Kamon: There’s a thousand-year tradition that the Japanese pass their family crests from generation to generation. The family crest is called “Kamon” in Japanese and can be seen everywhere in Japan. Kamons are symbols for each family in Japan, from the general family to the royal family.

“Monsho Uwaeshi” – They are Japanese family crest artisans who are highly experienced in designing a new yet traditional pattern. They are the torchbearers of this beautiful culture to the later generations to come.

We were fortunate to have an opportunity to interview two Japanese family crest artisans at their studio, who welcomed us warmly.

Their design studio is located in the heart of old Tokyo. A well-decorated old Japanese-style house interior, which they created themselves by buying materials on the internet, makes you feel excited at its design and your back straight at the same time.

Kyogen

Monsho Uwaeshi – The Japanese Family Crest Artisans

Noren (shop curtain) of Kyogen, the family crest design studio

Shoryu Hatoba and Yoji Hatoba, the Japanese family crest artisans, work at their studio in Ueno, Tokyo.

Shoryu, the 3rd generation of Monsho Uwaeshi, who began his career as a traditional Japanese family crest artisan. His father was the one who developed the framed family crest.

When he turned 50, his desire to create something new made him produce “kamon x komon,” which features the Edo-komon, a particular dying technique of repeated small pattern.

The Shoryu’s first private exhibition was held at a historical archive in Vienna, Austria. They used to work only on a kimono, but their field is expanding.

History of Monsho Uwaeshi – Kamon

Traditionally, they only worked on kimono to draw the family crest. We could say there were two prime times for the kamon tradition and traditional Uwaeshi. One is back in the Sengoku period, when Samurai fought for their lives, and the family crest they bore on the battlefield was precious next in their lives.

Another one is back in the Edo era, even after Samurai left the battlefield, they still need the family crests for the rituals and events to clarify their lineage. In addition to that, general people began using family crests in this period, which boosted the number of crests exponentially.

Samurai adopted the patterns loved by court nobles to recognize each other on the battlefield.

It has a unique and sophisticated design, and each Kamon has its meaning based on the bearer’s wish. Thousands of Kamon have been inherited from generation to generation to show the family’s lineage.

Those beautiful patterns have been created by professional designers called “Monsho Uwaeshi”. Their main work was to draw patterns of crests on Japanese kimono.

Over time, the Kamon tradition spread among general people and quite a few numbers of humorous crests were created.

However, do we see Japanese people wearing kimonos as a daily outfit? Not anymore. This answer doesn’t mean the end of this tradition but does precisely the opposite.

Japanese Family Crest: List of the Lineage Symbols

You think of a willow, even the strongest wind can’t tear them down.

The traditions we see today from the old times have flexible qualities, without exception. Contrary to the image of being ‘artisan’, their view of work is broad and flexible.

When it comes to the style of Monsho Uwaeshi, the attitude of working with collaborators is one of the most essential keys to keeping their tradition alive. They create new designs while following tradition backed by its origins and history. Better than anything, they intrinsically know the beautiful and incredible designs that can be made only by experienced ones.

Initially, the Kamon tradition can be traced back to court nobles’ patterns in the Heian period (794-1185). After they were used vigorously on the battlefield by Samurai in need of recognition from friend and foe, the tradition was widespread among general people in the Edo period (1603-1868).

Unlike Samurai, who liked the simple, clean, and apparent patterns, general people enjoyed the stylish patterns with a sense of humor. Those demands boosted the numbers of unique Kamon in this period, and many were lost in time.

Monkiri – Cutting Out Beautiful Patterns

They occasionally throw workshops to open doors for people who have not seen or experienced the the Japanese family crest. It’s called “Monkiri”; you fold and cut the origami paper in a certain way, open it up, and find a fantastic pattern of paper in your hands.

The 4th generation of Uwaeshi, Hatoba Yoji, mainly takes care of the workshop of Monkiri. The pattern people originally used was the family crest, and the more you practice on them, the more you can create more elaborate and beautiful patterns.

They found out about this game in search of a way to spread this tradition. It’s quite a coincidence that it turned out it dealt with Japanese family crest patterns initially.

Everybody in the workshop turns out to be marveled at what they have just created. Nobody couldn’t imagine a little folding and cutting would create those beautiful patterns with their own hands. (Yoji Hatoba)

It used to be taught in schools, and every girl knew how to cut them out and learned the beautiful patterns naturally.

Once, they were asked to teach foreign exchange students about the history of Japanese family crest at Waseda University, and they found them interesting.

They introduce Monkiri to people worldwide, hoping it would let them have interests in the kamon and that would make a great start. In addition, this pattern-cutting game is a great way to have the time to concentrate and release, just like one of the effective meditation methods for your mind.

Oh, by the way, have you checked their website? If not, we suggest you do so now. Do you wonder who created this fabulous website for them? Yoji did it himself, and after that, many clients were coming in, and still, they are. From the design of their website, you can imagine what you can expect, can’t you?

Kyogen

Japanese Design Ideology and Design Process – Kamon

Japanese family crests have their spot in various crest designs. Compared to the Western coat of arms, it stands out for its simplicity and high visibility.

