno
  Mizuno clan
  The was a Japanese clan which claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji branch of the Minamoto clan. In the Edo period, the Mizuno clan produced many men who were fudai daimyo serving the Tokugawa shogun, as well as countless families of hatamoto...
  
  , Sengoku clans
• Fujiwara Clan
• Futowani masakari (太輪に鉞)
• Gaku (額) Koide clan
• Genji kōzu (源氏香図)
• Gion mamori (祗園守)
• Gion mamoriku-zushi (祗園守崩し)
• Gosan no kiri (五三桐), Toyotomi
  Toyotomi clan
  Originating in Owari Province, the served as retainers to the Oda clan throughout 16th-century Japan's Sengoku period. -Unity and Conflict:The most influential figure within the Toyotomi was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three "unifiers of Japan." Oda Nobunaga was another primary unifier and the...
  
  , Hosokawa clan
  Hosokawa clan
  The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
  
  s
• Gohon bone ōgi (五本骨扇), Satake
  Satake clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. Its first power base was in Hitachi Province. The clan was subdued by Minamoto no Yoritomo in the late 12th century, but later entered Yoritomo's service as vassals...
  
  , Ōkōchi clans
• Gomaisasa (五枚笹)
• Goshichi no kiri (五七桐)
• Gyōyō botan (杏葉牡丹), Hayashi
  Hayashi clan
  The was the name of several Japanese clans, of varying origin.*Hayashi clan of Owari Province *Hayashi clan of Confucian scholars *Hayashi clan of the Jōzai Domain...
  
  , Sayama, Kōda, Shigeta clans
• Hanabishi (花菱)
• Hanakage kyōyōbotan (花陰杏葉牡丹)
• Hanatsuki mitsuaoi (花付き三つ葵)
• Hana wachigai (花輪違い), Oki, En'ya, Takaoka
  Takaoka clan
  - Fujiwara clan, Hatta Tomoie's descendant :This clan's origin is a descendant of Hatta clan in Hitachi Province. Hatta clan are descended directly from Lord Fujiwara no Kamatari by his grandson Hatta Tomoie , Takaoka Yasushige, grandson of Hatta Tomoie...
  
  , Toda, Sase
• Hidari futatsu domoe (左二巴)
• Hidari midori (左三ツ巴), Saionji, Utsunomiya, Kii, Kamachi, Okabe clans
• Hinomaru ōgi (日の丸扇)
• Hirai zutsu (平井筒)
• Hiraki kasa (開き傘)
• Hishimochi (菱持)
• Hitotsu tabanenoshi (一束熨斗)
• Hitotsu tsurumyōganome (一蔓茗荷丸)
• Hiyokuzuru (比翼鶴), Kamachi clan 
• Hōjōke uroko (北条家鱗)
• Hondake tachiaoi (本多家立葵)
• Honmoji (本文字), Honda clan
  Honda clan
  The ' is a Japanese family that claims descent from the medieval court noble Fujiwara no Kanemichi. The family settled in Mikawa and served the Matsudaira clan as retainers. Later, when the main Matsudaira family became the Tokugawa clan, the Honda rose in prestige. The clan includes thirteen...
  
   
• Hosowani nozoki kajinoha (細輪に覗き梶葉)
• Ichimatsu yotsumeyui (市松四目結) , Nogi Maresuke
• Ichimonji (一文字), Nasu clans
• Ichimonji jimitsuboshi(一文字三星), Mōri clan
  Mori clan
  The Mōri clan was a family of daimyō, descended from Ōe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki Province. Their name was derived from a shōen in Mōri, Aikō District, Sagami Province. The generation of Hiromoto began to name themselves Mōri.After the Jōkyū War, Mōri was appointed to the jitō...
  
  
• Igeta (井桁)
• Igetani mokkō (井桁に木瓜)
• Ikari (碇),the anchor
• Ine no maru (稲の丸)
• Injūchō (因州蝶), Ikeda clan
  Ikeda clan
  The was a Japanese clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji. In the Edo period, several of the clan's branches were daimyo families, most notably of the Tottori Domain, and Okayama Domain. Takamasa Ikeda, present head of the Okayama Ikeda house is a husband of Atsuko Ikeda, fourth daughter...
  
  
• Iori (庵)
• Ippon sugi (一本杉)
• Ishimochi (石餅), Tōyama, Itami clans
• Itōke fuji (伊藤家藤)
• Itowani kawarikochō (糸輪に変り胡蝶)
• Itowani uchiwa (糸輪に団扇)
• Itsutsu rindōguruma (五ツ龍胆), Kuga clan
• Itsutsu warimanji (五割万字), Yokoyama, Hachisuka clan
  Hachisuka clan
  The ' are descendants of Emperor Seiwa and are a branch of the Ashikaga clan and the Shiba clan .Ashikaga Ieuji , son of Ashikaga Yasuuji was the first who adopted the name of Shiba...
  
  s
• Janome (蛇の目)
• Jinuki eirakusen
• Jūjikurusu (十字久留子),the cross
• Jūrokuben yae omotegiku (十六弁八重表菊) - Emperor of Japan
  Emperor of Japan
  The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
  
  
• Jūrokuyou uragiku (十六葉裏菊), Hirohatake clan
• Jūroku uragiku (十六裏菊), Nashimoto-no-miya Princely House
• Jūshiben hitoe uragiku (十四弁一重裏菊)
• Kagekuyō (陰九曜)
• Kageman jimaru (陰万字丸)
• Kagetsuta (陰蔦)
• Kagome (籠目)
• Kaji (卦字), Kosaka, Miki clans
• Kakitsu batabishi (杜若菱), Kazanin clan
• Kama (鎌)
• Kana wakuzushi (金輪崩し)
• Kan-ei Tsūhō (寛永通宝), Fukushima clan
• Kanibami (酢漿草), Nitta, Sakai
  Sakai clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Nitta branch of the Minamoto clan, who were in turn descendants of Emperor Seiwa. Serata Arichika, a samurai of the 14th century, was the common ancestor of both the Sakai clan and the Matsudaira clan, which the Sakai later served...
  
