Flag of Japan

Names	Nisshōki (Sun Flag), Hinomaru (Sun Disc)
Use	Civil and state flag and ensign. flag of south africa This is an incomplete blue white red black green, saltire flag Nicknames. The design and description of Flags typically uses specialised flag terminology' with precise and technical meanings and is hence a form of Jargon. A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification An ensign is a distinguishing Flag of a ship or a military unit or a distinguishing token emblem or badge such as a symbol of office
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	February 27, 1870 (civil ensign) August 13, 1999 (national flag)
Design	A red disc on a white field. Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 3114 BC - According to the Lounsbury correlation the start of the Maya calendar. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)
Designed by	Nichiren (according to legend)[1]

The national flag of Japan is a white flag with a large red disc (representing the rising sun) in the center. Nichiren (日蓮 ( February 16, 1222 &ndash October 13, 1282) born, later, and finally Nichiren, was a Buddhist A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The is the Military flag of Japan. It had been used as the Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the War flag of the Imperial Japanese The flag's official name in Japanese is Nisshōki (日章旗, "sun flag"^?) but the flag is more commonly known as Hinomaru (日の丸, "sun disc"^?). is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities The Hinomaru was widely used on military banners in the Sengoku (Warring States) period of the 15th and 16th centuries. During the Meiji Restoration the flag was officially adopted for use as the civil ensign by Proclamation No. The, also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure The civil Ensign (also known as merchant flag or merchant ensign) is the National flag flown by civil ships (merchant ships and others to denote  57 on February 27, 1870 (27 January, Meiji 3 in the Japanese calendar). Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Since January 1, 1873, Japan has used the Gregorian calendar, with local names for the months and mostly fixed holidays However, the flag was not adopted nationally until August 13, 1999, by the Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem. Events 3114 BC - According to the Lounsbury correlation the start of the Maya calendar. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) This article is about a law of Japan "Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem" is a word-to-word translation for an Act on Japan 's national flag and anthem which was

Along with the national anthem Kimi ga Yo, the Hinomaru is considered a controversial symbol of the militaristic past of the country. often translated as "May your reign last forever" is Japan's National anthem, and is also one of the world's shortest national anthems in current use Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or Use of the Hinomaru was also severely restricted during the early years of the American occupation of the country after World War II, although restrictions were later relaxed. At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, British World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Japanese law did not designate any particular flag as the national flag from 1885 until 1999, although the Hinomaru was legally the national flag for the brief period from 1870 until 1885. Despite this, several military banners of Japan are based on the design of the Hinomaru, including the sun-rayed Naval Ensign. This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present Historically each Daimyo had its own flag The Hinomaru was used as a template to design other Japanese flags for public and private use.

History

Admiral Togo on the bridge of the Mikasa, before the Battle of Tsushima in 1905, with the Z flag flying 1930s photo of a military enrollment. Fleet Admiral Marquis (, OM, GCVO, ( 27 January 1848 - 30 May 1934) was a Fleet Admiral in The Battle of Tsushima ( Japanese: 対馬海戦 tsushima-kaisen, Цусимское сражение Tsusimskoye srazheniye) commonly known as the This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present Historically each Daimyo had its own flag The Hinomaru is displayed on the house and held by several children.

For a list of historical flags, see List of Japanese flags: Historical. This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present Historically each Daimyo had its own flag

Before 1945

The exact origin of the Hinomaru is unknown. However, the sun historically had a religious connotation in Japan, and the notion of the rising sun had an important symbolic meaning. ^[2] For example, in 607, Prince Shotoku sent a letter that began with "from the prince of the rising sun" to Emperor Yang of Sui. also known as, was a Regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan. Background Yang Guang was born in 569 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. ^[3] One legend related to the national flag is attributed to Buddhist priest Nichiren. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Nichiren (日蓮 ( February 16, 1222 &ndash October 13, 1282) born, later, and finally Nichiren, was a Buddhist During a Mongolian invasion into Japan during the 13th century, Nichiren gave a sun banner to the shogun to carry into battle. Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East ^[1]

