Crest - Kamon

The kamons, or Japanese heraldic emblems, have a long history that dates back several centuries. While their exact origins remain uncertain, they became prominent during the feudal period, especially among the samurai class and the aristocracy. Each family or clan developed its own distinctive kamon, which was used on clothing, flags, and armor to signify its lineage. These emblems carried symbolic meanings, often representing virtues like courage, honor, and loyalty.

Since Miyamoto Musashi was a ronin—a samurai without a master—he did not have a kamon directly associated with his family. However, Musashi is often linked to the kamon of the Akamatsu clan, where his grandfather was a member, or to the Shinmen clan, from which he inherited his name. Additionally, he is associated with the Hosokawa, Ogasawara, Itakura, and Honda clans, which were minor branches of the Ashikaga and Takeda clans. These clans admired Musashi's swordsmanship and teachings, as well as his artistic work, and allowed him to use their heraldic emblems.

Of all these emblems, the most significant for the Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū school is the one used by Musashi, called Kuyō Tomoe, or the "9 tomoe emblem."

The tomoe, a swirling symbol, is used nine times and is associated with Shintoism, having a strong connection to Hachiman, the deity of war and patron of the samurai. In temples where it is used, the tomoe represents divine protection, especially in the context of war and martial arts. The number 9 in Japanese culture symbolizes completeness and perfection, as it is the last single-digit number before reaching the decade. The tomoe also reflects balance and harmony, key themes in Shinto mythology that emphasize spirituality and the connection with nature.

In our school, the emblem used in the teaching of Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū consists of two united golden circles. This symbol references Miyamoto Musashi's writing in the Scroll of the Earth from his Five Rings (Gorin no Sho): "The School of the Two United Heavens, Niten Ichi Ryū, is the name I give to my Path of Combat Strategy." This emblem represents the joining of two swords, one long and one short, symbolizing the duality of the combat strategy. In Japanese mythology, these two united heavens represent the sun and the moon.