Welcome

The Tanaka Family Kamon Collection is one of the cornerstone collections of the Tanaka Heritage Project.

A kamon is a traditional Japanese family crest that has been passed down through generations. While many families share the Tanaka surname, their kamon, family histories, and places of origin are often unique.

Our goal is to preserve and document the many kamon associated with Tanaka families and create a lasting collection for future generations.

Why a kamon collection?

For many families, a kamon is one of the oldest symbols connecting them to their history in Japan.

Some families have proudly displayed their kamon for generations, while others may not realize one exists. By bringing together kamon from Tanaka families throughout the United States and Japan, we hope to preserve these important symbols while helping families learn more about their own heritage.

Every kamon tells part of a family’s story.

Share your family’s kamon

If you know your family’s kamon, we invite you to contribute it to the collection.

If you are unsure whether your family has a kamon, this project may be the perfect opportunity to ask parents, grandparents, relatives in Japan, or other family members. Many contributors have already discovered information they never knew existed simply by asking.

Multiple members of the same family are welcome to contribute additional information or higher-quality images.

What you’ll need

Before beginning your submission, you may wish to gather:

• A clear photograph or scan of your family’s kamon.
• Any information you know about your family’s kamon or its history.
• Your family’s Ken (Prefecture) or hometown in Japan, if known.

The submission form will guide you through the rest.

Building a lasting collection

The Tanaka Family Kamon Collection will continue to grow as more families participate.

Over time, we hope it will become a valuable resource for Tanaka families around the world—preserving family crests, encouraging conversations across generations, and helping reconnect families with their roots in Japan.