Tottori (Japan)

Last modified: 2002-02-23 by phil nelson
Keywords: tottori | japan | hiragana: to | bird |
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by Pascal Gross - 1998-05-05

• Description of the flag
• Meaning behind the symbol

See also:

• Japanese Subdivisions
• Japan

Description of the flag

White stylized Hiragana character of To of Tottori in a bird shape on dark blue field as Tottori means many birds. The emblem represents freedom, peace and future progress. Adopted 1968-10-23.

Nozomi Kariyasu - 1998-05-06

Meaning behind the symbol

Tottori Prefecture lies on the western shore of Honshu. The work "tori" means "bird". The prefectural flag reflects a styalized bird, white on blue. But if you are familiar with the hiragana alphabet, the phonetic symbol for "to" (pronounced as would be "toe" in English) is also similar. It is a Roman "C" with a small spike arising from the upper left of the character ( -C). A reader of Japanese would see in the flag both "to" and "tori".

Bruce Ward - 1996-05-12