  , Hirano, Hida, Nakazawa, Taga, Akada, Hirao clans
• Karabishibana (唐菱花)
• Karahana (唐花)
• Kasa (傘)
• Kasa (笠)
• Kasane hanagata genjiguruma (重ね花形源氏車)
• Kasane masu (重ね枡)
• Kashira awasemitsu kasa (頭合三笠)
• Kawari kikusui (変り菊水)
• Kawari uchiwa (変り羽団扇)
• Kayanouchi Jūmonji (榧之内十文字), Itagaki Taisuke
  Itagaki Taisuke
  Count was a Japanese politician and leader of the , which evolved into Japan's first political party.- Early life :Itagaki Taisuke was born into a middle-ranking samurai family in Tosa Domain, , After studies in Kōchi and in Edo, he was appointed as sobayonin to Tosa daimyo Yamauchi Toyoshige,...
  
  (Inui)
• Kichimoji (吉文字), Mōri
  Mori clan
  The Mōri clan was a family of daimyō, descended from Ōe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki Province. Their name was derived from a shōen in Mōri, Aikō District, Sagami Province. The generation of Hiromoto began to name themselves Mōri.After the Jōkyū War, Mōri was appointed to the jitō...
  
  , Nagai clans
• Kikkō (亀甲),the hexagon(s)
• Kikkōni hanabishi (亀甲に花菱)
• Kiku fusen ryō (菊浮線綾)
• Kikusui (菊水), Kusunoki clan 
• Kikyō (桔梗), Toki clan
  Toki clan
  The was a powerful clan that ruled in Japan from the Kamakura period to the Edo period. It descended from Emperor Seiwa by Minamoto no Yorimitsu from the Minamoto clan and used Toki in Mino Province as their hometown...
  
   
• Kiriguruma (桐車)
• Kiyobu chō (きよぶ 蝶)
• Kochō (胡蝶)
• Komochi kikkō (子持亀甲)
• Konoe botan (近衛牡丹), Konoe family
  Konoe family
  The Konoe family is a branch of the Fujiwara clan, a powerful noble family in Japan. As one of the five regent houses, the Konoe family monopolized the offices of Sessho and Kampaku along with Takatsukasa, Kujō, Ichijō and Nijō families. They are collectively known as the Five regent houses.With...
  
  
• Kuginuki (釘抜)
• Kujōke fuji (九条家藤), Kujō family
  Kujō family
  The Kujō family was a Japanese noble family and a branch of the Fujiwara clan derived from Fujiwara no Tadamichi. They were counted as one of the Sekke, the five regent houses and therefore one of the most politically powerful families among the kuge .As one of the Sekke, the five regent houses,...
  
  
• Kumihiraizutsu (組平井筒)
• Kurodake tachibana (黒田家橘)
• Kutsuwa (轡)
• Kuyō (九曜), Hosokawa
  Hosokawa clan
  The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
  
  , Sakuma clans
• Manji
  Swastika
  The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
  
   (卍)
• Maruni agehanochō (丸に揚羽蝶), Ikeda
  Ikeda clan
  The was a Japanese clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji. In the Edo period, several of the clan's branches were daimyo families, most notably of the Tottori Domain, and Okayama Domain. Takamasa Ikeda, present head of the Okayama Ikeda house is a husband of Atsuko Ikeda, fourth daughter...
  
  , Hiramatsu clans
• Maruni chidori (丸に千鳥)
• Maruni chigai chōji (丸に違丁字)
• Maruni chigai takanoha (丸に違鷹羽), Asano, Kikuchi
  Kikuchi clan
  The of Higo Province was a powerful daimyo family of Higo, Kyūshū. The Kikuchi lineage was renowned for its valiant service in defense of the emperor and against foreign invaders. The clan first distinguished itself during the Jürchen invasion of northern Kyūshū in 1019...
  
  , Handa clans, Kubo
• Maruni chigai ya (丸に違矢)
• Maruni dakikashiwa (丸に抱き柏)
• Maruni dakimyōga (丸に抱茗荷)
• Maruni futatsu biki (丸に二引), Akamatsu
  Akamatsu clan
  The was a Japanese samurai family of direct descent from Minamoto no Morifusa. They were prominent shugo-daimyō in Harima during the Sengoku period.-Select members of the clan:* Akamatsu Norimura .* Akamatsu Norisuke ....
  
  , Ashikaga clan
  Ashikaga clan
  The ' was a prominent Japanese samurai clan which established the Muromachi shogunate and ruled Japan from roughly 1336 to 1573.The Ashikaga were descended from a branch of the Minamoto clan, deriving originally from the town of Ashikaga in Shimotsuke province .For about a century the clan was...
  
  s
• Maruni hanaken bishi (丸に花剣菱)
• Maruni hanare kenkatabami (丸に離れ剣片喰), Hirano clan 
• Maruni hidari mitsu domoe (丸に左三巴), Matsumata clan
• Maruni hidari sangaimatsu (丸に左三階松) Heishi clan Heike
  Heike
  Heike may refer to:* Heike clan, a Japanese clan name* Heikegani, a species of crab named after the Heike clan* Heike * The Tale of the Heike, an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War...
  
  , Hira
  Hira
  Hira or the Cave of Hira is a cave about from Mecca, on the mountain named Jabal Al-Nūr in the Hejaz region of present day Saudi Arabia...
  
  

, also , , and , are Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese emblems used to decorate and identify an individual or family. While mon is an encompassing term that may refer to any such device, kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to emblems used to identify a family.

