There’s a lot of art enmeshed in everyday Japanese life. From the pictographs of the kanji writing system to the aesthetics of traditional practices, it’s easy to take for granted the visual symbolism on which a lot of the culture is based. One of the most striking examples of Japanese design is the kamon, or family crest, used for centuries to signify a family name or clan and often seen on the sleeves of formal kimonos and ceramic roof tiles of traditional homes. It’s estimated that there are as many as 30,000 family crests in Japan, and while many Japanese would struggle to identify a large number of them, some crests, such as the chrysanthemum Imperial crest and the Tokugawa shogunate hollyhock design, are easy to identify.
Artists are now using the digital medium to create a number of new kamon to the delight of netizens nationwide. What makes these unique is the fact that the images inside the crest are not flowers or scenes of nature but more modern logos and tools familiar to us through advertising and the digital age. The crest above, for example, might look like a cross design made up of four stylised rectangles, but if you look closely you’ll see something more commonly used in digital cameras: SD memory cards. Featuring everything from Twitter logos to Febreeze bottles, these unique crests are perfect for the tribes of today.
A lot of traditional Japanese crests incorporate three of the same images in their design. Here, the concept is used to create a Twitter crest. Who knew three birds could provide such symmetry?
Image: @Ackieee
Here three wi-fi symbols create an elegant design.
Image: @lipoyang
While another take on the wi-fi logo is more reminiscent of the anti-nuclear peace symbol.
Image: @TV4D
A traditional comma design proves perfect for Japan’s famous export, the Sony Playstation.
Image: @743k
Apple fans will be happy with these grand black and gold designs.
Image: @namururu
Image: @namururu
Fans of Google Chrome or Microsoft Windows will probably prefer these designs.
Image: @rare_TNT
Image: @ANI3
Japan is full of Disney fans and no character is more beloved than Mickey Mouse.
Image: @R_Nikaido
Old school gamers aren’t forgotten with Pacman and Super Mario representing.
Image: @R_Nikaido
Image: @R_Nikaido
These Bluetooth crests would look at home on the battlefields of ancient Japan.
Image: @aka_zoe
Image: @kentarofukuchi
Even the nibs of a fountain pen have a graphic quality that translates well into a crest design.
Image: @ANI3
Two Febreeze bottles make for an unlikely crest, but with the popularity of indoor hot plate dining and the no-holds-barred attitude of smokers in Japanese restaurants, this product is a saviour for those looking to deodorize their clothes after a night out. It’s become such a household staple that you’ll find a bottle in most hotel rooms in Japan.
Image: @TV4D
Perhaps a league of laundromats would like to adopt a crest of clothes pegs.
Image: @k1oka
The symbol for download fits perfectly inside a traditional tortoise-shell design, a shape commonly used to represent longevity.
Image: @ANI3
With many of these images posted only days ago in Japan, this is just the start of what appears to be a fast-growing trend in digital design. We can’t wait to see more of these creative designs in the future!
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