Government crest of Japan

The Government crest of Japan, also known as the 5–7 paulownia (五七桐, go-shichi (no) kiri), paulownia crest (桐紋, kirimon) or the paulownia flower crests (桐花紋, tōkamon) is one of Japan’s national symbols.  It looks like a flowering plant called a paulownia.  The prime minister, government and Cabinet of Japan use it as their mon, or crest. The 5-7 paulownia is one of the many paulownia crests. 

In the past, the paulownia crest originally was the private symbol of the Japanese Imperial Family, from as early as the sixteenth century. The Toyotomi clan, led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, later adopted it as their family crest. After the Meiji Restoration, the crest was eventually adopted as the symbol of the Japanese government, by whom it is now mainly used by. 

The symbol can be contrasted to the chrysanthemum crest, which represents the emperor and members of the Imperial Family.

 Related pages 

 State Seal of Japan

Category:Government of Japan
Category:Heraldry