Why does Subaru have 7 stars?
The emblem actually shows six stars, not seven. The six-star logo reflects the Pleiades star cluster and Subaru’s corporate history, while the nickname “Seven Sisters” that often accompanies the cluster in English helps explain why people sometimes think there are seven stars.
Origins of Subaru’s name and logo
Subaru draws its name from the Japanese reading of the Pleiades star cluster. In Japanese, the cluster is called Subaru, and the logo features six stylized stars. The six-star design was chosen to symbolize unity and the founding of the company’s heritage, specifically the merger of multiple entities to form what is now Subaru’s corporate group. While the Pleiades are culturally associated with the Seven Sisters in Western astronomy, the Subaru emblem intentionally uses six stars to reflect its history rather than the mythic count.
Before exploring how this ties into broader perceptions, it helps to know what the six stars are understood to represent in branding terms.
- The six stars symbolize the six companies that merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries (the corporate predecessor of Subaru) in the mid-20th century.
- They reference the Pleiades star cluster, known in Western lore as the Seven Sisters, but the logo itself uses six stars.
- The Subaru name links celestial imagery to unity and cooperation, reinforcing brand identity across vehicles and marketing.
In short, the six-star emblem is a deliberate branding choice that honors corporate origins and the cluster’s celestial association, but it does not count to seven.
Why the confusion about seven stars persists
Confusion stems from a mix of astronomy lore and branding history. The Pleiades is commonly called the Seven Sisters in English-language astronomy, a name rooted in myth rather than the exact star count visible under all conditions. The Japanese name Subaru for the same cluster further anchors the link between the brand and celestial imagery, even as the logo itself uses six stars.
- Many people know the cluster as the Seven Sisters, which can lead to assuming Subaru’s logo represents seven stars.
- The brand name Subaru comes from the cluster’s Japanese name, not from a count of stars, which can blur the distinction between name and emblem.
- Popular media and misstatements sometimes repeat the claim of seven stars, even though Subaru’s official branding uses six.
Ultimately, the seven-star expectation is a misconception tied to myth and English naming, not to Subaru’s logo design.
What the emblem means today
Today, Subaru’s six-star logo remains a central element of its global branding. It symbolizes unity, the company’s historical mergers, and a celestial connection that reinforces a sense of reliability and enduring identity across Subaru’s lineup and dealership networks.
- The six-star motif appears across badges, marketing materials, and corporate communications, maintaining a consistent brand image.
- It continues to evoke the idea of coming together and collaboration, aligned with Subaru’s corporate heritage.
- The link to the Pleiades cluster remains a distinctive celestial branding element that differentiates Subaru in a crowded automotive market.
Despite occasional confusion about seven stars, the official symbolism is clear: six stars, six companies, and a unifying celestial motif that defines Subaru’s identity today.
Summary
Subaru’s logo features six stars, not seven. The six stars symbolize the six companies that merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries and reflect the cluster’s name, Subaru, in Japanese. The often-cited “Seven Sisters” moniker for the Pleiades explains why people might think there are seven stars, but the emblem itself intentionally uses six stars to convey branding, unity, and corporate heritage. In contemporary branding, the six-star motif remains a distinctive and enduring symbol for Subaru.
