【着物と家紋のお話】秋篠宮佳子内親王のブラジルご訪問のお着物と家紋から読み解く
In 2025, Her Imperial Highness Princess Kako of the Akishino family visited Brazil to participate in a ceremony commemorating the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil. KIMONO SHSOES HeWhoMe Representative, Ms. Noriko Onozaki, explains the kimono worn by Princess Kako and her family crest.
Types and Names of Kimono
There are various rules for kimono. For example, married and unmarried people wear different types of kimonos, and kimonos are divided into “formal wear,” “semi-formal wear,” and “informal wear,” in order of rank according to the pattern. I think this is similar to the way dress changes depending on whether a party is held during the day or at night in the West.
The kimono worn by Princess Kako this time was furisode, which is the formal attire for unmarried women. In Japan, there is a coming-of-age ceremony at the age of 20, and furisode is one of the most popular kimono for girls to wear at that time.
She also wore a light blue furisode and vermilion obi for the 130th anniversary of diplomacy in the capital, Brasilia. This was also worn at the garden party in 2024.
At the time, it was reported that this kimono had three crests (kikutsuga), which is the family crest of the Akishino family.
This “with crest” or “without crest” is also an important rule for kimono, and is very important.
Let me explain a little about Japanese family crests.
Family Crests on Kimonos
In Japan, each family has its own crest, called kamon, which has been passed down from generation to generation. This crest was passed down from generation to generation, and in the old days, it was placed on flags at battlefields to distinguish friend and foe.
In modern times, it is usually placed on kimonos, graves, and Buddhist altars.
How to put three crests
There are three types of kimono with crests: five crests (five crests), three crests (three crests), and one crest (one crest), and the higher the number of crests, the higher the prestige of the kimono.
The furisode that Princess Kako is wearing is the most prestigious kimono for unmarried women, and I have the impression that the three crests are added to enhance the sense of formal wear.
The place to put the crest is here.
Kimonos with crests have power.
Kimonos themselves have a definite prestige, but it is interesting to note that when these crests are added, the prestige of the kimono suddenly increases.
Take, for example, this Edo komon (Edo komon).
The komon itself is a casual kimono of the lowest rank, but among the Edo komon, this shark pattern is given special treatment. This is because it is a highly prestigious pattern worn by warriors since the Edo period (1603-1867) and its fine pattern looks like a kimono of another rank, called MUJI (plain), when seen from a distance.
Therefore, when a kimono is decorated with this one crest, it is elevated from casual fashionable wear to formal attire.
This is the power of the crest.
About the Imperial Family Crest
As to how long this family crest has been in use, it seems that the aristocrats started using it in the Heian period (around 800 AD), and by the Muromachi period (around 1400 AD), the common people were also using it.
Since the prototype of the kimono also began to appear in the Heian period, it is likely that the crests were linked to each other, changing their shapes and forms, until they reached the present day.
About the Emperor's family crest
So which house has the oldest family crest?
That is the Emperor's family, which has the longest history in the world at 2,685 years. The “chrysanthemum crest” is the family crest of the Emperor's family and the emblem of the Imperial Family.
About the family crest of the Akishino family
And now, the crest on Princess Kako's furisode kimono is “Kikugasa”.
As the Akishino family is a branch of the Imperial family, it was established as a new family crest when the Akishino family was founded in 1990 (Heisei 2).
The crest is based on the chrysanthemum, which is the crest of the Imperial family, combined with “Tsuga,” which is the seal (personal crest) of Akishino no Miya.
Forgive me for being impolite, but the Miyake family is a branch of the Emperor's family.
Let us look at it from the perspective of the family crest of this branch family.
How to determine the family crest of a branch family
Once the eldest son succeeds to the main family, what should be done with the crests of the second, third, and lower sons and daughters?
Generally, the family crest is based on the crest of the main family, and various other family crests are added to it. They can surround it with a circle, increase the number to two or three, or attach a motif of their choice.
I think it is fair to say that the Akishino family crest was created according to these very rules.
As a commoner, this story is very familiar to me.
This is true in both the East and West, and European crests are also said to be based on the father's coat of arms. I hear that it is easier to make it more complicated because it indicates an individual rather than a family.
HeWhoMe's logo is also our family crest!
Did you know that the HeWhoMe logo is the family crest of the Onozaki family, “Maru ni Tachi Omodaka”?
The Sawagata crest is said to be the winning plant, and is a good omen.
Perhaps because it is popular and popular, there are many variations.
Here are some of them!
This is still only a part of the Sawagata crest.
It is quite profound to think that this is how many branches were created.
Extra: Queen's coat of arms
This logo is not a house, but it is said to be the coat of arms of the legendary band Queen.
Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon are all represented in the logo. Roger and John, who are Leo, are on each side, Brian, who is Cancer, is in the center, and Freddie, who is Virgo, is a fairy.
Considering that the family is a team and the band is a team, I think the meaning is closer to that of a family crest than to that of an individual crest.
It is a logo that has worked outstandingly well as a symbol for solidifying unity.
Summary of Kimono and Family Crest
We have covered the Japanese traditions of the kimono and the family crest.
Both are profound and very relevant to HeWhoMe, so we will probably touch on them from time to time in the future.
I hope to talk about the kimonos we carry at HeWhoMe and the stories behind why they were chosen, as well as the history of Japan, since the warlords who are becoming popular around the world also all have family crests.
Please feel free to contact me for any questions about Japanese culture, not only about HeWhoMe!
info@hewhome.tokyo
Have a wonderful HeWhoMe LIFE!