Yamagata (Japan)

White stylized three mountains on blue field because Yamagata means a shape of mountain. These also represents stream of the Mogami river running through Yamagata. Blue stands for desire for peace and ideal, white for snow and purity of people. Adopted 1963-03-26.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 6 May 1998

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Easy to describe as three mountain peaks in snow-white against the green of the forests. But if you look closely, you will see each peak has a triangular indentation which might be viewed as an opening>entrance>mouth. "Yama' is Japanese for mountain, and "guchi" is Japanese for mouth. "Mountain mouth" as translation of the name of the prefecture may not have any appeal in English, or any other indo-European language, but with the artist's perspective of view, sound, and calligraphy in mind, it is very pleasing to the esthetics of Japanese.
Bruce Ward, 7 June 1996