Tokugawa Aoi Mon Japanese Family Crest Gold on Red Pinback Button

I have for long been fond of Japanese art, culture and language, even learning Japanese in school for a few years, although that is over 20 years ago now and I have admittedly forgotten most of it. Recently I discovered the fascinating world of Japanese family crests, known as Mon or Kamon - I'm not sure if one of these terms is more correct than the other. Not only are they decorative and beautiful even without their symbolic significance, but of course, for people of Japanese origin, their Mon is a part of their identity, just like Scottish tartan is of people hailing from Scotland, or like regional national dress is of people from many other places. Although I have yet to make more than a few mon on my products, and only in a few styles so far, they have become some of my most popular designs.