One of Japan's oldest known flags is housed at the Unpo-ji temple in Yamanashi Prefecture. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of A legend states that the flag was given by Emperor Reizei to Minamoto no Yoshimitsu and was treated as the family treasure by the Takeda clan. Emperor Reizei (冷泉天皇 Reizei-tennō) ( 12 June, 950 - 21 November, 1011) was the 63rd emperor of Minamoto no Yoshimitsu (新羅 三郎 源 義光 Shinra Saburō Minamoto no Yoshimitsu, 1045&ndash1127 son of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, was a Minamoto clan The was a famous clan of Daimyō (feudal lords in Japan's late Heian Period to Sengoku period. However, the historical accuracy of this account is questionable. ^[4] The earliest recorded Japanese flag in Japan occurred during the unification period. The flags belonged to each Daimyo and were used mostly for battles. The ( were powerful territorial lords who ruled most of Japan from their vast hereditary land holdings Most of the designs of the flags were long banners and is usually charged with the mon of the Daimyo. ( plural mon) also,, and, are Japanese heraldic symbols Mon may refer to any symbol while Even members of the same family, such as a son, father and a brother, had different flags to carry to battle. The use of the flags were for identification and were carried by soldiers on their backs and also on their horses. Generals had their own flags, but most were square in shape. ^[5] The Hinomaru was legally the national flag from 1870 until 1885. ^[6] After the Meiji Restoration, the use of the Daimyo flags were discontinued and the flags of the modern Japanese state were used. The, also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure ^[7] The Hinomaru was the de facto national flag, although there was no law to that effect. ^[8]

While not an official national flag, the Z signal flag played a major role in Japanese naval history. On May 27, 1905, Admiral Heihachiro Togo of the Mikasa was preparing to engage the Russian Baltic Fleet. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Fleet Admiral Marquis (, OM, GCVO, ( 27 January 1848 - 30 May 1934) was a Fleet Admiral in Background Following the 1894–1895 First Sino-Japanese War, and the forced return of the Liaodong Peninsula to China under Russian pressure Japan began to Before the Battle of Tsushima began, Togo raised the Z flag on the Mikasa and engaged the Russian fleet, winning the battle for Japan. The Battle of Tsushima ( Japanese: 対馬海戦 tsushima-kaisen, Цусимское сражение Tsusimskoye srazheniye) commonly known as the This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present Historically each Daimyo had its own flag The raising of the flag said to the crew the following: "The fate of Imperial Japan hangs on this one battle; all hands will exert themselves and do their best. " The Z flag was raised on the aircraft carrier Akagi on the eve of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December 1941. Description Akagi was laid down as an ''Amagi'' class Battlecruiser at Kure Japan. Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the ^[9]

Postwar period

The Hinomaru being lowered in Seoul, Korea on the day of the surrender, 9 September 1945. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar

The Hinomaru was the de facto albeit not de jure flag throughout World War II and the occupation period. ^[8] During the Occupation of Japan after World War II, permission from the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was needed to fly the Hinomaru. At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, British World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers ( SCAP) was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II ^[10][11] Sources differ on the degree to which the use of the Hinomaru flag was restricted, with some using the term "banned". ^[12] However, while the original restrictions were severe, they did not amount to an outright ban. ^[8]

In 1947, restrictions were lifted on displaying the Hinomaru in the grounds of the National Diet Building, on the Imperial Palace, on the Prime Minister's residence and on the Supreme Court building. The is the place where both houses of the Diet of Japan meet It is located at 1-chome Nagatachō, Chiyoda Tokyo. is the imperial main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in Chiyoda Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains various buildings The, also known as the or simply, is the office of the Prime Minister of Japan. ^[13] Those restrictions were further relaxed in 1948, when people were allowed to fly the flag on national holidays. The restrictions were abandoned in January 1949, and anyone could fly the Hinomaru at any time without permission. ^[14] As a result, schools and homes were encouraged to fly the Hinomaru until the early 1950s. ^[10]

After World War II, an ensign was used by Japanese civil ships of the U. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including S. Naval Shipping Control Authority for Japanese Merchant Marine. ^[15] Modified from the "E" signal code, the ensign was used from September 1945 until the American occupation of Japan ceased. ^[16] This was never used as a national flag for Japan during this time period.

Japan's flag has been criticized for being associated with the militaristic past of Japan since the end of World War II. Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Similar objections have been raised to the current national anthem of Japan, Kimi ga Yo. often translated as "May your reign last forever" is Japan's National anthem, and is also one of the world's shortest national anthems in current use ^[4] Along with the national flag, Kimi ga Yo was designated the national anthem in the Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem in 1999. This article is about a law of Japan "Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem" is a word-to-word translation for an Act on Japan 's national flag and anthem which was Schools have been the center of controversy over both the anthem and the national flag. In successive international tests of Mathematics, Japanese children consistently rank at or near the top (see TIMSS) The Tokyo Board of Education requires the use of both the anthem and flag at events under their jurisdiction. The order requires school teachers to respect both symbols or risk losing their jobs. ^[17][18] Some have protested that such rules violate the Japanese constitution, while the Board, for its part, has argued that since schools are government agencies, their employees have an obligation to teach their students how to be good Japanese citizens. The has been the founding legal document of Japan since 1947 The constitution provides for a Parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights ^[4] Teachers have gone as far to bring criminal complaints against Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara and senior officials for ordering teachers to honor the Hinomaru and Kimi ga Yo. However, these charges were later dismissed. ^[19]

