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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sashimono

By the Sengoku period samurai wore sashimono, small banners in the back of their armour, as heraldry and as a form of uniform to tell friend from foe.

Each clan would have their own complex set of heraldry. Not only to identify the clan, but to identify each specialized unit within each clan army. Units of messengers, cavalry, infantry, etc, would have their own set of flags within the army. The 'mon' or family crest to identify a specific clan.

But certain individuals wanted to stand out among the rank and file. They wore personal flags to advertise their presence. The two lead characters wore sashimono with symbols that were favorite among samurai.

The fearsome Centipede was a favorite motif. The elite Tsukai-ban (messenger/scouts) of the Takeda clan seen in Kurosawa's 'Kagemusha' wore the centipede sashimono as a unit insignia in several color combinations.

The Rabbit was a symbol of longevity, another favorite motif among samurai. Many samurai wore helmets with huge rabbit ears as helmet crests. The character of Yoshiaki Miki in the film had both, a rabbit sashimono and a helmet with small rabbit ears.