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History of Japan Flag

Trivia

The flag is officially called Nisshōki and is unofficially called Hinomaru.

Technical Specifications

Adopted

13th August 1999

Proportion

2:3

Design

A plain white field with red disk in the centre.

 

View Japan National Flag

Brief History

One of the first flags flown in Japan was the flag of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the last feudal military government; it was a simple white field with a black line through the centre.

In 1868 in the northern part of Japan, near Hokkaido, there was the short-lived Republic of Ezo. The flag was a dark blue field with a large chrysanthemum and seven-pointed red star in the centre.

Between 1869 and 1875 the Ryuku Kingdom was independent from Japan and had its own flag. It features the Ryukyu Sho Dynasty crest in the centre of a white field with black-red-black bands in the lower portion.

The flag of the Empire of Japan was adopted as a civil flag in 1868; it is officially called Nisshōki and unofficially Hinomaru. It features a plain white field with red disc in the centre. Since 1999 it has also adopted as the national flag of Japan.

The Imperial Seal of Japan

The Imperial Seal of Japan is a 16 tipped yellow chrysanthemum and used by the Imperial family and the emperor.

The Standard of the Japanese Emperor

The Standard of the Japanese Emperor is a red field with the imperial seal in the centre.

The Historical Flag of the Allied Occupation of Japan

Between 1945 and 1952 there was an Allied occupation of Japan to transform the country into a democracy. During this time the flag of japan was still flown and the blue and red horizontal bicolour swallow tailed flag was the civil and naval ensign.

 

The Standard of Prime Minister of Japan

The Standard of the Prime Minister of Japan was adopted in 1972. If features a purple field with five cherry blossoms. This is also the Naval Standard of the Prime Minister.

The Ensign of Japan Customs

The Ensign of Japan Customs was Adopted in 1892. It features a white triangle and blue triangle with red disc in the centre.

The Military Flags of Japan

Each Governorate in Egypt has a their own flag. Here are some examples.

The Flags of the Japanese Coast Guard

The flags of the Japanese Coast Guard were adopted in 1951 and all feature a symbol representing a mariner’s compass.

The Civil Flags of Japan

The flag of Safety is a plain white field with a green cross at the centre. The flag of Industrial Health was adopted in 1953 and features a green field with a white cross in the centre. The Flag of Safety and Health was adopted on 1965, it features a green field with a large white cross inside of which is a green cross. The Flag of Postal Japan is a white field with a red band at the top with a large red T below.

The Prefectural Flags of Japan

Each Japanese prefecture has a flag. Here are some examples of the flags used.

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