In modern life, we are surrounded by symbols that guide our everyday movements. When I’m driving, the red octagonal sign on the street reminds me to stop even before I read the word on the sign. And similarly, other street signs signal their meaning through their shape and their color far more than the exact lettering on them. And still, in my life here in the United States, words are still needed to convey meaning. A perfect example is the new driver sticker that I often see on the backs of cars around here. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that Japan has many examples of symbols that convey meaning entirely on their own. There are no associated words, and they often convey mutual understanding, where the person displaying a mark and passersby both know what it means. Japan has a very long history of graphic symbols. The most famous are probably the mon or kamon . They’re Japan’s version of the heraldic system.…