The devices are similar to the badges

Heraldic badge

A heraldic badge is an emblem or personal device worn as a badge to indicate allegiance to or the property of an individual or family. Medieval forms are usually called a livery badge, and also a cognizance...

 and coats of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

 in European heraldic

Heraldry

Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...

 tradition, which likewise are used to identify individuals and families. Mon are often referred to as crests

Crest (heraldry)

A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....

 in Western literature, which is another European heraldic device that approximates the mon in function.

History

It is thought that mon originated as fabric patterns to be used on clothes in order to distinguish individuals or signify membership in a specific clan

Clan

A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...

 or organization. By the twelfth century, sources give a clear indication that heraldry had been implemented as a distinguishing feature, especially for use in battle. It is seen on flags, tents, and equipment.

Like European heraldry, mon were initially held only by aristocratic

Aristocracy (class)

The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...

 families, and were gradually adapted by commoners. On the battlefield, mon served as army standard

Heraldic flag

In heraldry and vexillology, an heraldic flag is any of several types of flags, containing coats of arms, heraldic badges, or other devices, used for personal identification....

s, even though this usage was not universal and uniquely designed army standards were just as common as mon-based standards. (cf. sashimono

Sashimono

Sashimono were small banners historically worn by soldiers in feudal Japan, for identification during battles.-Description:The sashimono poles were attached to the backs of the chest armor by special fittings. Sashimono were worn by common soldiers, known as ashigaru, to elite samurai, and in...

, uma-jirushi

Uma-jirushi

' were massive flags used in feudal Japan to identify a daimyo or equally important military commander on the field of battle. They came into prominence during the Sengoku period...

) Mon were also adapted by various organizations, such as merchant and artisan guild

Guild

A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...

s, temples and shrines, theater troupes and even criminal gangs. In an illiterate society, they served as useful symbols for recognition.

Japanese traditional formal attire generally displays the mon of the wearer. Commoners without mon often used those of their patron or the organization they belonged to. In cases when none of those were available, they sometimes used one of the few mon which were seen as "vulgar", or invented or adapted whatever mon they wished, passing it on to their descendants. It was not uncommon for shops, and therefore shop-owners, to develop mon to identify themselves.

Rules regulating the choice and use of mon were somewhat limited, though the selection of mon was generally determined by social customs. It was considered improper to use a mon that was known to be held by someone else, and offensive to use a mon that was held by someone of a high rank. When mon came into conflict, the lower-ranked person sometimes changed their mon to avoid offending their superior. The mon held by the ruling clans of Japan, such as Tokugawa

Tokugawa clan

The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...

's hollyhock

Hollyhock

Alcea , commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. Most species are native to southwest and central Asia, although a few are native to southeast Europe or Egypt...

 mon and the Emperor's chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...

 mon, were legally protected from unauthorized usage.

Occasionally, patron clans granted the use of their mon to their retainer

Retainer

Retainer may refer to:* Retainer , a person, especially a soldier, in the service of a lord in the late Middle Ages** Retainer sacrifice, the sacrifice of a human servant* Retainer...

s as a reward. Similar to the granting of the patron's surnames, this was considered a very high honor. Alternatively, the patron clan may have added elements of its mon to that of its retainer, or choose a completely different mon for them.

Design

There are no set rules in the design of a mon. Most consist of a roundel

Roundel

A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...

 encircling a figure of plant, animal, man-made, natural or celestial objects, all abstracted to various degrees. Religious symbols, geometric shapes and kanji

Kanji

Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

 were commonly used as well.

Similar to the blazon

Blazon

In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...

 in European heraldry, mon are also named by the content of the design, even though there is no set rule for such names. Unlike in European heraldry, however, this "blazon" is not prescriptive – the depiction of a mon does not follow the name – instead the names only serve to describe the mon. The pictorial depictions of the mon are not formalized and small variations of what is supposed to be the same mon can sometimes be seen, but the designs are for the most part standardized through time and tradition.

The degree of variation tolerated differ from mon to mon as well. For example, the paulownia crest with 5-7-5 leaves is reserved for the prime minister, whereas paulownia with fewer leaves could be used by anyone. The imperial chrysanthemum also specifies 16 petals, whereas chrysanthemum with fewer petals are used by other lesser imperial family members.

Japanese heraldry does not have a cadency

Cadency

In heraldry, cadency is any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family. Cadency is necessary in heraldic systems in which a given design may be owned by only one person at once...

 or quartering system, but it is not uncommon for cadet

Cadet

A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...

 branches of a family to choose a slightly different mon from the senior branch. Each princely family (Shinnōke

Shinnoke

was the collective name for the four cadet branches of the Imperial Household of Japan, which were until 1947 entitled to provide a successor to the Chrysanthemum throne if the main line failed to produce an heir...

), for example, uses a modified chrysanthemum crest as their mon. Mon holders may also combine their mon with that of their patron, benefactor or spouse, sometimes creating increasingly complicated designs.

Mon are essentially monochrome; the color does not constitute part of the design and they may be drawn in any color.

Modern usage

Virtually all modern Japanese families have a mon, though modern usage is rare. Many Japanese may no longer recognize their own family's mon. On occasions when the use of mon is required, one can try to look it up in the temple registries of their ancestral hometown or consult one of the many genealogical publications available. Professional wedding planner

Wedding planner

A wedding planner is a professional who assists with planning and organization of weddings. Weddings are significant events in people's lives, and those involved are often willing to spend a considerable amount of money to ensure it is organized as perfectly as possible.Professional wedding...

s, undertakers and other ritual masters may also offer guidance on finding the proper mon.

Mon can still be seen widely on stores and shops engaged in traditional crafts and specialties. They are favored by sushi

Sushi

is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...

 restaurants which often incorporate a mon into their logos, while mon designs can be seen on the ceramic

Ceramic

A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...

 roof tiles of older houses. Mon designs also frequently appear on senbei

Senbei

are a type of Japanese rice crackers. They come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, usually savory but sometimes sweet. Senbei are often eaten with green tea as a casual snack and offered to visiting house guests as a courtesy refreshment....

