Japanese Samurai Clan Kamon

The clan symbols, kamon, used to be very important in Japan. Each clan had a family crest of its own and these crests were widely displayed on war flags, armors, helmets, swords, kimonos, roof tiles, curtains, and even on the sidelines of the tatami flooring. Most family crests had different colors that influenced the color choice of the samurai armors. Initially, only the samurai clans had a family crest. During the late Edo period, almost every large family had a family crest that must be worn on the right and left sides of the kimono.