Flag of Japan

The national flag of Japan is a red circle on a white background. Its official name is Nisshōki (日章旗, "flag of the sun"), but in Japan it is better known as Hinomaru (日の丸, "ball of the sun"). The flag has a fairly simple design and is easy to remember, and even children can draw it. January 27 marks the anniversary of the creation of the national flag, as the design and standards were established in the Merchant Shipping Regulations on January 27, 1870.

What does the flag of Japan mean?

• the red circle symbolizes the sun;
• red color means goodwill and vitality;
• white - holiness and purity.

The hinomaru is a symbol of the rising sun, which has a deep meaning in Japanese culture. This symbol is associated with the imperial family, as the imperial throne is considered to be hereditary from the sun goddess Amaterasu. In the Japanese Shinto religion, which includes the worship of nature and the sun, the sun is honored as a divine being. During the Asuka period, Prince Shotoku used the famous expression "Land of the Rising Sun", which indicates a deep awareness of the sun's significance.

Characteristics of the Japanese flag

In 1870, the Prime Minister adopted two regulations concerning the national flag. The first regulation determined how to raise the flag, and the second - how to make it. The dimensions of the flag had a ratio of 7:10. The solar disk was 3/5 of the width of the pole and was usually located 1/100 in the direction of the pole. In this way, the disk is centered when the flag develops in the wind. This technique is also used in other flags, such as the flag of Bangladesh. After the adoption of the law on the national flag, its dimensions were changed to a ratio of 2:3, and the red disk was moved to the center. The size of the disk remained the same, but the color shades were officially approved only in 2008.

What flags are similar to the flag of Japan?

The flag of Japan consists of a red circle on a white background. There are two flags that have an identical design to the circle, but in different colors - the flag of Bangladesh and the flag of Palau. Unlike the flag of Japan, the flag of Bangladesh has a lighter shade of red on a green background. While the flag of Palau consists of completely different colors: a yellow circle on a blue background.

Palau:  The yellow circle symbolizes the moon, and the blue color represents the ocean. The moon is a symbol of peace, love and tranquility. The people of Palau believe that the full moon is the optimal time for any human activity, whether it is a celebration or fishing. The flag was adopted on January 1, 1981.

Bangladesh: The red circle has two different meanings: it symbolizes the sun rising over the country, as well as the spilled blood of those who fought for the country's independence. The green field of the flag represents the fertility of the land. The flag was approved on January 17, 1972.

What is the origin of the Japanese flag?

The first mention of the Hinomaru flag dates back to 701. Legend has it that a Buddhist priest named Nichiren gave a flag with the sun to a shogun (the highest military position) during the Mongol invasion in the 13th century for the soldier to take with him. The hinomaru became a national symbol and was used during the Battle of Nagashino in 1575. The oldest flag in Japan, dating back to at least the 16th century, is kept in Unpo-ji Temple as a family treasure of the Takeda clan.

In 1854, Japanese ships were ordered to fly the hinomaru to distinguish themselves from foreign ships. Subsequently, in 1870, the hinomaru was proclaimed the trade flag of Japan and the country's first national flag from 1870 to 1885. Although the idea of a national symbol seemed strange to many Japanese, the government considered it necessary for interaction with other countries. After the landing of Commodore Perry in 1853, it was decided to introduce more widespread identification marks, including the national flag, anthem, and imperial seal. The legislation that made the Hinomaru the national flag was repealed in 1885.

The use of the Hinomaru grew in Japan during its quest to create an empire. After early victories in the war with China, the Hinomaru reappeared in celebrations and parades. In textbooks of the time, the flag was depicted with various slogans expressing loyalty to the emperor and the country. 

The Hinomaru flag was the flag of Japan during World War II and during the occupation of the country. At that time, permission from the Allied forces was required to raise the flag. In May 1947, restrictions on flying the Hinomaru were lifted. In 1948, the flag was allowed to be flown on national holidays, and from January 1949, it was allowed to be flown at any time without permission. As a result, schools and homes actively displayed the Hinomaru flag until the early 1950s.

After World War II, the Japanese flag was criticized because it was associated with the country's militaristic past. The Hinomaru flag was not used in Japan after the war, but later, when the country regained its diplomatic standing, it was used as a political weapon abroad. The question of the national flag arose again when Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics. The size of the sun disk on the flag and the color shade were changed. In 1989, after the death of Emperor Hirohito, moral questions about the national flag were raised. 

In 2000, Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of the Liberal Democratic Party proposed a bill to make the Hinomaru the official symbol of the country. However, a similar bill was considered back in 1974, but failed to pass. The opposition protested against the law and wanted the issue to be decided by the public. Deputy Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama believed that the bill would further divide society and public schools, but voted for it. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on July 22, 1999, and by the House of Councillors on August 9.