Design with a letter “十” surrounded with a circle. “十” is not a Catholic cross, but rather a number 10 in kanji format.
 

 Why are Japanese family crests circled?

• Originally there was no circle in this family crest design – it was only a simple letter “十”.
• But in Edo period a new custom emerged where a family crest with a circle border got printed on formal kimono dresses, which led to the increase in number of family crests with circle borders.