List of Japanese flags

This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present. Historically, each daimyō had his own flag. (See sashimono and uma-jirushi.)

National flags

Flag Date Use Description 13 August 1999present Civil and state flag and ensign of Japan. Flag ratio: 2:3. This flag was designated by Proclamation No. 127, 1999. The sun-disc is perfectly centered and is a brighter shade of red. 27 February 187013 August 1999 Civil and state flag and ensign of the Empire of Japan, and the Japanese state. Flag ratio: 7:10. Disc is shifted 1% towards the hoist (left). This flag was designated by Proclamation No. 57, 1870.

Imperial flags Flag Date Use Description 1869–present Imperial standard of the Emperor of Japan A gold sixteen-petal chrysanthemum centered on a red background 2019–present Imperial standard of the Emperor Emeritus Similar to the standard of the Emperor, but with a darker background 1926–present Imperial standard of the Empress, the Empress Dowager, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Emerita A pennant version of the standard of the Emperor Imperial standard of the Regent of Japan Similar to the standard of the Emperor, but with a white border Imperial standard of the heir imperial son and the imperial grandson who is an heir apparent Similar to the standard of the Emperor, but with a white orle Imperial standard of the wife of the heir imperial son and the wife of the imperial grandson A pennant version of the standard of the heir imperial son 2020–present Imperial standard of the Crown Prince if not the son of the Emperor A gold sixteen-petal chrysanthemum centered on a white background with a red orle and border 1926–present Imperial standard of other members of the Imperial House Similar to the standard of the Crown Prince, but without the red orle

Governmental flags Flag Date Use Description 1872–1887 Ensign of Japan Post Hinomaru with a red horizontal bar placed in the center of the flag. 1892–present Ensign of Japan Customs White represents land, blue represents sea, and the red disc represents the customs on a border.

Military flags

Imperial Army/Navy and Self-Defense Forces Flag Date Use Description 1954–present Flag of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force A sun disc design with eight red rays extending outward, and a gold border partially around the edge. 1945–present Ensign of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Sun disc with sixteen rays on a white field, with the disc skewed to the hoist. 1889–1945 Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1955–1957 Ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 1957–1972 1972–2001 2001–present 1972–present Standard of the Prime Minister of Japan Five cherry blossoms on a purple background. Naval standard of the Prime Minister of Japan Standard of the Minister of Defense of Japan Five cherry blossoms on a red-brown background. Naval standard of the Minister of Defense of Japan Standard of the Vice Minister of Defense of Japan Four cherry blossoms on a red-brown background. Naval standard of the Vice Minister of Defense of Japan Standard of Chief of Staff, Joint Staff 2025–present Standard of Commander, Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command 2024–present Standard of Commander of Joint Unit Standard of Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Standard of Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 1982–present Standard of Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 1965–present Standard of vice admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Standard of rear admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Standard of commodore of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Standards of commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Standard of senior captain of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 1954–present Masthead pennant of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 1905–1945;2011–present The "Z flag", unofficial naval ensign Derived from International maritime signal flag "Z"; made famous by its use to signal the opening of the Battle of Tsushima. 1999–present Standard of the army commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Standard of the divisional commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force Army commander's flag until March 1999. Standard of the brigade commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force The brigade commander's flag is the flag of the six brigades that were reorganized from the four divisions and two combined brigades, and newly established in March 1999. The brigade commander's flag is the flag of other brigades. It was used as a flag for divisional commanders until March 1999. Until 1999 Standard of the former brigade commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force It was used until March 1999. This flag was used not only by the major general but also when the colonel was the brigade commander. 1972–present Flag of infantry battalion of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 1982–2001 Standard of lieutenant general of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Standard of the commander in chief of the air defense command of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force from 1982 until 2001. 1982–2001 Standard of major general of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Standard of the air division commander of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force from 1982 until 2001. 1980–present Flag of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force reserve 1870–1945 War flag/ensign of the Imperial Japanese Army White field with a centered red disc and sixteen red sun rays radiating to the edges. 1945–present War flag/ensign of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 1889–1945 Standard of admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1914–1945 Standard of vice admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy Standard of rear admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy Standard of commodore of the Imperial Japanese Navy Standard of commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy Standard of senior captain of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1870–1945 Standard of duty ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Japan Coast Guard Flag Date Use Description 1951–present Ensign of the Japan Coast Guard The symbol represents a mariner's compass. Standard of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Standard of the Japan Coast Guard commandant Standard of the commander of Regional Coast Guard Headquarters Flag of the commander

