What Does "Subaru" Mean in Japanese? The Pleiades, Unity & the Six-Star Logo

Subaru (昴) is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster (Seven Sisters in Western astronomy). The word itself means "united," "gathered together," or "cluster"—reflecting the stars' tight visual grouping.

Cultural Significance in Japan

• Ancient marker: Pleiades' predawn rising signaled the start of the agricultural year (rice planting).
• Literary presence: Appears in *Manyoshu* (8th c. poetry), *The Tale of Genji*, haiku.
• Seasonal word (kigo): "Subaru" = autumn in classical poetry.
• Mythology: Not a major deity cluster, but associated with harmony and collective brilliance.

Why the Car Company Chose It

• 1953: Five companies (Fuji Kogyo, Fuji Jidosha, Omiya Fuji Kogyo, Utsunomiya Sharyo, Tokyo Fuji Sangyo) merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI).
• Symbolism: Six stars = the five merging companies + the new unified entity. (The seventh Pleiad is traditionally "hidden" or faint.)
• Values: Unity, collaboration, collective strength—core to Japanese corporate culture.

The Logo

• Six blue stars on a silver oval: Alcyone (largest), Merope, Electra, Maia, Taygeta, Celaeno.
• Arrangement mirrors the Pleiades' actual apparent positions.
• Color: Blue = trust, technology, sky; Silver = innovation, precision.

Brand Evolution

• 1958: First Subaru car (Subaru 360 kei car).
• 1972: Symmetrical AWD introduced (Leone) — brand hallmark.
• 2003: FHI renamed Subaru Corporation (2017).
• Global identity: "Confidence in Motion" — AWD, Boxer engine, safety (EyeSight).

Beyond Cars

• Subaru Telescope (Mauna Kea, Hawaii) — Japan's flagship 8.2m optical-infrared telescope.
• Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival (Philadelphia) — cultural diplomacy.

Bottom Line

Subaru = Pleiades = unity in diversity. A celestial metaphor for corporate merger, now a global brand synonymous with AWD capability, engineering cohesion, and a uniquely Japanese star story.