What star constellation is on the Subaru?

The emblem on Subaru vehicles depicts the Pleiades star cluster (known in Japanese as Subaru). The logo shows six stars and is used as a symbolic representation of the cluster, which lies in the sky within the Taurus constellation.

Understanding the emblem

Subaru’s badge is a stylized rendering of a real star cluster. While it evokes the Pleiades, it’s not a literal map of the night sky; the six-star pattern serves as a branding symbol that connects the company’s name to a well-known celestial cluster.

What the logo depicts

Before diving into details, here are the essential points about what the emblem shows and how it’s interpreted.

• The logo represents the Pleiades star cluster, also known as M45, using six stars—one larger star accompanied by five smaller ones.


• The Pleiades cluster is located in the direction of the Taurus constellation in the night sky.


• The cluster is about 440 light-years from Earth.


• In Japanese, the cluster is called "Subaru," which is why the logo resonates with the brand name.


• The six-star arrangement in the emblem is a stylized nod to the cluster, not a precise sky map.


• Subaru uses this six-star insignia across its vehicles and corporate branding to symbolize unity and a shared identity.

Taken together, these points explain what the emblem portrays and why it is tied to Subaru’s branding.

Background: the Pleiades star cluster

To place the logo in astronomical context, here are key facts about the Pleiades cluster itself.

• The Pleiades is a bright, nearby open star cluster also known as Matariki in Māori and sometimes referred to as the Seven Sisters in popular culture, though typically only six stars are easily visible to the naked eye.


• It lies in the direction of the Taurus constellation and is part of the Taurus star-forming region.


• The cluster is one of the closest and most famous open clusters to Earth, located roughly 440 light-years away.


• Age estimates place the Pleiades at around 100 million years, making it relatively young in astronomical terms.


• Its brightest stars form a distinctive pattern that is easily seen in the night sky under good conditions, making it a long-standing navigational and cultural beacon across many civilizations.

In short, the Pleiades’ prominence in both science and culture helps explain why Subaru chose it as a flagship symbol.

Cultural notes and branding implications

The link between the name Subaru and the Pleiades adds cultural resonance to the logo. In Japan, the word Subaru is the traditional name for the cluster, and the six-star motif has become an enduring emblem of the brand’s identity, unity, and collective strength.

The emblem’s design also resonates beyond Japan, as the Pleiades is a well-known constellation worldwide—appearing in myths, folklore, and astronomy education. For Subaru, the logo functions as both a nod to heritage and a recognizable marketing symbol that communicates reliability and cohesion to consumers.

Summary

Subaru’s badge features the Pleiades star cluster (M45), a six-star arrangement associated with the Japanese name Subaru. The cluster sits in the Taurus constellation, about 440 light-years from Earth, and the logo’s stylized stars are symbolic rather than a precise sky map. This emblem ties the brand to a timeless celestial motif that is visible to many skywatchers and carries cultural significance around the world.

Are the Pleiades the same as Subaru?

In Japan, the Pleiades are known as Subaru (昴) which means "coming together" or "cluster" in Japanese and have given their name to the car manufacturer whose logo incorporates six stars to represent the five companies that merged into one.

What constellation is on the Subaru?

The Japanese word "Subaru" refers to the Pleiades star cluster, which is part of the Taurus constellation. The Subaru logo features six stars representing the Pleiades, often called the "Seven Sisters," with one star omitted because it is the faintest to the naked eye.
 

• Constellation: The Pleiades star cluster is located within the larger constellation of Taurus. 
• Japanese meaning: "Subaru" is the Japanese name for the Pleiades, and it also means "to unite" or "to gather together". 
• Logo connection: The six stars in the Subaru logo represent the five companies that merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries (the parent company) and the one larger star representing Fuji Heavy Industries itself. 

What do the 6 stars on Subaru mean?

The six stars on the Subaru logo represent the five companies that merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries (now Subaru Corporation), with the larger star symbolizing the leading company. The name "Subaru" itself is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the "Seven Sisters," which the logo is based on.
 

• Company merger: The six stars symbolize the five smaller companies that merged with a larger company in 1953 to create Fuji Heavy Industries. The large star is the parent company, and the five smaller stars represent the companies that united with it. 
• Celestial connection: "Subaru" is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster, which is visible in the night sky. While the cluster is famously known as the "Seven Sisters," the seventh star is often too faint to be seen with the naked eye, which is why there are only six stars in the logo. 
• Meaning of "unite": The word "Subaru" also translates to "to unite" in Japanese, which reflects both the unification of the five companies and the unified nature of the Pleiades star cluster itself. 

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What constellation is the Subaru logo based on?

the Pleiades constellation
Subaru's name and logo come from the Pleiades constellation, also known as the "Seven Sisters" and part of the Taurus constellation. The name "Subaru" is Japanese for "unite" and the six stars in the logo represent the five companies that merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries, which later became Subaru Corporation.