Flag of Japan

Quick Facts: Who was Flag of Japan?

Subject:

Flag of Japan

Known for:

The national flag of Japan, featuring a red circle on a white field (Hinomaru).

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The national flag of Japan is a squarish white banner with a red circle in it's center. The flag is officially called the Nisshōki (日章旗, 'flag of the sun'), but is more commonly known in Japan as the Hinomaru (日の丸, 'circle of the sun'). It embodies the country's sobriquet: the Land of the Rising Sun. The Nisshōki flag is designated as the national flag in the Act on National Flag and Anthem, which was promulgated and became effective on 13 August 1999. Although no earlier legislation had specified a national flag, the sun disc flag had already become the de facto national flag of Japan.

Career & Major Achievements

Two proclamations issued in 1870 by the Daijō-kan, the governmental body of the early Meiji period, each had a provision for a design of the national flag. A sun disc flag was adopted as the national flag for merchant ships under Proclamation No. 57 of Meiji 3 (issued on 27 February 1870), and as the national flag used by the Navy under Proclamation No. 651 of Meiji 3 (issued on 3 October 1870). Use of the Hinomaru was severely restricted during the early years of the Allied occupation of Japan after World War II; these restrictions were later relaxed. The sun plays an important role in Japanese mythology and religion, as the Emperor is said to be the direct descendant of the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, and the legitimacy of the ruling house rested on this divine appointment. The name of the country as well as the design of the flag reflect this central importance of the sun.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The ancient history Shoku Nihongi says that Emperor Monmu used a flag representing the sun in his court in 701, the first recorded use of a sun-motif flag in Japan. The oldest existing flag is preserved in Unpō-ji temple, Kōshū, Yamanashi, which is older than the 16th century, and an ancient legend says that the flag was given to the temple by Emperor Go-Reizei in the 11th century. During the Meiji Restoration, the sun disc and the Rising Sun Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army became major symbols in the emerging Empire of Japan. Propaganda posters, textbooks, and films depicted the flag as a source of pride and patriotism. In Japanese homes, citizens were required to display the flag during national holidays, celebrations and other occasions as decreed by the government.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1870: 1870 Milestone — Two proclamations issued in 1870 by the Daijō-kan, the governmental body of the early Meiji period, each had a provision for a design of the national flag.
2. 1999: 1999 Milestone — The Nisshōki flag is designated as the national flag in the Act on National Flag and Anthem, which was promulgated and became effective on 13 August 1999.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Flag of Japan

True or False: “The Hinomaru was exclusively used by the Imperial Japanese Navy before 1870.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it became a major symbol for the Navy later, its use as a national flag design dates back to merchant ships in 1870.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Flag of Japan