List of Japanese prefectural symbols

Emblems of the prefectures of Japan

The 47 prefectures of Japan , whose role is comparable to that of the French departments, have flags with symbols in addition to their prefectural tree, prefectural flower, etc. , most of which were designed in the 1960s.

construction

Most of these emblems are made up of stylized variants of the characters of the prefectural name. (e.g. Gifu)

Other symbols are direct representations of an outline map of the respective prefecture. (e.g. Aomori)

Still other symbols represent a simplified version of the prefectural flower. (e.g. Ehime)

But Mount Fuji also occurs several times, e.g. B. Yamanashi.

list

prefecture	illustration	Remarks
Aichi	あいち	The flag of Aichi shows the hiragana syllables of the prefectural name a , i and chi in white on a wine-red background. Aichi means something like "to love knowledge". The emblem also stands for sunrise and the waves of the Pacific. It also resembles golden fish on the castle of the prefecture capital Nagoya . These kinshachi ( 金鯱 ) are stylized fish that are attached to the gables of the castle.
Akita	ア	The logo of the prefecture, whose name translates as "autumn field", is a white stylized katakana symbol for the syllable a on a likewise wine-red background, which stands for Akita's rapid progress.
Aomori		The emblem of Aomori prefecture (translated: "green forest") is a green outline map of the prefecture on a white field. Green is also the color of the prefectural tree , the Hiba tree of life .
Chiba	チハ	The yellow-framed white symbol on a blue cloth is the stylized rendering of the katakana syllables chi ( チ ) and ha ( ハ ; actually ba ) of the prefectural name meaning “a thousand leaves”. The color blue stands for hope and progress, yellow for the prefecture flower, the rapeseed .
Ehime		Emblem Ehimes is a white Satsuma flower, the symbol of the prefecture. The three horizontal strips have a width ratio of 1: 3: 1. Yellow stands for happiness, green for peace and white for purity.
Fukui	フクイ	In the middle of the flag of Fukuis ("Fountain of Fortune") is a round white emblem made up of the stylized katakana syllables of the prefectural name. It should represent harmony and cooperation among the people.
Fukuoka	ふく	The intertwined white symbol of Fukuoka Prefecture is a stylized representation of the blossom of a Japanese plum ( Ume ) and represents harmony and progress of the people.
Fukushima	ふ	The emblem of Fukushima Prefecture, shifted slightly to the left, is the stylized representation of the hiragana symbol for the syllable fu on an orange field, which stands for friendship, unity and constant progress.
Gifu	岐	The emblem of the Gifu prefecture is the seal script - variant of the character gi from Gifu and stands with the circle for peace and harmony. The green color symbolizes the lush nature of the prefecture.
Gunma	群	The small emblem in the middle is a barely recognizable stylized representation of the Kanji gun (Eng. "Herd") of Gunma (= "Horse Herd") with three crescent moons, which represent the three most important mountains of the prefecture ( Jōmō sanzan ), namely Akagi , Haruna and Myogi stand. The purple color is said to be a reminder of the rich cultural heritage of the prefecture.
Hiroshima	ヒ	Hiroshima Prefecture's emblem is a stylized white rendering of the katakana symbol for the syllable hi from the prefectural name on a burgundy field. It stands for harmony, cooperation of the people and progress.
Hokkaidō		The north island of Hokkaido has a seven-pointed star in its flag, which stands for hope and development. The red color stands for the energy of the people, the white for light and snow. Blue represents the sky and the sea.
Hyogo	兵	The emblem of Hyogo prefecture is the wave-shaped representation of the Kanji for hyō from the prefectural name. The color white stands for brightness and honesty, blue for the Sea of Japan and the inland sea.
Ibaraki		Ibaraki uses a strongly stylized representation of a blue rosebud, the prefecture flower, on a white background as an emblem. The color blue represents the Pacific and Mount Tsukuba .
Ishikawa	石川	Ishikawa's emblem represents the outline of the prefecture on the one hand, and the stylized kanjis of the prefectural name 石川 ("stone river") on the other . The light blue stands for the Sea of Japan, the clear air and the pure river water of the prefecture.
Iwate	岩	The logo of the northern Japanese prefecture of Iwate is the stylized design of the first kanji of the prefecture's name: 岩 , which is made up of 山 ("mountain") and 石 ("stone").
Kagawa	カ	The emblem of the prefecture of Kagawa (= "scent flow") is the stylized katakana symbol for the syllable ka ( カ ) on a green background. Green is the color of the prefectural tree, the olive .
Kagoshima		The emblem of the prefecture shows a simplified map of the prefecture outlines in black with the red volcanic island Sakurajima in the middle.
Kanagawa	神	The important port city of Yokohama , which has long been Japan's gateway to the outside world, belongs to Kanagawa Prefecture . That is why this flag has the Japanese national colors red and white. The seal font ka from the prefectural name is shown.
Kochi	とさコ	The emblem of Kochi Prefecture is a combination of the katakana syllable ko ( コ ) from today's prefectural name (= "high knowledge") and the Kanji 土 for to from 土佐 ( Tosa ), the old name of the region on a wine-red background. The circle stands for peace and cooperation, the sword-shaped part for improvement.
Kumamoto	ク	The white emblem of the prefecture Kumamoto (= "bear root") shows on the one hand the stylized rendering of the katakana symbol for the syllable ku ( ク ) from the prefectural name and on the other hand a simplified outline map of the island of Kyūshū , on which Kumamoto is located.
Kyoto	京	The metropolis of Kyoto has made the first part of its name, the Kanji for "capital" ( miyako ), its emblem in a strongly stylized form.
