The University Emblem was selected from one of 566 entries in a competition held on the occasion of the merger of the three prefectural universities into Osaka Prefecture University. The winning entry was formally established as the university emblem on April 1st 2005. The emblem, based on the Gingko Tree of Osaka, represents the merger of three universities into one new entity. The three gingko leaves are an embodiment of the traditions of the three universities, and symbolize their future growth and development. Furthermore, ultramarine blue was selected as the school colour as its vibrancy represents the university as a dynamic center of knowledge and learning.