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About Patternz.jp

WHO WE ARE

Patternz.jp is a team of a writer/consultant and a photographer based in Tokyo explore patterns (Japanese and everything), history, and culture. Born and raised in Northeastern Japan, we took our culture for granted until we moved to the United States, that gave us an opportunity to reflect our own culture. What makes a Japanese culture unique and what we share in common with others? Those are our motivation to explore.

Genji-guruma, a cartwheel of an ox cart on a tombstone

WHAT WE DO

We explore and share the Japanese language and culture in-depth while helping Japanese Americans and Brazilians who want to have a clue to their origin with our consulting services.

We’ve helped more than 40 clients with finding their possible origin and Japanese family crests – Kamon. You can check our consulting page and reviews from our clients.
It’s the right place for you to inquire anything about the Japanse family crest.

Upon request and our own curiosity, we research, interview, and share the thoughts and images for the better understanding of Japanese culture. The country with the world’s longest history never fails us to be amazed. Enjoy exploring and discovering insights with us.

Any questions or media request, you can contact us through Contact or write us: patternz.jp{at}gmail.com

View Comments (44)

  • Hello, My mother married a Dutch sailor and left Japan 53 years ago. I recently went to my mother's birthplace Sasebo in Japan to retrieve ancestral records because that is where they came from. My grandmother's family name was Matsunaga. My grandmother's records were missing. Probably destroyed during WW2. Would you still be able to do research on the her family line if i only can give you references about her from my grandfather's koseki and Joseki and an old address? (I did not find a family crest on family photo's).

  • Hello,
    I am looking for the exact family crest for Tateoka. My family found a butterfly, but they were unsure of the exact one. The one found was a butterfly with a big nose :( , so I’m glad that is not the one. My daughter’s friend from Japan (elementary school age) said he had seen it before and it was prettier the than one she had shown him. I hope you can help.
    Thank you.

    • Hi Lisa,

      Thanks for the comment! I can look up in my resources to see whether I have the related information about your Tateoka family once you tell me the kanji characters of the Tateoka family and the family domicile. Also, can you send me the photo of the butterfly your family found? Where did your family find this butterfly? Such as on some kimono or other items?

      You can write me back via the email address below.
      patternz.jp{at}gmail.com

      I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
      Hiroko

  • I am so excited that I found this site. I am Sansei living in Los Angeles, CA. My mother's maiden name is Arima. Her parents were both were from Satsuma District and lived in Kagoshima. My Grandmother's Maiden name was Taniguchi and a long line of Shinto priests. She was sent to American as a picture bride and worked in Salinas on the strawberry farms. My father's parents were from the same area. They met in Washington and married there and settled in Colorado. And the interesting thing is my grandfather's sur name was Zinzo Arima, but his wife was a family of women so he took her last name Hashi. I am interested in finding the kamon of both.

    • Hi Linda,

      Thanks for the comment! So that you want to know the Kamon for the Arima and Taniguchi families. I have the related information about both of them in my resources.
      The Arima (有馬) family has three different origins and seven family crests while the Taniguchi (谷口) family has an origin with two different family crests. Or would you like to know about the Hashi family? In that case, unfortunately I don't have any related information about it.

      I can compile the reports for the Arima and Taniguchi families if you wish. Although I can't narrow it down to one family crest, I can still write the report for your reference.
      Please let me know if you have any questions via the email address below.
      patternz.jp{at}gmail.com

      I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
      Hiroko

  • Hi I am looking for my family crest, my last name is Nakata and I used to have a picture of it but I lost it unfortunately. All I remember is that there was some kind of flower in it. Thank you for your help

    • Hi Atlas,

      Thank you for the comment! Could you tell me about your Nakata family domicile (such as prefecture)? Then I can look up in my resources whether I have any related information about your family crest.
      You can write me via the email address below.
      Patternz.jp{at}gmail.com

      I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
      Hiroko

  • As I search for more history of my family it ha become even harder with the bitcoin craziness. Is Nakamoto such a common last name like Smith is in the US?

    • Hi Ron,

      Thanks for the comment! The family name Nakamoto is not as common as Smith since it is not in the top 100. Yet, I don't say it's unusual since everybody knows the name.

      I hope it helps!
      Hiroko

  • Hi,
    I’ve always been really interested in my Japanese family history and always associated the family Kamon that we were shown our whole lives, but was very confused once I found this site as it is the same Tsuta-mon (ivy) that is displayed as the logo on the site. The family name is Nakata. I read that it was normal for multiple families to have the same kamon, but I am still confused and wanted to make sure there’s not some mix up. Really appreciate it!

    • Hi Matthew,

      Thanks for the comment! I understand your apprehension. But it is completely normal that we share the same Kamon with different family names and different family origins since popular ones are shared among many.

      Please feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.
      Hiroko

  • Good Morning.....I am looking for the family crest for Mita. It is a gift for my partner, so I have little information to provide. Please guide me.
    Thank you

    • Hi Anna,

      Thanks for the comment! I understand you want to look for the Mital family crest for your partner. If you could provide me with the information about your partner's family address, such as prefecture, I would look at my resources to see whether I have the related information about the family with their family crest.
      You can write to me back via the email address below.
      patternz.jp{at}gmail.com

      I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
      Hiroko

  • Hello, it looks like your contact page is still broken.
    I'm looking for information about the Murai family kamon in Yamaguchi prefecture.
    Is this something you could help with?
    Thanks!

    • Hi Lee,

      Thanks for the comment and for telling us the contact form error! The Murai (村井) family from Yamaguchi Prefecture has an origin with a family crest in our resources. If you like us to research genealogy further, consider our Research Report service.
      https://www.patternz.jp/product/kamon-consulting/

      Please let us know if you're interested in the service via email.
      patternz.jp{at}gmail.com

      Best regards,
      Hiroko

  • Hello. Your consulting services page does not load and seems broken. I'm curious about my family's kamon. It is Murashige and it appears to be a cluster of three trees. I have my grandmother's wedding kimono with the kamon design. My question is what type of tree it is. I am a forester and find this greatly interesting. Any information you can provide is most appreciated!

    • Hi Erickson,

      Thank you for letting us know our consulting page is broken. We're onto fixing it.
      Could you please send us the photo of that kamon you're referring to? We might be able to recognize what that tree is.
      patternz.jp{at}gmail.com

      Best regards,
      Hiroko

  • Hi I’m trying to find our family crest for the Nakata and Suzuki family. I know my grandfather Jirokichi Nakata came from Wakayama Prefecture and I’m still trying to obtain abit more information on the Suzuki Nishi family. Thank you.

    • Hi,

      Thank you for the comment! We have the resources for the Nakata (中田) family in Wakayama Prefecture.
      Three different origins and different family crests are attached to it. We can compile the report of the origins with each crest with its meanings if you like. When you find out more information about your Suzuki family, please let us know!

      Best regards,
      Hiroko