TheRising Sun Flag (Japanese:旭日旗,Hepburn:Kyokujitsu-ki) is a Japanese flag that consists of a red disc and sixteen red rays emanating from the disc.[1] Like theJapanese national flag, the Rising Sun Flag symbolizes the Sun.
The flag was originally used byfeudal warlords in Japan during theEdo period (1603–1868 AD).[2] On May 15, 1870, as a policy of theMeiji government, it was adopted as the war flag of theImperial Japanese Army; further, on October 7, 1889, it was adopted as thenaval ensign of theImperial Japanese Navy.[3][better source needed]
At present, the flag is flown by theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and an eight-ray version is flown by theJapan Self-Defense Forces and theJapan Ground Self-Defense Force.[2] The rising sun design is also seen in numerous scenes in daily life in Japan, such as infishermen's banners hoisted to signify large catches of fish, flags to celebrate childbirth, and in flags for seasonal festivities.[4]
The flag is controversial in some Asian countries, mainly inSouth Korea,North Korea andChina, as well as amongAllied World War II veterans (mainly inAustralia), where it is associated withJapanese war crimes, theAxis powers, andJapanese militarism andimperialism.[5][6][7]
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Theflag of Japan and the symbolism of the risingSun has held symbolic meaning in Japan since theAsuka period (538–710 CE). TheJapanese archipelago is east of the Asian mainland, and is thus where the Sun "rises". In 607 CE, an official correspondence that began with "from theEmperor of the rising sun" was sent to ChineseEmperor Yang of Sui.[8] Japan is often referred to as "the land of the rising sun".[9] In the 12th century workThe Tale of the Heike, it was written that differentsamurai carried drawings of the Sun on their fans.[10]
The Japanese word for Japan is日本, which is pronounced'Nihon' or'Nippon', and literally means "the origin of the Sun". The characternichi (日) means "sun" or "day";hon (本) means "base" or "origin".[11] The compound therefore means "origin of the sun" and is the source of the popular Westernepithet "Land of the Rising Sun".[12] The red disc symbolizes the Sun and the red lines are lightrays shining from the rising sun.
The design of the Rising Sun Flag (Asahi) has been widely used since ancient times, and a part of it was called "Hiashi" (日足/ひあし) and used as the samurai'screst ("Hiashimon" (日足紋)).[13][14] The flag was especially used by samurai in theKyushu region. Examples include the "twelve sun-rays" (変わり十二日足) of theRyūzōji clan (1186–1607 CE) inHizen Province and theKusano clan (草野氏) inChikugo Province, and the "eight sun-rays" (八つ日足紋) of theKikuchi clan (1070–1554 CE) inHigo Province. There is a theory that in many parts of the Kyushu region, Hizen and Higo are related to what was called "the country of Japan (Hi)".[15][a]
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War flag of theImperial Japanese Army (1870–1945)There have been many types of Asahi flags since ancient times, and the design in which light rays spread in all directions without clouds expresses honored day or auspicious events, and was a design that was used for celebrate a good catch, childbirth and seasonal festivities.[16][17][18] A well-known variant of the flag of the sun disc design is the sun disc with 16 red rays in aSiemens star formation. The Rising Sun Flag (旭日旗,Kyokujitsu-ki) has been used as a traditionalnational symbol of Japan since at least theEdo period (1603 CE).[2] It is featured in artwork such asukiyo-e prints, one example being theLucky Gods' visit to Enoshimaukiyo-e print byUtagawa Yoshiiku in 1869 and theOne Hundred Views of Osaka, Three Great Bridges print by Utagawa Kunikazu in 1854. The Fujiyama Tea Co. used it as a wooden box label of Japanese green tea for export in theMeiji period (1880s).[19]
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Naval ensign, flown by ships of theImperial Japanese Navy (1889–1945). Flag ratio: 2:3.The Rising Sun Flag was historically used by thedaimyō (大名) and Japan's military, particularly theImperial Japanese Army and theImperial Japanese Navy. The ensign, known in Japanese as theJyūrokujō-Kyokujitsu-ki (十六条旭日旗), was first adopted as thewar flag on May 15, 1870, and was used until theend of World War II in 1945. It was re-adopted on June 30, 1954, and is now used by theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). TheJapan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) andJapan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) use a variation of the Rising Sun Flag with red, white and gold colors.[20]
The design is similar to the flag of Japan, which has a red circle in the center signifying the Sun. The difference compared to the flag of Japan is that the Rising Sun Flag has extra sun rays (16 for the ensign) exemplifying the name of Japan as "The Land of the Rising Sun". The Imperial Japanese Army first adopted the Rising Sun Flag in 1870.[21] The Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy both had a version of the flag; the naval ensign wasoff-set, with the red sun closer to thelanyard side, while the army's version (which was part of theregimental colors) was centered. The flags were used until Japan's surrender inWorld War II during August 1945. After the establishment of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in 1954, the off-set Rising Sun Flag was re-adopted for the JMSDF and a new 8-rays Rising Sun Flag with a yellow border for the JGSDF and JSDF was approved by theSupreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP/GHQ). The flag with the off-set sun and 16 rays is the ensign of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, but it was modified with a different color red. The old flag is darker red (RGB #b12d3d) and the post-WW2 modified version is brighter red (RGB #bd0029).[22]
The Imperial Japanese Army flag with symmetrical 16 rays and a 2:3 ratio was abolished. The Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Ground Self-Defense Force use a significantly different Rising Sun Flag with 8-rays and an 8:9 ratio. The edges of the rays are asymmetrical since they form angles 19, 21, 26 and 24 degrees. It also has indentations for the yellow (golden) irregular triangles along borders. The JSDF Rising Sun Flag was adopted by a law/order/decree published in the Official Gazette of June 30, 1954.[22]
Regardless of the military flag, before the Meiji period, the design of Asahi was used for prayers, festivals, celebration events, reconstruction, logos of companies and products, big catch flags (Tairyō-bata), corporate and product logos and sports.[23][24][25][26][27][28]
The Japanese naval ensign, which is flown by ships of theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force (established in 1954). It uses a 2:3 ratio.