, sake, tofu

Tofu

is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is part of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and others. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu...

, and other packaging for food

Food

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...

stuffs to lend them an air of elegance and refinement. The paulownia mon appears on the obverse side of the 500 yen coin.

Items symbolizing family crafts, arts or professions were often chosen as a mon. A fan design might be chosen by a geisha

Geisha

, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...

. A woman may still wear her maiden mon if she wishes and pass them on to her daughters and does not have to adopt her husband's or father's mon.
Mon add formality to a kimono

Kimono

The is a Japanese traditional garment worn by men, women and children. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear" , has come to denote these full-length robes...

. A kimono may have one or three or five mon. The mon themselves can be more or less formal; more formal kimono display more numerous mon, and frequently in a manner so as to make them stand out more. This may help dress up or dress down the formality of a kimono at the wearer's discretion. In the dress of the ruling class, the mon could be found on the kimono on both sides of the chest, on both sleeves, and in the middle of the back. On the armour, it could be found on the kabuto

Kabuto

A kabuto is a helmet used with traditional Japanese armour as worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan....

(helmet), on the do (cuirass), flags, and various other places. Mon could also be found on coffers, tents, fans, and many other items of importance.

As in the past, modern mon are not regulated by any law, with the exception of the imperial chrysanthemum

Imperial Seal of Japan

The Imperial Seal of Japan is a mon or crest used by members of the Japanese Imperial family. Under the Meiji Constitution, no one was permitted to use the Imperial Seal except the Emperor of Japan, who used a 16 petal chrysanthemum with sixteen tips of another row of petals showing behind the...

, which doubles as the national emblem, and the paulownia, which is the mon of the office of prime minister

Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...

 and also serves as the emblem of the cabinet

Cabinet (government)

A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...

 and the government. Some local governments, associations and businesses may use mon as their logo or trademark

Trademark

A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...

, and thus enjoy all the protection as such, but otherwise mon are not recognized by law. One of the best known examples of a corporate logo in the form of a mon is the logo for Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi

The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...

, a name meaning "three water chestnuts

Water caltrop

The water caltrop, water chestnut, buffalo nut, bat nut, devil pod or Singhara or Pani-fol is either of two species of the genus Trapa: Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis...

", which are represented as rhombuses. Another example corporate use is the logo for Kikkoman

Kikkoman

is an international company based in Japan.Founded in 1917, it is based in Noda, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is a combination of 8 family-owned businesses founded as early as 1603 by the Mogi and Takanashi families....

, which is the mon of the founder.

List of representative kamon

Chigai: crossed; daki: holding; go: five; maru ni: in a circle; mittsu: three; mukai: facing; yottsu: four.

• Abeseimeiban (阿部清明判), Ichikawa, Sakō clans
• Abekezeni (阿部家銭)
• Agehanochō (揚羽蝶), swallowtail butterfly
  Swallowtail butterfly
  Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
  
  , Nishinotōin clan 
• Aizu mitsu aoi (会津三葵), wild ginger
  Wild ginger
  Wild ginger may refer to any of a variety of plants, often with a similar appearance, odour or taste to cultivated ginger. Species involved include:*Any of the Alpinia species, especially A. caerulea....
  
   (Asarum caulescens) leaves, Aizu
  Aizu
  is an area comprising the westernmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal city of the area is Aizuwakamatsu.During the Edo period, Aizu was a feudal domain known as and part of Mutsu Province.-History:...
  
   Matsudaira clan
  Matsudaira clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. It first originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province . Over the course of its history, the clan produced many branches, most of which also centered around Mikawa Province...
  
   
• Arimake kara hana (有馬家唐花)
• Arimoji (有文字)
• Chigai bishi (違菱)
• Chigai daikon (違大根)
• Chigai kine (違杵)
• Chigai kuginuki (違釘抜), Asō Tarō
• Chigai masakari (違鉞)
• Chigai takanoha (違鷹羽),
• Chigai yabane (違矢羽)
• Chūwani chigaikama (中輪に違鎌)
• Chūwani gosannokiri (中輪に五三桐)
• Chūwani narabitakanoha (中輪に並鷹羽)
• Daki gyōyō (抱杏葉), Ōtomo
  Otomo clan
  The Ōtomo clan was a Japanese clan whose power stretched from the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, spanning over 400 years. The clan's hereditary lands lay in Kyūshū....
  
  , Tachibana clans
• Daki kajinoha (抱梶葉)
• Daki kashira (抱柏)
• Daki myōga (抱茗荷)
• Daki Omodaka (抱面高)
• Daki ine (抱稲)
• Daki kajinoha (抱梶葉)
• Daki kashiwa (抱柏)
• Daki omodaka (抱面高)
• Eirakusen (永楽銭), Oda
  Oda clan
  The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
  
  , Mizuno
  Mizuno clan
  The was a Japanese clan which claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji branch of the Minamoto clan. In the Edo period, the Mizuno clan produced many men who were fudai daimyo serving the Tokugawa shogun, as well as countless families of hatamoto...
  
  , Sengoku clans
• Fujiwara Clan
• Futowani masakari (太輪に鉞)
• Gaku (額) Koide clan
• Genji kōzu (源氏香図)
• Gion mamori (祗園守)
• Gion mamoriku-zushi (祗園守崩し)
• Gosan no kiri (五三桐), Toyotomi
  Toyotomi clan
  Originating in Owari Province, the served as retainers to the Oda clan throughout 16th-century Japan's Sengoku period. -Unity and Conflict:The most influential figure within the Toyotomi was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three "unifiers of Japan." Oda Nobunaga was another primary unifier and the...
  
  , Hosokawa clan
  Hosokawa clan
  The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
  
  s
• Gohon bone ōgi (五本骨扇), Satake
  Satake clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. Its first power base was in Hitachi Province. The clan was subdued by Minamoto no Yoritomo in the late 12th century, but later entered Yoritomo's service as vassals...
  
