Japanese Kamon List
This page introduces examples of traditional Japanese kamon (family crests). Kamon are used by families, samurai clans, temples, and local communities, and more than 40,000 designs are known in Japan.
Below is a simple reference list of famous and representative kamon motifs. This page is designed as a starting point for browsing Japanese crest designs.
Popular Kamon Examples
Some kamon are especially well known because they were used by famous samurai clans, historical figures, or important families.
Tokugawa
Oda
Takeda-bishi
Tomoe
Eagle's Feather
Quince( Mokkou)
Gyouyou
Hikiryou
Nine Planets
Butterfly
Plum
Mandarin orange
Chrysanthemum
Wheel
Crane
Manji
- Mitsuba Aoi – Tokugawa clan crest
- Mokko – Oda clan crest
- Takeda-bishi – Takeda clan crest
- Paulownia (Kiri) – prestigious court and government crest
- Tomoe – one of the most famous swirl motifs
- Bamboo and Sparrow – associated with samurai families such as Date
For more samurai-related examples, see our Samurai Kamon page.
Plant-Based Kamon
Paulownia
wisteria
Bamboo
wisteria
Chrysanthemum
Windmill
Plant motifs are among the most common in Japanese family crests. Flowers, leaves, and trees were easy to stylize and carried cultural meaning.
- Paulownia (Kiri)
- Wisteria (Fuji)
- Plum (Ume)
- Oak leaves (Kashiwa)
- Bamboo (Take)
- Chrysanthemum (Kiku)
Animal and Bird Kamon
Butterfly
Eagle's Feather
Crane
Sparrow
Crab
Horse
Animal motifs include birds, insects, and marine life. These designs often symbolize elegance, vigilance, protection, or regional identity.
- Butterfly
- Crane
- Sparrow
- Wild Goose
- Hawk Feathers
- Crab
Geometric Kamon
Diamond
Idutsu
Well
Meyui
Tomoe
Circle
Geometric kamon are bold and easy to identify. Many were favored by samurai clans because they remained visible at a distance.
- Takeda-bishi
- Igeta
- Mitsuuroko
- Yotsume
- Tomoe
- Enclosed circle designs
Object and Tool Motifs
Fan
Arrow
Wheel
Idutsu
Bell
Hermitage
Some kamon are based on tools, architecture, or ceremonial objects. These often reflect family names, occupations, or place names.
- Fan
- Arrow
- Well Frame
- Wheel
- Bell
- Traditional implements
How many kamon are there?
More than 40,000 kamon designs are known in Japan. Many are variations of a few major motifs, with differences in circles, orientation, number of elements, and stylized details.
This site currently catalogs over 8,000 kamon designs and continues to expand.
Download Kamon Data
Selected kamon are available as downloadable data for design, publishing, historical projects, and personal creative use.
- Web-size PNG
- High-resolution PNG
- Vector formats (AI / EPS / PDF)
For commercial use, licensing is required. Editing and resizing are allowed after purchase, but redistribution of source data is not permitted.
Related Pages
Contact
If you are looking for a specific kamon or a high-resolution/vector version, please contact us with the crest name or a reference image.