Design

Construction sheet

Passed in 1870, the Prime Minister's Proclamation No.  57 had two provisions related to the national flag. The first provision dealt with who flew the flag and how it was flown, the second dealt with how the flag was made. ^[20] The ratio, according to the proclamation, is going to be seven units high and ten units wide (7:10). The red disc, which represents the sun, is calculated to be three-fifths of the total size of the hoist length. The disc is decreed to be in the center, but is usually placed one-hundredth (1/100) of the flag width towards the hoist. ^[21]

When the Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem was passed on August 13, 1999, the dimensions of the flag were altered slightly. This article is about a law of Japan "Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem" is a word-to-word translation for an Act on Japan 's national flag and anthem which was Events 3114 BC - According to the Lounsbury correlation the start of the Maya calendar. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The overall ratio of the flag was changed to two units length by three units width (2:3). The red disc was shifted towards dead center, but the overall size of the disc stayed the same. ^[21] The background of the flag is white and the sun disc is red, but the exact color shades were not defined in the 1999 law. ^[21] However, the 2000 edition of Album des pavillons suggest the sun disc is Pantone 186; the white field is not mentioned. Album des pavillons, short for the Album des pavillons nationaux et des marques distinctive, is a Flag book published by the French Service ^[22]

Present-day perception

Emperor Akihito prepares to greet the flag-waving crowd at the Imperial Palace on his birthday. Photo taken on December 23, 2004. Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

According to polls conduced by mainstream media, most Japanese people had perceived the flag of Japan as the national flag, even before it was officially designated as such in 1999. ^[23] Despite this, controversies surrounding the use of the flag in school events or media still remain. For example, liberal newspapers such as Asahi Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun often feature articles critical of the flag of Japan, reflecting their readerships' political spectrum. The is the second most circulated out of the five national Newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun The is one of the major Newspapers in Japan, published by. History The history of the Mainichi Shinbun begins with founding of two papers ^[24]

Negative perception towards the Hinomaru still exist in former colonies of Japan and Okinawa. is one of Japan 's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1000 km long which extends southwest from Kyūshū In one notable example of this, on October 26, 1987, a supermarket owner burned the Hinomaru before the start of the national athletic competition. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) ^[25] In China and South Korea, both occupied by Japan during World War II, Japanese flags are burnt during protests against Japan's foreign policies or if a Japanese prime minister visits the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is dedicated to the Kami (spirits of Soldiers Japanese laws allow the burning of the Hinomaru, but foreign flags cannot be burned in Japan due to national laws. ^[26]

Use and customs

A bus displaying the flag of Japan

Since World War II, the display of the flag of Japan is mostly limited to buildings attached to national and local governments such as city halls, and it is rarely seen in private homes or commercial buildings. ^[27] On the other hand, some people or companies have advocated displaying the flag of Japan on holidays. For example, beginning on December 23, 2002 (The Emperor's Birthday), the Kyushu Railway Company has displayed Japan's flag on 330 manned stations. Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. is a national Holiday in the Japanese calendar. It is currently celebrated on December 23. The, also referred to as, is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group ^[28] Also, many bus companies have been operating buses with the flag attached on holidays, in part to inform passengers that it is a holiday. The Cabinet of the Prime Minister has the authority to place the flag at half-staff. Half-staff or half-mast describes a Flag flying approximately halfway up a flagpole or ship's mast (though anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the way up is acceptable ^[29]

Protocol

The flag is flown from sunrise until sunset, although a business or school is permitted to fly the flag from opening to closing. When flying the Japanese flag with that of another country, the Japanese flag takes the position of honor and the flag of the guest country flies to its right at the same height. When more than one foreign flag is displayed, Japan's flag is arranged in the alphabet order prescribed by the United Nations. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security When the flag becomes unsuitable to use, it is preferred to burn the flag in private. ^[29]

