STONE BRIDGE PRESS Family Crests Of Japan

About Family Crests of Japan

In Family Crests of Japan, the use of bold, iconic designs have come to symbolize family names in Japan. Dating from the time of the court nobles in the twelfth century. The sense of “family” has changed in modern Japan, but the crests’ high-contrast motifs and simple geometries are right at home in our logo-emblazoned age, even as the designs express old cultural interests and ideals: cherry blossoms, well buckets, floating clouds.

This book contains over 850 family crests (kamon) with descriptions, cultural backgrounds, and a selection of photographs showing how crests are used on banners, signs, and buildings. Of special interest to graphic designers, quilt-makers, and illustrators.