Mie	み	The Mie Prefecture's emblem features a white stylized hiragana character for the syllable mi from the prefectural name, while also representing a pearl for which the region is famous. The green color represents the green mountains of the prefecture.
Miyagi	み	The emblem of the prefecture is the stylized hiragana symbol for the syllable mi ( み ), which is also supposed to represent a shamrock. The three sheets stand for progress, unity and friendship of the people.
Miyazaki	\| ミ	The yellow staircase, which is supposed to symbolize progress, is the stylized rendering of the katakana sign for the syllable mi from the emblem of the prefectural names.
Nagano	ナ	The prefecture's emblem is the stylized katakana symbol for the syllable na from the prefectural name. It also depicts a mountain reflected in a lake. The orange color represents the prefecture's sun and snow.
Nagasaki	N	Nagasaki prefecture has the stylized letter N as the first letter of the prefectural name as an emblem. But it also has the shape of a dove of peace . The color blue represents the sky and the sea.
Nara	ナ	The emblem of the prefecture is the wine-red stylized katakana symbol for the syllable na . The larger red disk stands for the nature of the prefecture, the smaller white disk for the spirit of harmony. The red bar in the middle right stands for constant progress.
Niigata	新ガタ	The golden emblem of the prefecture is the stylized Kanji character for nii ( 新 ) and the katakana characters for the syllables gata ( ガタ ) on a red background. It stands for friendship and hope of the people.
Ōita	オ	The prefecture's emblem is made up of three stylized katakana symbols for the syllable o , arranged in a circle. The emblem symbolizes friendship, trust and patience, the circle itself symbolizes harmony and peace. The color white stands for equality and peace, red for sincerity.
Okayama	岡山	The emblem of the prefecture is the stylized golden Kanji symbol for the syllable oka on a dark purple field.
Okinawa	O	The southern Japanese islands of Okinawa have a white letter O (as the beginning of the name) on a red disk as an emblem. The inner pane stands for progress, the outer one for the sea that surrounds the archipelago.
Osaka	O	The metropolis of Osaka has an abstract symbol whose blue color stands for cleanliness, freshness and intelligence, as well as for the two seas to which Osaka has access.
saga		Saga Prefecture has chosen the camphor tree as its emblem . The white color stands for sincerity and passion, dark green for hope and peace.
Saitama		The name of Saitama prefecture means something like jewelry ribbon and is represented by sixteen circularly arranged jewelry pearls ( magatama ). The circle stands for the sun, development and strength, the white color for purity and friendship.
Shiga	シガ	Shiga prefecture emblem is a stylized katakana symbol for the syllable shi ( シ ). The emblem also represents Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa, with wings that stand for harmony and progress.
Shimane	マ	The prefecture's emblem is made up of four stylized golden katakana symbols for the syllable ma from the prefectural name. The syllable shi can also stand for the number four.
Shizuoka		The prefecture's emblem is an orange depiction of Mount Fuji and a white-framed outline map of the prefecture. Blue represents the sky and the Pacific. Orange stands for sunlight, passion and unity of the people.
Tochigi	栃	The prefecture's emblem is the stylized Kanji character for the syllable tochi from the prefectural name. The colors stand for improvement and active movement.
Tokushima	とく	The emblem of the prefecture are the stylized hiragana symbols for the syllables to ( と ) and ku ( く ) in yellow on indigo blue. This emblem has the shape of a flying bird and represents harmony, progress and cooperation among the people. The indigo color was chosen because Tokushima is known for its indigo production.
Tokyo	東	The emblem of the metropolis Tokyo is a six-pointed white sun on a purple field. This sun is made up of the stylized Kanji characters 東 ("east") and 京 ("capital") as well as Nihon. The dark purple was already associated with Tokyo in historical times. Since 1989 the city has also used a stylized green ginkgo leaf as a symbol.
Tottori	と	The emblem of Tottori Prefecture is not just coincidentally similar to that of Tokushima Prefecture, as both use the same stylized hiragana character for the syllable to . Here, too, it has the shape of a bird, but as an allusion to the prefectural name, which contains the Kanji 鳥 ("bird"). The emblem is supposed to symbolize freedom, peace and the future.
Toyama	と	The prefecture's emblem is a combination of the stylized hiragana symbol for the syllable to and the outline of Mount Tateyama on a white background. The green represents Toyama's nature and its future.
Wakayama	ワ	The emblem of the prefecture is the navy blue stylized katakana symbol for the syllable wa on a white field. It stands for harmony ( 和 , wa , also an old name for Japan) of the people and infinite progress.
Yamagata	山	The prefecture's emblem consists of three white stylized mountains on a blue background. Yamagata ( 山形 ) translated means " mountain shape ". The emblem also represents the waves of the Mogami River that flows through the prefecture. The color blue stands for the longing for peace, white for snow and the purity of the people.
Yamaguchi	山口	The emblem of the prefecture are the stylized Kanji for yama ( 山 , "mountain") and guchi ( 口 , "mouth, mouth") on a wine-red field. It has the shape of a bird that flies towards the sun and represents cooperation and progress of the people.
Yamanashi	山	The prefecture's emblem is a yellow stylized Kanji yama ( 山 , "mountain") in the simplified white outline of Fuji . The purple background stands for the grapes, which are a popular product of this prefecture.