The shape of our school seal is based on the image of a dragonfly.
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Akizu 秋津 (pronounced akitsu from the Heian period onward) is an ancient word meaning dragonfly. In ancient Japan, dragonflies were regarded as spirits of rice grains. They were considered sacred insects and were often depicted on bronze bells of the Yayoi Era. Dragonfly Island (Akitsushima or Akitsu Island) is a makura-kotoba (a conventional poetic epithet) for the land of Yamato.
Dragonfly Island has come to refer to the land of Yamato, the main Japanese island of Honshū, or more broadly, the country of Japan itself. The origin of the name “Dragonfly Island” comes from a legend recorded in Book Three of the Nihon Shoki, in the section concerning the legacy of Emperor Jinmu. The legend can be translated as follows:
On the day of his enthronement, Emperor Jinmu went about inspecting the land of Yamato. At that time, he ascended Hohoma Hill in Wakigami and, gazing upon the land, he said, “What a splendid land I have obtained! Though it is a small island, it is surrounded by mountains that encircle it like a pair of dragonflies mating in flight.” From this remark, Yamato(大和) came to be called Akitsushima (秋津洲).
※The name of ”Akizu” was changed to be called ”Akitsu” after Heian period.