㊙️
Japanese Secret Button
hi-MI-tsu
Definitions
1
Symbols · Japanese
uncommon
A Japanese ideographic button meaning 'secret' or 'confidential', displayed as a red circle with white Japanese characters.
Used to indicate private information or secretive content, often in playful contexts rather than for actual confidentiality.
I have something to tell you... it's super ㊙️
Text message
Check out my ㊙️ recipe for the best chocolate chip cookies ever!
Social media post
Originally a Japanese certification mark for trade secrets, now commonly used in digital communication to suggest mystery or exclusive information.
2
Communication · Playful
rare
Used decoratively by non-Japanese speakers to add an exotic or mysterious aesthetic to messages without knowledge of its actual meaning.
Often used alongside other Japanese-style emojis for aesthetic purposes rather than semantic meaning.
✨㊙️🏮 vibes today 🏮㊙️✨
Instagram caption
Represents cultural borrowing where symbols are adopted for their visual appeal rather than their original meaning.
Evolution Timeline
1993
Included in early Japanese mobile phone emoji sets as a practical business symbol.
Rise of digital communication in Japanese business culture
2010
Adoption into Unicode standard, making it available globally beyond Japan.
Internationalization of emoji standards
2015
Began appearing in Western social media as part of 'aesthetic' posting trends.
Growing Western interest in Japanese visual culture
Cultural Context
The symbol contains the Japanese kanji '秘' (himitsu) meaning 'secret', surrounded by a circle with radiating lines denoting importance.
Represents cultural appropriation when used by non-Japanese speakers for aesthetic purposes without understanding its meaning.
Originally used as a certification mark in Japan to indicate trade secrets or confidential business information.
Regional Variations
Japan
Used with its original meaning of 'secret' or 'confidential', often in business or official contexts alongside its casual use.
United States
Primarily used decoratively or to create an 'Asian aesthetic' without full understanding of the meaning.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Rarely used except by those with connections to Japanese culture or business.
Gen_Z: Used aesthetically in vaporwave and anime-inspired content. Often combined with other Japanese-style symbols without regard to meaning.
Older: Very limited usage, primarily by those with professional connections to Japan.
Millennials: Occasionally used playfully to indicate secrets or exclusive information, particularly among anime fans or Japan enthusiasts.
Common Combinations
㊙️🤫
Emphasizes secrecy or confidential information
Combines Japanese symbol with universal gesture for keeping quiet
㊙️👀
Indicates something secret worth looking at
Used to create intrigue or suggest exclusive content
㊙️🔐
Strongly emphasizes confidentiality or privacy
Combines Japanese and Western symbols for secrecy