  , Ōkōchi clans
• Gomaisasa (五枚笹)
• Goshichi no kiri (五七桐)
• Gyōyō botan (杏葉牡丹), Hayashi
  Hayashi clan
  The was the name of several Japanese clans, of varying origin.*Hayashi clan of Owari Province *Hayashi clan of Confucian scholars *Hayashi clan of the Jōzai Domain...
  
  , Sayama, Kōda, Shigeta clans
• Hanabishi (花菱)
• Hanakage kyōyōbotan (花陰杏葉牡丹)
• Hanatsuki mitsuaoi (花付き三つ葵)
• Hana wachigai (花輪違い), Oki, En'ya, Takaoka
  Takaoka clan
  - Fujiwara clan, Hatta Tomoie's descendant :This clan's origin is a descendant of Hatta clan in Hitachi Province. Hatta clan are descended directly from Lord Fujiwara no Kamatari by his grandson Hatta Tomoie , Takaoka Yasushige, grandson of Hatta Tomoie...
  
  , Toda, Sase
• Hidari futatsu domoe (左二巴)
• Hidari midori (左三ツ巴), Saionji, Utsunomiya, Kii, Kamachi, Okabe clans
• Hinomaru ōgi (日の丸扇)
• Hirai zutsu (平井筒)
• Hiraki kasa (開き傘)
• Hishimochi (菱持)
• Hitotsu tabanenoshi (一束熨斗)
• Hitotsu tsurumyōganome (一蔓茗荷丸)
• Hiyokuzuru (比翼鶴), Kamachi clan 
• Hōjōke uroko (北条家鱗)
• Hondake tachiaoi (本多家立葵)
• Honmoji (本文字), Honda clan
  Honda clan
  The ' is a Japanese family that claims descent from the medieval court noble Fujiwara no Kanemichi. The family settled in Mikawa and served the Matsudaira clan as retainers. Later, when the main Matsudaira family became the Tokugawa clan, the Honda rose in prestige. The clan includes thirteen...
  
   
• Hosowani nozoki kajinoha (細輪に覗き梶葉)
• Ichimatsu yotsumeyui (市松四目結) , Nogi Maresuke
• Ichimonji (一文字), Nasu clans
• Ichimonji jimitsuboshi(一文字三星), Mōri clan
  Mori clan
  The Mōri clan was a family of daimyō, descended from Ōe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki Province. Their name was derived from a shōen in Mōri, Aikō District, Sagami Province. The generation of Hiromoto began to name themselves Mōri.After the Jōkyū War, Mōri was appointed to the jitō...
  
  
• Igeta (井桁)
• Igetani mokkō (井桁に木瓜)
• Ikari (碇),the anchor
• Ine no maru (稲の丸)
• Injūchō (因州蝶), Ikeda clan
  Ikeda clan
  The was a Japanese clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji. In the Edo period, several of the clan's branches were daimyo families, most notably of the Tottori Domain, and Okayama Domain. Takamasa Ikeda, present head of the Okayama Ikeda house is a husband of Atsuko Ikeda, fourth daughter...
  
  
• Iori (庵)
• Ippon sugi (一本杉)
• Ishimochi (石餅), Tōyama, Itami clans
• Itōke fuji (伊藤家藤)
• Itowani kawarikochō (糸輪に変り胡蝶)
• Itowani uchiwa (糸輪に団扇)
• Itsutsu rindōguruma (五ツ龍胆), Kuga clan
• Itsutsu warimanji (五割万字), Yokoyama, Hachisuka clan
  Hachisuka clan
  The ' are descendants of Emperor Seiwa and are a branch of the Ashikaga clan and the Shiba clan .Ashikaga Ieuji , son of Ashikaga Yasuuji was the first who adopted the name of Shiba...
  
  s
• Janome (蛇の目)
• Jinuki eirakusen
• Jūjikurusu (十字久留子),the cross
• Jūrokuben yae omotegiku (十六弁八重表菊) - Emperor of Japan
  Emperor of Japan
  The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
  
  
• Jūrokuyou uragiku (十六葉裏菊), Hirohatake clan
• Jūroku uragiku (十六裏菊), Nashimoto-no-miya Princely House
• Jūshiben hitoe uragiku (十四弁一重裏菊)
• Kagekuyō (陰九曜)
• Kageman jimaru (陰万字丸)
• Kagetsuta (陰蔦)
• Kagome (籠目)
• Kaji (卦字), Kosaka, Miki clans
• Kakitsu batabishi (杜若菱), Kazanin clan
• Kama (鎌)
• Kana wakuzushi (金輪崩し)
• Kan-ei Tsūhō (寛永通宝), Fukushima clan
• Kanibami (酢漿草), Nitta, Sakai
  Sakai clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Nitta branch of the Minamoto clan, who were in turn descendants of Emperor Seiwa. Serata Arichika, a samurai of the 14th century, was the common ancestor of both the Sakai clan and the Matsudaira clan, which the Sakai later served...
  
  , Hirano, Hida, Nakazawa, Taga, Akada, Hirao clans
• Karabishibana (唐菱花)
• Karahana (唐花)
• Kasa (傘)
• Kasa (笠)
• Kasane hanagata genjiguruma (重ね花形源氏車)
• Kasane masu (重ね枡)
• Kashira awasemitsu kasa (頭合三笠)
• Kawari kikusui (変り菊水)
• Kawari uchiwa (変り羽団扇)
• Kayanouchi Jūmonji (榧之内十文字), Itagaki Taisuke
  Itagaki Taisuke
  Count was a Japanese politician and leader of the , which evolved into Japan's first political party.- Early life :Itagaki Taisuke was born into a middle-ranking samurai family in Tosa Domain, , After studies in Kōchi and in Edo, he was appointed as sobayonin to Tosa daimyo Yamauchi Toyoshige,...
  