The flag of theJapan Self-Defense Forces and theJapan Ground Self-Defense Force (established in 1954)Commercially the Rising Sun Flag is used on many products, designs, clothing, posters, beer cans (Asahi Breweries), newspapers (Asahi Shimbun), bands,manga, comics,anime, movies,video games (such asE. Honda's stage ofStreet Fighter II, although this was removed in the 2021 re-release[29]),World War II video games, as well as appearing elsewhere. The Rising Sun Flag appears on commercial product labels, such as on the cans of one variety of Asahi Breweries lager beer.[30] Among fishermen, thetairyō-ki (大漁旗, "Good Catch Flag") represents their hope for a good catch of fish. Today it is used as a decorative flag on vessels as well as forfestivals and events. The Rising Sun Flag is also used at sporting events by the supporters of Japanese teams and individual athletes.[31]
Since June 30, 1954, the Rising Sun Flag has been thewar flag andnaval ensign of theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).JSDF Chief of StaffKatsutoshi Kawano said the Rising Sun Flag is the Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors' "pride".[32] TheJapan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and theJapan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) use the Rising Sun Flag with eight red rays extending outward, calledHachijō-Kyokujitsuki (八条旭日旗). A gold border partially lines the edge.[20]
The flag is also used by non-Japanese, for example, in the emblems of some U.S. military units based in Japan, and by the Americanblues rock bandHot Tuna, on the cover of its albumLive in Japan. It is used as an emblem of theUnited States Fleet Activities Sasebo, as a patch of theStrike Fighter Squadron 94, a mural atMisawa Air Base, the former insignia ofStrike Fighter Squadron 192 and Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System with patches of the14th Fighter Squadron. Some extremeright-wing groups display it at political protests.[33]
While Japan considers the rising sun flag part of its history, Asian countries annexed or occupied by Japan (especially thePhilippines,South Korea,China,Malaysia, andSingapore), andRussia say the flag is associated withImperial Japan's wartime atrocities, theAxis powers, and is comparable to the flag of Imperial Japan's WWII ally, theNazi swastika.[34] TheImperial Japanese Navy used the flag in the early 20th century as Japancolonized the Korean Peninsula, andinvaded and occupied parts of China and other Asian countries until its defeat inWorld War II in 1945.[34]
South Korea’s campaign against the Rising Sun Flag began in earnest in 2011. In anassociation football match against Japan, South Korean footballerKi Sung-yueng was accused of making a racist gesture, sparking outrage in Japan. Ki responded that he had intended to highlight the racism he had experienced atCeltic F.C. and that his "heart shed tears" after he saw the Rising Sun Flag at the match.[35][36] On the other hand, many in Japan insist that the Rising Sun Flag was not in the stadium.[35][37] For this reason, there is a widespread view in Japan that Ki Sung-yueng used the excuse of having seen the Rising Sun Flag to justify his racist gesture.[38][39]
The flag is banned byFIFA, and Japan was sanctioned by theAsian Football Confederation (AFC) after Japanese fans flew it at an AFC Champions League game in 2017.[40]
In 2012, South Koreans who disapproved of the flag began to refer to it as a "war crime flag".[41][42] According to political scientistKan Kimura, in 2012, following Ki Sung-yueng's remarks, Koreans living in New York formed a political group "The Citizens Against War Criminal Symbolism" and started a campaign to equate the Rising Sun Flag with the Nazi swastika and ban it. The following year at the2013 EAFF East Asian Cup, a banner with a slogan about historical issues with Japan appeared on the Korean cheering squad. As these events were often reported in the Korean media, an international political movement among Koreans to equate the Rising Sun Flag with that of the Nazi swastika and to prohibit it intensified.[43]
According to Koichi Nakano, professor of political science atSophia University, "no-one in Japan uses the rising sun flag for any purpose other than romanticizing and rewriting the horrible human rights abuses committed under the Japanese Empire."[6] He suggests that theAmerican Confederate battle flag, where it was used in theAmerican Civil War by southern states that wanted to keep slavery, would be a better comparison than theflag of Nazi Germany.[6] The Confederate battle flag is not banned but is a symbol of racial segregation and perceived superiority, according to critics.[6]