The national flag dressed for mourning

There were two customs developed to designate mourning with the Hinomaru. One is to fly the flag at half-staff (半旗, Han-ki^?), as in other countries. Half-staff or half-mast describes a Flag flying approximately halfway up a flagpole or ship's mast (though anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the way up is acceptable This happens, for example, in the case of the death of a head of state. The other custom is to use a mourning flag (弔旗, Chō-ki^?). The custom dates back to the funeral of Emperor Meiji in 1912 when the government issued an ordinance stipulating how the national flag must be raised in the mourning of emperors of Japan. The (3 November 1852 — 30 July 1912 or Meiji the Great was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession reigning from 3 February The of Japan is the country's Monarch. He is the head of the Japanese Imperial Family. ^[30] It said that the sphere finial of the pole must be covered by black cloth and the black cloth that extends to the width of the fly of the flag must be placed above the flag. Since then, mourning flags have been used on the deaths of emperors or members of the royal family. Mourning flags have also been used on other occasions and sometimes such a use has been controversial. For instance, when former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto died in August 2006, the Japan Communist Party objected to the display of a mourning flag by the city of Uji, Kyoto, citing the objection to the flag from the brother of Hashimoto. Ryutaro Hashimoto (橋本 龍太郎 Hashimoto Ryūtarō, July 29, 1937 - July 1, 2006) was a Japanese Politician The Japanese Communist Party ( JCP) ( Japanese " 日本共産党 Nihon Kyōsan-tō) is a Political party in Japan. is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. ^[31]

The 1999 curriculum guideline issued by the Ministry of Education notes that "on entrance and graduation ceremonies, schools must raise the flag of Japan and instruct students to sing the "Kimi Ga Yo" (national anthem), given the significance of the flag and the song". is a standard issued by the Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology that specifies materials taught at all of elementary middle and high schools in Japan The, also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government. often translated as "May your reign last forever" is Japan's National anthem, and is also one of the world's shortest national anthems in current use ^[32] Also, the ministry's commentary on the 1999 curriculum guideline for elementary schools notes that "given the advance of internalization, along with fostering patriotism and awareness of being Japanese, it is important to nurture school children's respectful attitude toward the flag of Japan and Kimi Ga Yo as they grow up to be respected Japanese citizens in an internationalized society". ^[33]

Related flags

Military

Flag of the Japan Self-Defense Forces(八条旭日旗) Naval Ensign (旭日旗)

For a list of military flags, see List of Japanese flags: Military. The, or JSDF, are the military forces in Japan that were established after the end of the post- World War II American occupation of Japan The is the Military flag of Japan. It had been used as the Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the War flag of the Imperial Japanese This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present Historically each Daimyo had its own flag See also Rising Sun Flag. The is the Military flag of Japan. It had been used as the Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the War flag of the Imperial Japanese

The Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force use a version of the sun disc design with eight red rays extending outward, called Hachijō-Kyokujitsuki (八条旭日旗). The, or JSDF, are the military forces in Japan that were established after the end of the post- World War II American occupation of Japan The, or JGSDF, is the Military ground force ( Army) of Japan The largest of the three services of the JSDF, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates A gold border lies partially around the edge. ^[34]

A very well-known variant of the sun disc design is the sun disc with 16 red rays, which was also historically used by Japan's military, particularly the Imperial Japanese Navy. For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article The ensign, known in Japanese as the Kyokujitsu-ki (旭日旗), was first adopted as the naval ensign on October 7, 1889, and was used until the end of World War II in 1945. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including It was re-adopted on June 30, 1954, and is now used again as the naval ensign of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) The, or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. ^[35] In the surrounding Asian countries that were occupied by Japan, this flag still carries a negative connotation. ^[36] The JMSDF also employs the use of a masthead pennant. The Commissioning pennant or Masthead pennant is a Pennant (also spelt "pendant" flown from the Masthead of a Warship. First adopted in 1914 and readopted in 1965, the masthead pennant contains a simplified version of the naval ensign at the hoist end, with the rest of the pennant colored white. The ratio of the pennant is between 1:40 and 1:90. ^[37]

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force, established independently in 1952, has only the plain sun disc as its emblem. The, or JASDF, is the Aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese Airspace and other aerospace This is the only branch of service whose emblem does not invoke the rayed Imperial Standard. However, the branch does have an ensign to fly on bases and during parades. The ensign was created in 1972, which was the third used by the JASDF since their creation. The ensign contains the emblem of the branch centered on a blue background. ^[38]

Imperial

The Standard of the Japanese emperor

For a list of imperial flags, see List of Japanese flags: Imperial. This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present Historically each Daimyo had its own flag