  (Inui)
• Kichimoji (吉文字), Mōri
  Mori clan
  The Mōri clan was a family of daimyō, descended from Ōe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki Province. Their name was derived from a shōen in Mōri, Aikō District, Sagami Province. The generation of Hiromoto began to name themselves Mōri.After the Jōkyū War, Mōri was appointed to the jitō...
  
  , Nagai clans
• Kikkō (亀甲),the hexagon(s)
• Kikkōni hanabishi (亀甲に花菱)
• Kiku fusen ryō (菊浮線綾)
• Kikusui (菊水), Kusunoki clan 
• Kikyō (桔梗), Toki clan
  Toki clan
  The was a powerful clan that ruled in Japan from the Kamakura period to the Edo period. It descended from Emperor Seiwa by Minamoto no Yorimitsu from the Minamoto clan and used Toki in Mino Province as their hometown...
  
   
• Kiriguruma (桐車)
• Kiyobu chō (きよぶ 蝶)
• Kochō (胡蝶)
• Komochi kikkō (子持亀甲)
• Konoe botan (近衛牡丹), Konoe family
  Konoe family
  The Konoe family is a branch of the Fujiwara clan, a powerful noble family in Japan. As one of the five regent houses, the Konoe family monopolized the offices of Sessho and Kampaku along with Takatsukasa, Kujō, Ichijō and Nijō families. They are collectively known as the Five regent houses.With...
  
  
• Kuginuki (釘抜)
• Kujōke fuji (九条家藤), Kujō family
  Kujō family
  The Kujō family was a Japanese noble family and a branch of the Fujiwara clan derived from Fujiwara no Tadamichi. They were counted as one of the Sekke, the five regent houses and therefore one of the most politically powerful families among the kuge .As one of the Sekke, the five regent houses,...
  
  
• Kumihiraizutsu (組平井筒)
• Kurodake tachibana (黒田家橘)
• Kutsuwa (轡)
• Kuyō (九曜), Hosokawa
  Hosokawa clan
  The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
  
  , Sakuma clans
• Manji
  Swastika
  The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
  
   (卍)
• Maruni agehanochō (丸に揚羽蝶), Ikeda
  Ikeda clan
  The was a Japanese clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji. In the Edo period, several of the clan's branches were daimyo families, most notably of the Tottori Domain, and Okayama Domain. Takamasa Ikeda, present head of the Okayama Ikeda house is a husband of Atsuko Ikeda, fourth daughter...
  
  , Hiramatsu clans
• Maruni chidori (丸に千鳥)
• Maruni chigai chōji (丸に違丁字)
• Maruni chigai takanoha (丸に違鷹羽), Asano, Kikuchi
  Kikuchi clan
  The of Higo Province was a powerful daimyo family of Higo, Kyūshū. The Kikuchi lineage was renowned for its valiant service in defense of the emperor and against foreign invaders. The clan first distinguished itself during the Jürchen invasion of northern Kyūshū in 1019...
  
  , Handa clans, Kubo
• Maruni chigai ya (丸に違矢)
• Maruni dakikashiwa (丸に抱き柏)
• Maruni dakimyōga (丸に抱茗荷)
• Maruni futatsu biki (丸に二引), Akamatsu
  Akamatsu clan
  The was a Japanese samurai family of direct descent from Minamoto no Morifusa. They were prominent shugo-daimyō in Harima during the Sengoku period.-Select members of the clan:* Akamatsu Norimura .* Akamatsu Norisuke ....
  
  , Ashikaga clan
  Ashikaga clan
  The ' was a prominent Japanese samurai clan which established the Muromachi shogunate and ruled Japan from roughly 1336 to 1573.The Ashikaga were descended from a branch of the Minamoto clan, deriving originally from the town of Ashikaga in Shimotsuke province .For about a century the clan was...
  
  s
• Maruni hanaken bishi (丸に花剣菱)
• Maruni hanare kenkatabami (丸に離れ剣片喰), Hirano clan 
• Maruni hidari mitsu domoe (丸に左三巴), Matsumata clan
• Maruni hidari sangaimatsu (丸に左三階松) Heishi clan Heike
  Heike
  Heike may refer to:* Heike clan, a Japanese clan name* Heikegani, a species of crab named after the Heike clan* Heike * The Tale of the Heike, an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War...
  
  , Hira
  Hira
  Hira or the Cave of Hira is a cave about from Mecca, on the mountain named Jabal Al-Nūr in the Hejaz region of present day Saudi Arabia...
  
  
• Maruni hitotsu kine (丸に一杵)
• Maruni hitotsu uroko (丸に一鱗)
• Maruni ipponsugi (丸に一本杉)
• Maruni jūnoji (丸に十の字) - Shimazu
  Shimazu clan
  The were the daimyō of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.The Shimazu were identified as one of the tozama or outsider daimyō clans in contrast with the fudai or insider clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan,The Shimazu were...
  
  , Ijuin clans
• Maruni katabami (丸に片喰), Reizei, Irie clans
• Maruni kawari iori (丸に変り庵)
• Maruni kawari sangaibishi (丸に変り三蓋菱)
• Maruni kenkatabami (丸に剣片喰), Hirano clan 
• Maruni kikyō (丸に桔梗), Oka, Nakamura clans
• Maruni kumai zasa (丸に九枚笹), Kanamitsu clan 
• Maruni masu (丸に枡)
• Maruni mitsu aoi (丸に三葵) aka. Mitsuba aoi (三葉葵) - Tokugawa
  Tokugawa clan
  The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
  
  , Matsudaira clan
  Matsudaira clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. It first originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province . Over the course of its history, the clan produced many branches, most of which also centered around Mikawa Province...
  
  s
• Maruni mitsu gashiwa (丸に三柏), Yamanouchi, Makino clan
  Makino clan
  The are a daimyō branch of the samurai Minamoto clan in Edo period Japan.In the Edo period, the Makino were identified as one of the fudai or insider daimyō clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan, in contrast with the tozama or outsider clans.-Makino clan branches:The...
  
