Imperial crest of Japan

The Imperial crest of Japan, most commonly known as the chrysanthemum crest (菊紋, kikumon), is the special symbol used by the emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial Family. It is one of the national emblems of Japan and is used in important places, such as on Japanese passports, much like a country's coat of arms.

Another symbol, the 5-7 paulownia, was once the personal crest of the emperor and is also used by the Japanese government to represent the prime minister and Cabinet. In Japan, this kind of symbol is called a mon, which can be translated as a crest, badge, emblem, or coat of arms. To avoid confusion, the word mon is sometimes used directly.

The chrysanthemum is a noble flower in Japan, and the 16-petal chrysanthemum is widely known as the symbol of the emperor. Because of this, the word for the chrysanthemum alone can sometimes refer to the emperor or the imperial family. The crest has many names, including chrysanthemum flower crest and imperial chrysanthemum crest in Japanese, and imperial seal in English, though it is not actually a seal. It should not be confused with the privy seal or state seal.

History

During the Meiji period (1868–1912), only the Emperor of Japan could use the special imperial crest. He used a 16-petalled chrysanthemum with an extra row of petals behind. Members of the Imperial family used slightly different versions of this crest.

Long ago, when Emperor Go-Daigo was sent away for trying to change the government in 1333, he chose a seventeen-petalled chrysanthemum to stand out from the Emperor Kōgon, who used the 16-petalled crest.

Description

The Imperial crest of Japan is a yellow or orange chrysanthemum with black or red outlines and background. It has a central disc surrounded by 16 petals in the front, with another set of 16 petals behind them, staggered and visible at the edges. This symbol appears in the star of the Order of the Chrysanthemum.

Other members of the Imperial Family use a version with 14 petals, while a form with 16 petals is used for important items like passports, Diet members' pins, and the standards of the Imperial Family.