Historical flags Flag Date Use Description 13th–19th century Military flag of the warriors loyal to Japanese court A red field with a golden disc in the center and a three-tongued fringe at the fly. In reality, it was hoisted vertically. 1429–1879 Merchant flag of the Ryukyu Kingdom A triangular yellow field with a red border and a red disc in the center. 1641–1858 Dutch flag used in Dejima A horizontal tricolor of red, white, and blue. 1603–1868 Naval ensign of the Tokugawa Shogunate A vertical triband of white, black, and white. 1868–1869 Flag used by the Satsuma army during the Boshin War A horizontal bicolour of red and white. 1905–1910 Flag of the Resident-General of Korea A Blue Ensign with the flag of Japan in the canton. 1945–1952 Civil and naval ensign during the occupation of Japan Derived from International maritime signal flag "E". 1950 (Jan.–Mar.) Proposed flag of Okinawa Called the or the , proposed by the Okinawa Civil Government. The US administration stated they would decide the flag after the foundation of the unified government of the islands. However, the flag was forgotten ever since. Red, white, and blue represent peace, freedom, and enthusiasm, respectively. A star represents hope. 1952–1967 Civil ensign during the occupation of Okinawa Derived from International maritime signal flag "D". 1967–1972 Civil ensign of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands The flag of Japan with a pennant above reading "Ryukyus" and "琉球" ("Ryukyu").

Daimyō Flags Flags attributed to Japanese Daimyo in the Kaei period (1848–1854).

Daimyō Banners present in old paintings

Minorities Flag Date Use Description (1996) 1994–present Flag of Mindan Mindan is a pro-South organization of Zainichi Koreans. The pink flower surrounding the taegeuk is a hibiscus syriacus, the national flower of South Korea. The formal name of the society (Zainihon Daikanminkoku Mindan) is written in kanji in white, and the abbreviation (Mindan) is written in hangul in yellow. The blue field of the flag stands for clear sky and sea. 1955–present Flag of the Chochong is a pro-North youth organization of Zainichi Koreans affiliated with the Chongryon. A red, white, and blue tricolor flag with the league's logo towards the hoist. 1923–1945 Flag of National Levelers Association / Buraku Liberation League Named . Black represents a dark society with discriminations. Red represents blood. 1945–present Flag of Buraku Liberation League The current Buraku Liberation League flag, with a white star representing hope. 1973–present Ainu flag

Cultural flags Flag Date Use Description 1919–present Flag of safety Named . Designed by Toshifumi Gamō as the symbol of the governmental "safety week" campaign. The cross represents philanthropism in Western sense, and the place where good deeds gather in Oriental sense. JIS Z9103-1986 designates the symbol as the safety indication sign. 1953–present Flag of industrial health Announced by the Labour Standards Bureau, the Ministry of Labor of Japan (the current Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), over a public subscription. 1965–present Flag of safety and health Designed by the Japan Industrial Safety & Health Association. These three flags are frequently flown on factories or construction sites. 1887–present Postal flag The postal symbol, 〒, on a white field.

Prefectural flags

Each modern prefecture has a unique flag, most often a bicolour geometric highly stylised design (mon), often incorporating the letters of Japanese writing system and resembling company logos. A distinct feature of these flags is that they use a palette of colours not usually found in flags, including orange, purple, aquamarine and brown.

Some prefectures also have alternative official flags called . They may be used on less formal occasions. Famous symbol flags include the one used in Tokyo.

Flag Prefecture Geocode Aichi JP-23 Akita JP-05 Aomori JP-02 Chiba JP-12 Ehime JP-38 Fukui JP-18 Fukuoka JP-40 Fukushima JP-07 Gifu JP-21 Gunma JP-10 Hiroshima JP-34 Hokkaido JP-01 Hyōgo JP-28 Ibaraki JP-08 Ishikawa JP-17 Iwate JP-03 Kagawa JP-37 Kagoshima JP-46 Kanagawa JP-14 Kōchi JP-39 Kumamoto JP-43 Kyoto JP-26 Mie JP-24 Miyagi JP-04 Miyazaki JP-45 Nagano JP-20 Nagasaki JP-42 Nara JP-29 Niigata JP-15 Ōita JP-44 Okayama JP-33 Okinawa JP-47 Ōsaka JP-27 Saga JP-41 Saitama JP-11 Shiga JP-25 Shimane JP-32 Shizuoka JP-22 Tochigi JP-09 Tokushima JP-36 Tokyo JP-13 Tottori JP-31 Toyama JP-16 Wakayama JP-30 Yamagata JP-06 Yamaguchi JP-35 Yamanashi JP-19

Municipal flags

Most municipalities have unique flags. Like prefectural flags, most of them are with a bicolour geometric highly stylized symbol, often incorporating Japanese characters.

Political flags Flag Date Use DescriptionCurrent 2017–present Tomin First no Kai 1995–present Ishin Seito Shimpu 1982–present National Socialist Japanese Workers' Party 1972–present Japanese Communist Party 1970–present Kariyushi Club (Ryukyu Independence Movement) 1955–present Liberal Democratic Party 1923–19421946–present Rikken Yoseikaija Former 2005–2013 People's New Party 1960–1994 Democratic Socialist Party 1945–1996 Japan Socialist Party 1936–1944 Tōhōkai Other 1936 The Righteous Army The four characters reading "Revere the Emperor, Destroy the Traitors" (尊皇討奸) are placed in the corners of a standard Japanese flag.

List of Japanese flags

Bron en licentie