Starting in 1869, flags were created for the Japanese emperor (then Emperor Meiji), his wife (the empress), and for other members of the imperial family. The (3 November 1852 — 30 July 1912 or Meiji the Great was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession reigning from 3 February At first, the emperor's flag was ornate, with a sun resting in the center of an artistic pattern. He had flags that were used on land, at sea, and when he was in a carriage. The imperial family were also granted flags to be used at sea and while on land (one for use on foot and a carriage flag). The carriage flags were a monocolored chrysanthemum, with 16 petals, placed in the center of a monocolored background. Chrysanthemums, often called 'mums' are a genus ( Chrysanthemum) of about 30 species of perennial Flowering plants in the family Asteraceae ^[39] These flags were discarded in 1889 when the emperor decided to use the chrysanthemum on a red background as his flag. With minor changes in the color shades and proportions, the flags adopted in 1889 are still being used by the imperial family. ^[40]

The current emperor's flag is a 16-petal chrysanthemum, colored in gold, centered on a red background with a 2:3 ratio. The empress uses the same flag, except the shape is that of a swallow tail. The crown prince and the crown princess use the same flags, except with a smaller chrysanthemum and a white border in the middle of the flags. ^[41]

Subnational

The Japanese flag flying with the flags of Okinawa Prefecture and Urasoe City

For a list of prefectural flags, see List of Japanese flags: Prefectural. is one of Japan 's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1000 km long which extends southwest from Kyūshū Urasoe (浦添市 -shi Okinawan: 'Urashī) is a city located in Okinawa, Japan. This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present Historically each Daimyo had its own flag

For a list of municipal flags, see List of Japanese municipal flags. The list of Japanese municipal flags lists the flags of Municipalities of Japan.

Each of Japan's 47 prefectures has a flag resembling the national flag insofar as consisting of a symbol, called a mon, charged on a monocolored field. The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 sub-national Jurisdictions one "metropolis" (都 to) Tokyo; one " circuit ( plural mon) also,, and, are Japanese heraldic symbols Mon may refer to any symbol while Some of the mon display the name of the prefecture in Japanese characters; others are stylized depictions of the location or another special feature of the prefecture. The modern Japanese writing system uses three main scripts Kanji, characters of Chinese origin, Hiragana An example of a prefectural flag is that of Nagano. the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the prefecture near the confluence of the Chikuma and the Sai rivers on the In the center of the white disc, the orange katakana character ナ (na) appears. is a Japanese Syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with Hiragana, Kanji, and in some cases the Latin alphabet One interpretation of the mon is that the na symbol represents a mountain and the white disc, a lake. The orange color evokes the sun while the white color represents the snow of the region. ^[42][43]

Municipalities can also adopt flags of their own. There are three basic types of municipalities in Japan: cities, towns and villages. The designs of the city flags are similar to the prefectural flags: a mon on a monocolored background. An example is the flag of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture. is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area The main symbol, adopted in 1909, is composed of the katakana characters for hama (ハマ). is a Japanese Syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with Hiragana, Kanji, and in some cases the Latin alphabet The emblem is officially colored red and appears in the shape of a diamond. ^[44] The background color is white and the height of the emblem is 3/5ths of the height of the flag. ^[45]

Derivatives

Japanese Vexillological Association flag

Other than the flags used by the military, several other flag designs are inspired by the national flag. In 2000, a new organization was established in Japan to promote the study of flags (vexillology) inside the country. Vexillology is the scholarly study of Flags The word is a synthesis of the Latin word Vexillum and the suffix –''ology'', meaning "study The organization, the Japanese Vexillological Association (Nihon Kishougaku Kyoukai), also sought a flag and symbol for its own use. Out of the 61 entries, a flag based on the Hinomaru was chosen. The main field of the flag shows the red sun disc resting in the upper portion, below which are interlocking ropes,^[46] a motif used on the flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques. The Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques (FIAV is an international federation of 52 regional national and multinational associations and institutions ^[47] The joined knots represent fellowship, and ropes are devices used to raise and lower flags. ^[48]

Another Japanese flag that influences other flag designs is the naval ensign. One such flag design is used by the Asahi Shimbun. The is the second most circulated out of the five national Newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun At the bottom hoist of the flag, one quarter of the sun is displayed. The Japanese character 朝 colored white, covers most of the sun. The rays extending from the sun occur in a red and white order; culminating in 13 total stripes. ^[49] The flag is commonly seen at the national high school baseball tournament, as the Asahi Shimbun is a main sponsor of the tournament.

See also

• Imperial Seal of Japan
• Nobori
• Sashimono
• Uma-jirushi

References

External links

• MOFA: Web-Japan – The National Flag (PDF)
• Flag protocol (Japanese)
• Website on the standards of the Imperial family (Japanese)
• Japan at Flags of the World