Left Mitsudomoe (rough sketch) Pillowcase

The left and right sides of the tomoe crest are not determined by the direction of the swirl, but rather by a rational name created based on the diagram. This is something that a skilled artist would understand immediately, but a teacher who has never drawn a crest before might only be concerned with the direction of the swirl. However, even a skilled artist can get confused about the left and right sides of the tomoe at times. When that happens, they recall a useful oral tradition... First, they clench their left palm and look at their wrist. The shape of it is the same as the left tomoe. If they clench their right palm, the shape of the right tomoe appears instantly. (from 'The Story of Family Crests' by Tsumao Awagasaka, p.61) This design is a rough sketch specification. It is standard for the tail of the tomoe not to touch the outer circle (base circle). (Reference: 'The Story of Family Crests' by Tsumao Awagasaka, p.63 and 'The Magic of Manji, The Curse of Tomoe' p.145)