Kachimushi (勝虫) is an old Japanese name for the dragonfly. Because dragonflies are believed to fly only forward and never retreat, they came to symbolize courage, determination, and victory.
For this reason, dragonfly motifs were especially popular among samurai and were often used to decorate armor, helmets, sword fittings, and family crests. The word kachimushi literally means “victory insect.”