This different design comes from various patterns of thought.

Shoryu explains the differences between them with the example of fountain patterns. You see Western fountains designed to spout into the air while traditional Japanese-style fountains are designed to flow water downward as a natural river flows that way.

We could say western sentiment for nature is to take control and conform to them while Japanese way of thinking nature is to nestle close always with a feeling of awe and respect knowing it could threaten their lives as a natural disaster. (Shoryu Hatoba)

The natural features and climate cultivate particular sets of thoughts and cultures, and the ideas of Shinto are exactly based on them.

The different approach can be seen in screenwriting, too, as western play attempts to explain everything in words while the Japanese one uses lesser words and leaves a lot to the viewer’s imagination. (Shoryu Hatoba)

The beautiful design itself has its value, and the fact they have a long history underneath makes it even more valuable.

Shinto Beliefs: 5 Core Values of Japanese Indigenous Religion

What Makes Their Design Outstanding?

The Japanese family crest patterns can be described in a word – an arc.

Just like we find the pattern created based on the golden ratio, Japanese family crest patterns impress us with their unique and sophisticated arcs.

The Design Process

As we have seen in the characteristics of the Japanese family crest, the design concept is to eliminate lines and patterns thoroughly and leave only the ones that have a meaning.

The chosen lines are straightforward, but that doesn’t mean they are primitive. They are exquisite and produce highly sophisticated patterns.

We can explain why the tradition flourished in the Edo period since they are easy to identify. For those who run the business, the logo is vital for customers to recognize even if they don’t read the words.

The technology brought a new inspiration.

They create new patterns with old and latest tools. The traditional bamboo compass and Illustrator on Mac ensure their design to be beautiful, innovative, and cool. Since they adopted Illustrator as their design tool, it’s been a great tool to stimulate their minds and create brand-new patterns.

Shoryu developed the new, original method since he couldn’t draw the Bézier Curve himself.
He had no problem adapting himself to Illustrator since he’s used to drawing designs with arcs by freehand.

He creates new designs with them, and the mandala created by arcs, any lines, and patterns that don’t have existing value are strictly eliminated.

Not all traditions can survive with time, but always innovative artists find their way to keep their works alive. Their canvas is not only on the kimono but anything you can think of putting the crest on.

We genuinely believe that living traditions are innovation.

The Kamon is an excellent crest that tells its attribute clearly on any medium so that it can be on a bag, tableware, tiles, doormat, or tapestry… Anything you can think of. By creating new kamons and putting them on the new medium, this tradition lives on.

Just like the Western coat of arms has multiplied its numbers according to the change in interests, trends, and fashion, Japanese family crests have grown in numbers and found their new medium.

Where You See Kamon Today

So where can we see real kamons today? Except for the chances we go to special Japanese occasions such as a wedding party or a funeral, we don’t have an opportunity to see the kamons on kimono. But the kimono is not the only medium we can see the kamons as we’ve seen.

In town, you can find various kamons at the shrines and temples, old shops and stores that lasted some decades or even some hundreds of years.

Nowadays, the place you can spot the kamons the most is a graveyard. It is like a trade fair of the kamons and you’ll be amazed at their varieties.

The Kamons in the Graveyard

The kamon culture on the kimono is dying down due to the abolition of the family system and the encouragement of Western-style outfits, however, which opened up new opportunities and fields to put the kamons in.

You take a look at each Kamon pattern, and you find each meaning, fun facts, or history. They can take you on a journey back to old times with family lineage.

Collaboration Is the Key – Go with the Flow

Collaboration opened up new doors.

Ever since they were asked to create a logo for the company, their field of work has been broadening.

Their list of collaborators is expanding in numbers and variety. For example, their monumental work completed with 13,200 rivets brought them a new collaborator, FURLA, the Italian luxury company which is famous for its bag lines. They can work with any maker or individuals to satisfy their needs and wants in the design.

The future of Kamon lies exactly in that: collaboration.

Kyogen’s Works

The excellent and avant-garde Kamon artisans were willing to try new ideas to satisfy customers. Perhaps tradition lives not to limit or restrict anything but to enrich our lives.

Numerous designers have worked with them because they thought the design/pattern they create could bring something new or valuable to their product. Not a few individuals asked them to make a new family crest to start their crest history.

The Lineage Starts with You – Kamon

You don’t have Japanese blood, so you can’t have the Kamon? That’s wrong. You can start your family crest history with a newly designed Kamon by you.

They are willing to work with you to have your family crest based on your preferences, such as you want to use a bird pattern to express liberty or some traditional pattern to create your one.

These sophisticated patterns with historic weight have endless possibilities to enrich your life. Let’s see what the powerful energy of the Kamon can add to our lives!

紋章上繪 Kyogen

Related Articles – Kamon

Japanese Family Crest: List of the Lineage Symbols
Shinto Beliefs: 5 Core Values of Japanese Indigenous Religion
Japanese Patterns: Traditional Motifs and Designs

Special Thanks

• 波戸場承龍・耀次 (Shoryu + Yoji Hatoba)
• Michio Asano (AZOTH branch)