Takamori Saigo Watch

Nanshugiku (Chrysanthemum). The Saigo family has a crest called "Daki-giku" (embracing chrysanthemum), in which two leaves embrace sixteen petals. According to legend, the Meiji Emperor granted this crest to Saigo Takamori in recognition of his achievements in the Meiji Restoration, saying "The central flower is me, and the two embracing leaves are you. Support me on both sides and work for the pacification of the country." (from "Family Crests: The More You Know" edited by Danwa Mototsugu). It is said that Saigo Takamori left a will instructing that the Nanshugiku crest be used for his generation only (from "Understanding Japanese Family Crests" by Danwa Mototsugu). The design is based on the "Nanshugiku" crest published in Danwa Mototsugu's "Surnames and Crests: A Tour of Western Japan". (Created on August 11, 2013)