Arms of Alexander Derrick Townson

Blazon

Per pale Argent and Azure on a chevron between three foxes’ heads erased, three ivy leaves each within an annulet, all counterchanged;

Symbolism

The fox heads allude to Mr. Townson's roots in England by honouring his great-grandfather, Percy Townson, who rode to hounds in North Staffordshire and later was a member of the Holcombe Hunt in Lancashire. The Japanese mon, or badge, is that of the Oya family from Arita in Kyushu, Japan, the ancestral family of Mr. Townson’s wife Machiko. Blue and white are often found in Japanese ceramics and textiles, particularly in porcelain from Arita. The two colours and the counterchanged design also reflect the coming together of two cultures in Mr. Townson’s family—English and Japanese.