South Korea did not object to Japan's adoption of the Rising Sun Flag for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in 1952, nor to the entry into South Korean ports Japanese warships flying the flag on a warship at the 1998 and 2008 navy fleet reviews held in South Korea.[44] However, when hosting an internationalfleet review atJeju Island from October 10 to 14, 2018, South Korea requested all participating countries to display only their national flags and the South Korean flag on their vessels, a request apparently aimed at preventing Japan from flying the Rising Sun Flag, which had been the ensign of theJapanese Maritime Self-Defense Force since it was established in 1954. Japan announced on October 5, 2018, that it would be withdrawing from the fleet review because it could not accept Seoul's request to remove the Rising Sun Flag. Japanese officials say the flag is mandatory for Japan's naval ships under domestic laws and is widely recognized as identification for the Japanese military under an international maritime convention. On October 6, 2018, JSDF Chief of StaffKatsutoshi Kawano said the Rising Sun Flag was the "pride" of Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors, and that the JMSDF would absolutely not go if they had to remove the flag.[1]
The South Korean parliamentary committee for sports asked the organizers of the2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo to ban the Rising Sun Flag, with South Korean lawmaker An Min-suk stating that the Olympics could not proceed peacefully with the flag in the stadium. In September 2019, the Chinese Civil Association for Claiming Compensation from Japan sent a letter to theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban the flag.[45] According to the Associated Press, the IOC confirmed the receipt of the letter and said in a statement "sports stadiums should be free of any political demonstration. When concerns arise at games time we look at them on a case by case basis."[46] In 2021, South Korea's Olympic committee said that in exchange for taking down banners at the Olympic village that referred to theImjin War, which was ruled by the IOC as provocative, the IOC promised that the rising sun flag will be banned at stadiums and other Olympic venues.[47] At the end of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a delegate from South Korea said that there were no diplomatic incidents between South Korea and Japan during the Olympics, adding that "it was an 'achievement of sports diplomacy' for South Korea that IOC had decided to ban Japan's Rising Sun flag."[48] In response, the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic Games announced on 9 August, "The announcement by the South Korean Olympic Committee is not true. When we contacted the IOC, we confirmed that the IOC will continue to respond to the issue on a case-by-case basis and will not impose a blanket ban. On the morning of 9 August, the IOC had sent a letter to South Korea indicating that the use of the flag will be determined on a case-by-case basis."[49][50]
Alexis Dudden, a professor of history at theUniversity of Connecticut, argued that the rising sun flag should be banned at the 2020 Summer Olympics because the flag "is part of a collective effort to cleanse the history of Imperial Japan’s aggression during the second world war," therefore causing intentional harm to those who suffered under Japanese rule.[51] She added that it was unsurprising that the South Korean government was the first to raise objections to the flag being waved at the 2020 Olympics, since Korea was occupied by Japan from 1910 until 1945.[51]
In 2021,Capcom removed the appearances of the Rising Sun Flag from their re-release ofStreet Fighter II. Capcom did not provide an official reason for the flag's removal; however, it is guessed that the flag was removed in an effort not to offend any parts of the international gaming community.[29][52][53]
The Japanese government's basic position on the Rising Sun Flag is that "claims that the flag is an expression of political assertions or a symbol of militarism are absolutely false."[54] TheSankei Shimbun, a right-wing Japanese newspaper, criticized South Korea's attitude toward the Rising Sun Flag, stating that even the United States, who had opposed Japan during World War II, had not protested formally against the Rising Sun Flag.[55][56] The same newspaper argued that the history of the flag dates back much further than World War II,[57] and that the corporate logo of theAsahi Shimbun, which is praised for being conscientious in South Korea,[58] also uses the rising sun design.[59]
TheJapanese Vexillological Association states that the flag was designed for the Imperial Japanese Army in the earlyMeiji period, with a different version adopted by naval forces,[57] stating that "Flags used by the military are domestic decisions",[57] arguing that "the Rising Sun flag existed before Japan went to war and the nature of the issue is different from that of the swastika flag, which was created to symbolize the Nazi regime's political ideologies."[57] Former Prime MinisterShigeru Yoshida has stated that "There is no country in the world that does not know this flag. The flag can be recognized as Japan's in any sea", with the flag having been adopted for its "recognizability" as the naval flag of theJMSDF.[57]
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In the picture above, the word "war crime flag" was first used in Korea in August 2012.
Media related toRising Sun Flag of Japan at Wikimedia Commons
