Japanese Family Crests and Designs

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

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

Family crests exert influence in contemporary culture not only because of their historical and cultural value, but also because...