The New and Improved(?) Elderly Driver's Mark

As we reported last October, the Japanese government is changing the time-honored Koreisha Mark. Problem was, senior citizens deemed the current design — a teardrop shaped leaf in fall colors (center) — rather insulting and complained to the National Police Agency, who oversees driving symbols.

Apparently, the elderly did not like to be reminded of their impending mortality. However, even when the autumn leaf is replaced, the Wakaba Mark for beginning drivers will still remain a green and yellow spring leaf.

The four Koreisha Mark finalists are, starting from the top left:

  • A four-leaf clover with a stylized “S” for senior
  • Circles of various colors, symbolizing the many years lived by our elders
  • A bird, heart, and hand combined into one symbol
  • Palms symbolizing a harvest of rice

What does this mean for the JNC logo? Nothing, except that it’ll be even cooler to say that the leaf was the old school (well, 1997 old) elderly driver’s mark. Which design do you like the best?

[Asahi Shimbun] Hat tip to Satoshi,

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17 Responses to The New and Improved(?) Elderly Driver's Mark

  1. J.Ramirez says:

    I kinda like the Bird-Heart or Rice Harvest one the best…. I don’t like the circle rainbow one at all…

  2. Hakosuka says:

    ” Apparently, they did not like to be reminded of their impending mortality.” that just wrong.. haha

  3. I like the one in the middle.
    All the others are lame.

  4. G-zilla says:

    The bird, but i still like the autumn leaf best, but oh well.

  5. Zechs says:

    They will be reminded what ever the symbol looks like, so just keep the old one looks the best.

    By the way I don’t get the meaning behind the “heart shaped bird with hand crap” symbol
    how does that refer to elderly (drivers)?

  6. Ray says:

    They should have one of a casket, and behind that a Nardi steering wheel, or something reminding everyone of an accident pending

  7. Zechs says:

    a reaper maybe?

  8. moominsean says:

    they are all pretty ugly…prefer the original leaf. the one at lower left reminds me of the united way logo. the heart/bird/hand logo is just plain awful.

  9. Nigel says:

    I guess in Japan, there is just as many “new age” crazy people as there are here in North America. The most close to leaf is the rice one.

  10. Kyusha Kai says:

    By the way I don’t get the meaning behind the “heart shaped bird with hand crap” symbol
    how does that refer to elderly (drivers)?

    the hand is obviously making a “stop” symbol, referring to their heart and they will fly away like a bird.

    oh i’m horrible.

  11. Zechs says:

    If I was an elderly I would definitly be insulted by that logo then, haha

    By the way that is one dark interpertation of that symbol, but I don’t think the creator had the same idea :p

  12. J.Ramirez says:

    Maybe it’s just me but the bird seems to be the most \Japanese\ to me…

  13. Toyotageek says:

    The clover leaf looks more like a pinwheel, the colors representing the phases of life – symbolizing: if the wind stops blowing, you’re life will soon end.

    The circle is just plain lame.

    The bird/heart symbolizes the fragility of ones heart, like that of a little bird – if it gets too excited, it’s all over.

    The rice symbol… well, it’s harvest time.

    None of these are appealing to me. I’m 50 and almost there – LOL.

    How about a turtle or something to represent long life? 😉

  14. Sarcasmo says:

    Keep the original one. The circle one is just AWFUL… many rings to show how long they’ve been around?? What’re are they, TREES? On top of that… it’s a rainbow color. What is that? Gay pride? LOL

    The top clover one is okay… not as cool as the original, but aight. 🙂

  15. Kitsune Tsuki says:

    I vote for the rice harvest. IT IS TIME TO HARVEST MORE SOULS.

  16. Toyotageek says:

    I say we hold our own design contest for both the Koreisha and Wakaba Mark!

  17. Komeuppance says:

    Haha, yes… a turtle… because they’re slllllllllloooooowwwwwww.

    -Robert

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