Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Francisco G Kempton, post: 4353495, member: 22714&quot;]<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /> I think that became a mini controversy in the world of Noritake whether it was indeed Komaru or Maruki. Someone even wrote to a retired officer at Noritake to sort it out. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>About the Maruki Mark</b></p><p><br /></p><p>The Maruki symbol is the Corporation Motif of the Morimura Kumi Group of Companies.</p><p><br /></p><p>The symbolism behind the Maruki Backstamp is as follows -</p><p><br /></p><ol> <li>The centre design of Maruki was taken from the Chinese Character &#039;Kon&#039; of Konnan, meaning &#039;DIFFICULTY&#039;. (far left)</li> <li>The centre (tree or &#039;ki&#039;) of square was modified to new design and the stem of tree was also modified to spears, these spears to break through the difficulty situation. (second from left)</li> <li>Finally to settle everything smoothly and peacefully, cut off four corners and made them to circle.&#039;(third from left)</li> <li>Application of use of Maruki Mark on backmark with Noritake (Company Name) at top and Made In Japan (Country of Origin) at base. This mark has several variations which were used from as early as 1902 in its simplest form without any words.</li> </ol><p><img src="http://www.noritakecollectorsguild.info/bstamps/maruki2.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]361676[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Application of use:</b></p><p><br /></p><p>The Maruki symbol was used not only for Morimura Backstamps, but also for Noritake backstamps, Toyo Toki Kaisha (present day Toto &amp; Co) Kokura China, chinaware products, logos of Morimura Brothers Incorporated companies, letterheads and envelopes, stencil marks of wooden boxes and cartons for export and domestic goods, workman&#039;s livery, company flag, employee&#039;s badges and more.</p><p><b>11.04.2004</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Noritake have advised that the term <i><b>&#039;Komaru&#039;</b></i> is not (or is no longer) the correct term for the symbol which appears as a spider mark inside a circle. The <b><i>the <b>correct term is &#039;Maruki</b>.&#039;</i></b> (With thanks to C Suzuki Retired Officer Noritake Co. Japan.)</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Addition Research - 28.11.2005</b></p><p><br /></p><p>With additional information from the Morimura Website we include this reference information for clarification.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The Japanese character for &quot;Difficulty&quot; or Konnan</b></p><p><br /></p><p><i>&quot;Because you&#039;re doing business with people from other countries, where ideas and customs differ from your own, you&#039;re bound to run into difficulties, and you won&#039;t succeed until you overcome those difficulties&quot; — To ensure that these words from MORIMURA BROS., INC. founder Ichizaemon Morimura VI would not be forgotten, the Japanese character for &quot;difficulty&quot; takes a prominent position in the company logo.&quot;</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Referenced from the <a href="http://www.morimura.co.jp/e_corporate/2005/11/post_89ee.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.morimura.co.jp/e_corporate/2005/11/post_89ee.html" rel="nofollow">&quot;Roots of the Morimura&#039;s Company Logo and original Philosophy&quot;</a> by Ichizaemon Morimura VI At 81 years of age (1919)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in