What does the JDM symbols really mean?

(Would you rather watch a video on the subject, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdEu19-cqQk)

You see them everywhere in the JDM scene. They’re on the cars, clothes and all around the internet.

I am, of course, talking about the symbols used by us JDM fans.

A lot of people use them, but it does however seem like there is few people who actually knows the original meaning of the symbols. So I thought that I’d do you all a favor and tell you a bit about the most common ones!

The Wakaba or Shoshinsha Mark

The Wakaba or Shoshinsha Mark

This mark is mandatory for all new drivers to have on their cars the first year after they get their license, to show everyone else that they don’t have a frikking clue as to what they are doing.

Perhaps something for other countries to adopt…

This system was introduced in 1972 and if you still feel like a n00b even after 1 year, you can keep it on the car.

The Kōreisha mark

The Kōreisha mark

This one is similar to the wakaba mark, but, is for the old people. Since 1997 it’s the law for people older than 75 to have it on their cars. Much like the n00bs, they don’t know what they’re doing either!

However, in 2011 they changed to a different mark that hasn’t quite catched on in the JDM scene.

Why? Because a lot of people saw a resemblance between the mark and falling leaves.
Apparently old people don’t like being reminded that their glory days are over…

The rising sun flag.

This might be the most common symbol seen on JDM cars. It’s the rising sun flag.

Originally used by Japanese warlords during the Edo period(1603-1868), how cool isn’t that?!
Then in 1870 it was adopted by the Japanese Imperial Army and 1889 by the Japanese Imperial Navy.

Not surprisingly, the japanese military changed the flags after the WW2 defeat. Not for long though as the navy(or as they now was called: The “japanese maritime self-defense force”. Not quite as intimidating…) actually started using it again in 1954. They still do today!

So, contrary to what a lot of people seem to believe, the rising sun flag isn’t seen as offensive by most people. Only by some in for example China or South Korea where Japan had done some not very nice things during the war.

The japanese flag

The japanese flag

Kind of self explanatory I guess, but still worth mentioning I think. Especially since some people think that the rising sun flag previously mentioned was Japan’s state flag. It wasn’t! This flag has been the japanese state flag ever since the rising sun flag became the army’s flag, 1870.

Also, if you haven’t figured it out yet: It’s a sun…

So should you put these symbols on your car?

Well yes, but only if you want to.

A lot of people get extremely angry when someone uses these markings on their cars. They’ll tell you that you are stupid and don’t know the “real meaning” of the symbols. Don’t care about these people.

The nice thing about symbols is that they can have different meanings in different cultures, places and often change through time. I’m sure that you can recall at least one other symbol that has more than one meaning.

As long as you like it, put whatever you want on your car. It’s yours. Only yours!

If you want more stuff like this, pictures, t-shirt designs, videos and a lot more car related stuff, please have a look at my facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheSwedishPetrolhead

This content was originally posted by a Car Throttle user on our Community platform and was not commissioned or created by the CT editorial team.