Japan Flag

The flag of Japan is a white flag with a large red circle in the center. The national flag of Japan is also known as the Hinomaru “sun circle.” Since the 15th and 16th centuries, the Japanese flag has been used as a military banner. On February 27, 1870 the Japan flag was officially adopted as the civil ensign, but not as the national flag. The Japanese flag was officially adopted as the Japanese national flag on August 13, 1999.

The national flag of Japan is designed seven units high and ten units wide (7:10). The red circle is calculated 3/5th of the total length of the hoist. The red circle is required to be at the center and is located 1/100th of the flag width towards the hoist.

During the US occupation of Japan following World War II, the use of the flag of Japan was restricted and it took years for this to be changed. The Hinomaru has been the basis to design other Japanese flags.

In China and South Korea where Japan occupied these countries, Japanese flags were burned to protest Japan's imperialism and Japan’s foreign policies. Japan’s law allows the burning of the national flag of Japan, but foreign country flags are illegal to be burned in Japan.