Maru ni ichi no ji, a Japanese crest design consis

The kanji character for "ichi" or "one" was likely chosen as a crest because its strokes are clear and easily identifiable, and it has connotations of martial valor and good fortune. According to the "Reference Taiheiki," the character was interpreted as "katakana shi," or "unbeaten," which was likely a reason for its selection as a crest. The fact that the character was often used in the names of warriors during the Sengoku period, and that it was read as "katsu," or "victory," supports this interpretation. For example, Yamauchi Tsushima-no-kami's name was written as "Kazutoyo" but read as "Katsutoyo," and Takigawa Kazumasu's son Tokimune was read as "Katsutoki." The character "ichi" was often used to signify honor and achievement, as in "ichiban nori" or "ichiban yari," indicating that it was also considered