Insignias of Tokyo

Tokyo Metropolis has the two official emblems. One is called the "crest", another is called the "symbol". It also has the two official flags featuring either emblem.

Metropolitan Crest

The nihongo|Crest of Tokyo Metropolis|東京都紋章|Tōkyō-to Monshō was adopted on November 2 1943, under the nihongo|Metropolitan Announcement No.464|告示第464号. It is same as the Crest of the former Tokyo City, decided by the city council on December 1889. It is believed to be designed by nihongo|Hiromoto Watanabe|渡辺洪基|Watanabe Hiromoto, an alderman of the city.

The crest shows the Sun with six rays, representing Tokyo as the center of Japan. As most other prefectural crests in Japan, its color is not designated. The crest looks like a kanji 京 ("kyō") of 東京 ("Tokyo"), but the metropolitan announcement does not explain as such.

Metropolitan Flag

Infobox flag
Name = Tokyo Metropolis

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Proportion = 2:3
Adoption = October 1, 1964
Design = A white Metropolitan Crest on an Edo purple background.
Designer = Hiromoto Watanabe (emblem)The nihongo|Flag of Tokyo Metropolis|東京都旗|Tōkyō-to-ki was adopted on October 1, 1964, under the nihongo|Metropolitan Announcement No.1042|告示第1042号. It features a white Metropolitan Crest on center. The background color is nihongo|Edo purple|江戸紫|Edo murasaki, a traditional color which was popular in Edo.

Metropolitan Symbol

The nihongo|Symbol of Tokyo Metropolis|東京都のシンボルマーク|Tōkyō-to no Shinboru Māku was adopted on June 1, 1989, under the nihongo|Metropolitan Announcement No.577|告示第577号.

The design was selected by the nihongo|Tokyo Metropolitan Symbol Selection Committee|東京都シンボルマーク選考委員会 from 20 candidates. The winning design was created by nihongo|Rei Yoshimura|レイ吉村, a professional graphic designer.

The vivid green symbol features the letter "T" for "Tokyo". It shows dynamism, prosperity, affluency, and relaxation of the metropolis for future. The symbol looks like a leaf of gingko, the metropolitan tree. However, neither the metropolitan announcement nor the Japanese official website explain as such. [Metropolitan official website in English does say the symbols is "resembling a ginkgo leaf". [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/PROFILE/appendix04.htm] , retrieved on September 29 2008.]

Metropolitan Symbol Flag

Infobox flag
Name = Tokyo Metropolis (Symbol Flag)

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Proportion = 2:3
Adoption = September 30, 1989
Design = A vivid green Metropolitan Symbol on white background.
Designer = Rei Yoshimura (emblem)The nihongo|Symbol Flag of Tokyo Metropolis|東京都シンボル旗|Tōkyō-to Shinboru-ki was adopted on September 30, 1989, under the nihongo|Metropolitan Announcement No.978|告示第978号. It features a vivid green Metropolitan Symbol on center. The background color is white.

Usages

The both emblems and the corresponding flags are the official insignias of Tokyo. The Metropolitan Crest and the Metropolitan Flag are older and used on more formal occasions. [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/PHOTO/2008/080301.htm] [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/PHOTO/2007/071002.htm] They are also used on traditional or historical objects, as well as the things of the longer duration of use. [ja icon [http://www.excite.co.jp/News/bit/00091164589710.html 東京都のシンボルマークはイチョウではなかった] (The symbol mark of Tokyo Metropolis was not a gingko), from excite.co.jp, retrieved on September 29, 2008]

On the other hand, the Metropolitan Symbol and the Metropolitan Symbol Flag are more commonly used, including its official website [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/index.htm] , the metropolitan-operated buses and trains.

Notes and references

ee also

*List of Japanese flags
*List of municipal flags of Tokyo Metropolis

External links

* [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/index.htm The Tokyo Metropolitan Government official website] , including:
**ja icon [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/PROFILE/mon.htm 都の紋章・花・木・鳥] (Metropolitan crest, flower, tree and bird)
**en icon [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/PROFILE/appendix04.htm Tokyo's Symbols]
**ja icon [http://www.reiki.metro.tokyo.jp/reiki_menu.html 東京都例規集データベース] (Tokyo Metropolis ordinance database)
*FOTW|id=jp-13|title=Tokyo (Japan)