The stars in the Subaru emblem represent the Pleiades constellation.
Subaru is the automotive brand of Fuji Heavy Industries, now known as Subaru Corporation. The Japanese word “Subaru” refers to the Pleiades star cluster, which is also known in Japan as “Mutsuraboshi,” or “six stars.”
The emblem normally shows six visible stars: one large star and five smaller stars. Their arrangement recalls the cluster while also reflecting the companies that combined to form Fuji Heavy Industries after the Second World War.
The Pleiades are an open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. They are visible to the unaided eye in many parts of the world and have been important in astronomy and mythology across cultures. Subaru’s badge therefore links a Japanese name, a real astronomical object and the company’s corporate history.