Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese Language School. Today’s topic is Kamon 家紋 or Family Crests which is particular to Japan.
Family Crests first appeared in Japan during the Heian period when aristocrats placed their favorite designes of plants and flowers on clothes and cow carriages. Warriors then began to use family crests with more geometric designs on their flags to idetify themselves on the battlefields. Though powerful merchants and kabuki actors were permitted to use them in the Edo period, ordinary people have been able to use family crests freely since the Meiji period. Today, family crests can be seen on black ceremonial kimonos, called “montsuki 紋付き.” There are said to be more than 10,000 different family crests in Japan. Only the family of the emperor can use the crest bearing a chrysanthemum with sixteen petals.



April 23rd News, from NILS Japaneses language school.