Have you ever seen family crests on formal kimonos in wedding or funeral ceremonies in Japan ? You can see them in a period play on TV. A Samurai decorates his belongings: kimonos, swords, houses etc. with his family crest. Family crests are black and white patterns and there are a lot of different patterns used the motif of plants, birds, animals, characters, etc.

The origin of family crests was in the Heian era(8th century). Arisotcrats of that time decorated their clothes, furniture and ox-carts with their favorite patterns. In the Kamakura era(from 12th century), it was a military society, family crests became a signal of discrimination between enemy and ally. They puttheir crest on their big flags, armour and tents. Through the many battles in military times, crests became individual, father and son, brothers, each one had a different crest. In the peaceful Edo era(from 17th century), family crests showed each family's rank and ordinary people began to have their crest. For example, Shops put their crest on "Noren", a short entrance curtain, and their paper lamps. In this time, family crests were passed down from fathers to sons, mothers to daughers.

In modern times, this custom continues but many people don't think it's important. In some formal ceremonies and festivals like weddings, funerals, and New year's day, the times when the Japanese people have an oppotunity to wear Kimonos, you can find their family crests on their clothes. Some Japanese restaurants and shops put their family crests on the walls to show that their places are good and traditional. Next time, you stroll thourgh a town, why don't you try to find Japanese family crests ? They are simple and beautiful patterns.