The History of Japanese Family Crests

It is said that family crests began as a mark for oxcarts used by aristocrats in the Heian period. In the era of the samurai, they diversified rapidly to show military achievements on the battlefield. Furthermore, in the Edo period, townspeople competed to create family crests, and it is said that there are as many as 20,000 to 30,000 types of family crests in Japan.

Family crests were generally inherited from ancestors, but sometimes they were slightly modified when the family branched off.

Due to changes in lifestyle, migration to urban areas, and the trend toward nuclear families, many people in Japan in recent years do not know their family crest. In such cases, the most reliable way to find out your family crest is to check the crest engraved on the Buddhist altar or gravestone at the main family home.

We have created an English page for people living overseas who have roots in Japan.

We will research your ancestors, family crests, and create family trees for those with roots in Japan.
Please feel free to contact us.
https://kakeizu-sakusei.com/familytreecreation/