The mon (family crest) of the Sanada family. The Sanada family was a family in the service Takeda Shingen. At it's head was Sanada Yukitaka one of Shingen's "Twenty-Four Generals", Yukitaka died of illness about a year after Shingen died and was succeeded by his grandson Sanada Yukimura. The Sanada clan became independant with the final fall of the Takeda in 1582 and eventually ended up in the service of both Toyotomi and Tokugawa as the family was split as to their support. Yukimura was held in high regard throughout the land as one of the best warriors in Japan, he fought valiantly and stubbornly against the Tokugawa at the siege of Osaka but was eventually killed there. Many historians believe that if he was given overall command of the defense of Osaka castle things may have turned out very differently.
Almost all mon can be found to be used by many different samurai throughout the centuries.
.5 Inch ash wooden cube with the mon of the Sanada family in place of the 6 on the die.