  s
• Maruni mitsu ōgi (丸に三ツ扇)
• Maruni narabihiiragi (丸に並柊)
• Maruni sumitate yotsume (丸に隅立四目), Shinozuka clan
• Maruni nitsuta (丸に蔦)
• Maruni tachibana (丸に橘)
• Maruni tekoku ginukibishi (丸に梃子釘抜菱)
• Maruni tobima izuru (丸に飛び舞鶴)
• Maruni yotsu ishi (丸に四石) ,Four squares in a circle
• Maruno uchini mitsuhikiryō (丸の内に三引両)
• Masu (枡)
• Matsukawa bishi (松皮菱)
• Migi mitsudomoe (右三巴), Saionji, Utsunomiya clans
• Mika zuki (三日月),a crescent
  Crescent
  In art and symbolism, a crescent is generally the shape produced when a circular disk has a segment of another circle removed from its edge, so that what remains is a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points .In astronomy, a crescent...
  
  . Nonaka, Ōhara clans
• Mitoke mitsu aoi (水戸家三葵)
• Mitsu bikiryō (三引両)
• Mitsu gashiwa (三柏)
• Mitsu hiōgi (三檜扇)
• Mitsu ichō (三銀杏)
• Mitsu ishi (三石)
• Mitsu kaede (三楓), Imadegawa clan 
• Mitsu ōgi (三ツ扇), Matsudaira clan
  Matsudaira clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. It first originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province . Over the course of its history, the clan produced many branches, most of which also centered around Mikawa Province...
  
   (Ōkōchi branch)
• Mitsu oi hiiragi (三追柊)
• Mitsu uroko (三つ鱗), Hōjō clan
  Hojo clan
  See the late Hōjō clan for the Hōjō clan of the Sengoku Period.The in the history of Japan was a family who controlled the hereditary title of shikken of the Kamakura Shogunate. In practice, the family had actual governmental power, many times dictatorial, rather than Kamakura shoguns, or the...
  
   
• Mitsu warinadeshiko (三割撫子)
• Mitsugumi tachibana (三ツ組橘)
• Mitsumori janome (三盛蛇の目)
• Mitsuya (三矢) ,The three arrows.
• Mittsu gasa (三傘)
• Mittsu irekomasu (三入子枡), Ichikawa family 
• Mittsu kanawa (三金輪)
• Mittsu karigane (三雁金), Hanabusa, Shibata clan
  Shibata clan
  The Shibata clan a Japanese clan that had originated during the Heian period of Japan. The Shibata clan of Echigo province were notably related to that of the Shibata clan of Owari province. The Shibata clan of Echigo were descended from Sasaki Moritsuna, a supporter of Minamoto no Yoritomo and a...
  
  s
• Mittsu naname karigane (三斜雁金)
• Mittsu sasarindō (三笹竜胆)
• Mittsu tachi jikuchigai ichō (三立軸違銀杏)
• Miyako Todomaru
• Mochi aikutsuwa (持合轡)
• Mokkō (木瓜), Oda clan
  Oda clan
  The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
  
  
• Mokkō hanabishi fusen-aya (木瓜花菱浮線綾), Tokudaiji clan
• Mukai bato (対鳩), Yamamoto, Kojima clans
• Mukai nami (対波), Aoyama
  Aoyama clan
  The ' was a Japanese clan which came to prominence during the Sengoku period. Its origins were in Kōzuke Province; however, members of the family moved to Mikawa Province and served the Matsudaira clan...
  
  , Oguri clans
• Musubi karigane (結雁金)
• Musubi mitsugashiwa (結三柏)
• Mutsuya guruma (六矢車), Hattori, Yabe clans
• Nabeshima kebotan (鍋島家牡丹)
• Nabeshima kehiashi (鍋島家日足), Fukao, Nabeshima clan
  Nabeshima clan
  The Nabeshima clan was a prominent Japanese samurai clan of Kyūshū which controlled Saga Domain from the late Sengoku period through the Edo period.The Nabeshima clan was a cadet branch of the Shōni clan and was descended from the Fujiwara clan...
  
  s
• Nadeshiko (撫子)
• Naitōkeuchiwa (内藤家団扇) ū
• Nakagawake kurusu (中川家久留子)
• Nakakagemitsudomoe (中陰三巴)
• Nakakagesagarifuji (中陰下藤)
• Namiwani kagechidori (波輪に陰千鳥)
• Nejikikyō (捻桔梗)
• Nejimukō ume (捻向梅)
• Nihachigaku (二八額), Koide clan 
• Nihonsugi (二本杉)
• Nijōkefuji (二条家藤), Nijō clan 
• Nobori fuji (昇り藤)
• Ojikini-sanmoji (折敷に三文字), Kōno, Hitotsuyanagi clans
• Omodaga (沢瀉)
• Ōnakaguro (大中黒) - Nitta Yoshisada
  Nitta Yoshisada
  was the head of the Nitta family in the early fourteenth century, and supported the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in the Nanboku-chō period, capturing Kamakura from the Hōjō clan in 1333....
  
  
• Onizuta (鬼蔦)
• Roku monsen (六文銭), Sanada clan
  Sanada clan
  The was a Japanese clan which rose to prominence in the Sengoku period. During the Edo era, the Sanada ruled the Matsushiro Domain, where they remained until the Meiji Restoration.-Sengoku period:...
  
   
• Sagarifuji (下藤), Kujō, Naitō clan
  Naito clan
  The ' was a Japanese clan which claimed its descent from Fujiwara no Hidesato. The Naitō became daimyo during the Edo period.-References:...
  
  s
• Sakura (桜)
• Sakura fusenryō (桜浮線両)
• Sanadake zeni (真田家銭), Sanada clan
  Sanada clan
  The was a Japanese clan which rose to prominence in the Sengoku period. During the Edo era, the Sanada ruled the Matsushiro Domain, where they remained until the Meiji Restoration.-Sengoku period:...
  
