Wakaba Mark and Kōreisha Mark

The Shoshinsha mark (初心者マーク^?) or Wakaba mark (若葉マーク^?), introduced in 1972, is a green and yellow V-shaped symbol that new Japanese drivers must display on their cars for one year.
A driver must display this mark on the front and back of the car for one year after they obtain a standard driver's licence. This obligation is only for a standard license, not for motorcycles, large vehicles, special cars and so on. Drivers who consider themselves beginners may continue to display the sign, even after the period of a year.

Conversely, the orange and yellow "Fukushi mark" or "Koreisha mark" denotes elderly drivers. Both marks are designed to warn other drivers that the marked driver is not very skilled, either due to inexperience or old age.

The system was instituted in 1997; until January 2011, its shape was an orange and yellow teardrop-shape, and it was accordingly also called "momiji mark" (紅葉マーク, autumn leaf mark). Some people call it "kareha mark" (枯れ葉マーク, dried leaf mark) or "Ochiba mark" (落葉マーク, fallen leaf mark), but this is a more informal title, and considered less polite.
As of 1 February 2011, the shape was changed to the new, 4-leafed form.

Use outside Japan:

Outside Japan, owners of Japanese classic cars have adopted this symbol, regardless of the driver's age.^{[citation needed]} Japanese car enthusiasts overseas also use the Koreisha mark to indicate that they are an experienced driver as opposed to the Wakaba mark which indicates that they are new or a learner type driver.^{[citation needed]}