Japanese map symbol for an electricity transmission line

A line broken by regular pylon ticks.

Also known as: Sodensen mark, Pylon line mark

Engineering & technicalMaps & navigationStandard profile

Meanings

Denotes a high-voltage transmission line on a Japanese topographic map, the ticks marking the pylons.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Marks a high-voltage electricity transmission line on a GSI topographic sheet.
Contexts: Maps
Officially standardisedVerified fact
Places a tick at each tower rather than drawing the towers, so the line records both a route and the structures along it in one stroke.
Contexts: Maps

A straight line interrupted at intervals by short strokes standing across it, each stroke marking a tower.

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Map symbols used on Japanese topographic maps
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) · retrieved 2026-08-23
Japan's national mapping agency's own published legend. Cited for the form and meaning of a symbol on Japanese topographic maps; the historical origin of individual symbols is cited separately where claimed.

Last reviewed 2026-08-26

Meanings

Denotes a high-voltage transmission line on a Japanese topographic map, the ticks marking the pylons.

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Marks a high-voltage electricity transmission line on a GSI topographic sheet.

Contexts: Maps

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Places a tick at each tower rather than drawing the towers, so the line records both a route and the structures along it in one stroke.

Contexts: Maps

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Map symbols used on Japanese topographic maps
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) · retrieved 2026-08-23
Japan's national mapping agency's own published legend. Cited for the form and meaning of a symbol on Japanese topographic maps; the historical origin of individual symbols is cited separately where claimed.

Last reviewed 2026-08-26