  
• Sanbonsugi (三本杉)
• Sangaibishi (三蓋菱), Ogasawara clan
  Ogasawara clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan descended from the Seiwa Genji. The Ogasawara acted as shugo of Shinano province in the medieval period The was a Japanese samurai clan descended from the Seiwa Genji. The Ogasawara acted as shugo (governors) of Shinano province in the medieval period The was a...
  
  
• Sanmonsen (三文銭), Watanabe clan
• Sasarindō (笹竜胆)
• Sendai izasa (仙台笹), Date clan
• Shimazu jūmonji (島津十文字), Shimazu clan
  Shimazu clan
  The were the daimyō of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.The Shimazu were identified as one of the tozama or outsider daimyō clans in contrast with the fudai or insider clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan,The Shimazu were...
  
  
• Shiro ichimonji Kuro ichimonji (白一文字 黒一文字), Yamanouchi
• Soroi futatsu hikiryō (揃い二つ引き両)
• Sumiatate yotsumeyui (隅立四目結い), Sasaki
  Sasaki clan
  are a historical Japanese clan. - Brief history :They are descended directly from Emperor Uda by his grandson Minamoto no Masanobu , but were adopted by the Seiwa Genji...
  
  , Rokkaku
  Rokkaku clan
  The was a Japanese samurai clan which wielded considerable power in the Muromachi period under the Ashikaga shogunate.-Rise and Fall:Founded by Sasaki Yasutsuna of Ōmi province in the 13th century, the name Rokkaku was taken from their residence within Kyoto; however, many members of this family...
  
  , Sō clan
  So clan
  The Sō were a Japanese clan claiming descent from Taira Tomomori. The clan governed and held Tsushima Island from the 13th-century through the late 19th-century, from the Kamakura period until the end of the Edo period and the Meiji restoration....
  
  s
• Sumikiri hanabishi (隅切り花菱)
• Suzugohei (鈴御幣)
• Tachi aoibishi (立葵菱)
• Tachibana (橘)
• Tachi kajinoha (立梶葉)
• Tachi omodaka (立面高)
• Tachiaoibishi (立葵菱)
• Tachibotan (立牡丹)
• Tachika jinoha (立梶葉)
• Taikō giri (太閤桐)
• Taikyokuzu (対極図), Yasuoka clan
• Takanoha (鷹の羽), is the emblem of the Family.
• Takeda bishi (武田菱), Takeda, Baba clan
  Baba clan (Kai)
  The ' of Kai province was a Japanese samurai clan, directly descended from Minamoto no Yorimitsu, which was primarily notable in the Sengoku period ....
  
  s
• Tooyamake fuji (遠山家藤)
• Tsurunomaru (鶴の丸), Hino, Yanagiwara clans
• Tsuta (蔦), Kiga clan 
• Uchiwazasa (団扇笹)
• Ume (梅)
• Umebachi (梅鉢), Maeda
  Maeda clan
  The was a branch of the Sugawara clan who descended from Sugawara no Kiyotomo and Sugawara no Michizane in the eighth and ninth centuries. It was one of the most powerful samurai families in Japan and they were second only to the Tokugawa clan in rice production and fief size...
  
  , Sugawara, Takatsuji clans
• Uraki kubishi (裏菊菱)
• Uranamisen (裏波銭)
• Wari daikon (割大根)
• Waribishi (割菱), Takeda, Baba
  Baba clan (Kai)
  The ' of Kai province was a Japanese samurai clan, directly descended from Minamoto no Yorimitsu, which was primarily notable in the Sengoku period ....
  
  , Imai clans
• Yagyū gasa (柳生笠), Yagyū clan
  Yagyu clan
  The ' were a family of daimyō with lands just outside Nara, who became the heads of one of Japan's greatest schools of swordsmanship, Yagyū Shinkage-ryū...
  
  
• Yamato zakura (大和桜)
• Yamabishi (山菱)
• Yamani kasumi (山に霞), Yoshida, Ikehara clans
• Yanagisawa Hanabishi (柳沢花菱), Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu
  Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu
  was a Japanese samurai of the Edo period He was an official in the Tokugawa shogunate and he was a favorite of the fifth shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi....
  
  
• Yattsu chōji (八丁字)
• Yoko mokkō (横木瓜)
• Yonezawazasa (米沢笹)
• Yotsu Hanabishi (四つ花菱), Matsumoto family, Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu
  Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu
  was a Japanese samurai of the Edo period He was an official in the Tokugawa shogunate and he was a favorite of the fifth shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi....
  
  
• Yotsu Meyui (四つ目結)), Sasaki
  Sasaki clan
  are a historical Japanese clan. - Brief history :They are descended directly from Emperor Uda by his grandson Minamoto no Masanobu , but were adopted by the Seiwa Genji...
  
  , Kyōgoku clan
  Kyōgoku clan
  The were a Japanese samurai kin group which rose to prominence during the Sengoku and Edo periods. The clan claimed descent from the Uda Genji. The name derives from the Kyōgoku quarter of Kyoto during the Heian period....
  
  s
• Yotsume mon (四つ目紋)
• Yottsu ikari (四碇)
• Yottsu ishi (四石)
• Yottsu matsukawabishi (四松皮菱)
• Yuki (雪),the snow.

External links

• Website offering free EPS files of kamon, sorted by category　- (click on the center (再生) to start)
• Website offering free Illustrator (Ai) files of kamon, classified by category
• Hidaka Family Emblems: A lantern-maker's website that features illustrations of many kamon
• The Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana's page on kamon
• Page with generic descriptions and links to 100 mon
• Kamon World - Encyclopedia
• Onnamon - Encyclopedia with emphasis on female kamon
• Mondokoro - Kamon search by family name
• Nihon Kamon Kenkyukai - Japan Kamon Society