The name Kikkoman is a culturally rich compound word derived from traditional Japanese folklore and symbolism. The first part, kikko, translates to tortoise shell, while man represents the number 10,000. According to ancient Asian legends, tortoises are believed to live for 10,000 years, serving as powerful emblems of happiness, good fortune, and long-term longevity. This guiding philosophy is visually represented in their iconic hexagonal logo combining a tortoise shell pattern with the kanji character for 10,000.