The
Flag of Japan - Description of the Japanese Flag
As the
above picture of the Japanese Flag indicates the overall
background is white
The description of
the Japanese Flag is as follows:
White with a large
red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Japanese flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Japanese flag is
described as Emblem - reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Japanese flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the
height )
The Meaning
& History of the Japanese Flag
The Japanese large
red disc emblem represents the sun
It is referred to
as the Hinomaru
Legend says that
the flag originates in the 13th century when a Buddhist priest
called Nichiren
offered the sun disc flag to the Emperor of Japan in honour of
the sun goddess Amaterasu who was believed to have been the
Emperor's ancestor
Shoguns displayed
the 'sun flag' on the Japanese ships during the 16th and 17th
centuries
The name Japan, or
Nippon, means "The origin of the sun" and is often translated as
"The Land of the Rising Sun"
The Japanese
national flag was adopted on August 13, 1999
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Japanese
Flag Etiquette
Japanese Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Japanese as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Japanese
State Flag of
Japanese
Military Flag of
Japanese (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Japanese
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Japanese Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
Japanese should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Japanese flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Japanese should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Japanese flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Japanese, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Japanese Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Japanese flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Japanese flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Japanese flag to the top, then lowering the
Japanese Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Japanese flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Japanese flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Japanese flag
The Japanese flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Japanese
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Japanese flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Japanese
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and
information regarding Japanese Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
Japan
Location:
Eastern Asia, island chain between the
North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean
Peninsula
Japanese Land Size
: 374,744 sq km
Japanese Climate / Weather : varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in
north
Japanese Population
: 127,333,002 (July 2004 est.)
Japanese Capital
City: Tokyo
Japanese GDP:
$3.567 trillion (2003 est.)
Japanese Main Industries :
motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and
nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Japanese Agricultural
products : rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit, pork, poultry,
dairy products, eggs, fish
Japanese Currency :
yen (JPY)
Main Colors of the
Japanese Flag : white with red emblem
Commonly mis-spelt
as Japenese
Concise History of
Japan & its Flag
10,000BC
Upper Paleolithic known as the Jomon Era
300 BC The
Yayoi period heralding new technologies and skills, many
obtained from China
645 Kotoku
became the emperor of Japan
794 The
Heian era
1100s The
Taira and the Minamoto fought for control of Japan
1180s The
Minamoto clan obtained controlled of the country
1192
Yoritomo was given the title Shogun and led the government which
became known as a Shogunate
1330 The
Ashikaga clan seized power
1549 Saint
Francis Xavier, a Portuguese missionary, arrived in Japan. The
Portuguese were the most successful Europeans in initiating
major trade agreements with the Japanese
1603
Tokugawa leyasu was given the title of Shogun by the emperor.
This title was held by the dynasty for 265 years
1630s The
Japanese broke ties with all foreigners for the next two hundred
years
1854 Japan
agreed to open two ports to the United States for trade
1868 The
Meiji Emperor announced the official return of the imperial
power and was declared a divine ruler
1895 Japan
conquered Taiwan
1910 Japan
conquered Korea
1914 - 1918
World War I - Japan declared war on Germany
1931
Japanese
conquered Manchuria
1936 Japan
signed a anti-communist pact with Germany and Italy
1940 Japan
entered World War II by occupying the northern part of French
Indochina
7 December
1941 Japanese attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii
18 July 1944
The government headed by Prime Minister Tojo collapsed
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
2 September
1945 Japan officially surrendered and World War II ended
"Around the World in 80
minutes!"
A combination of information
regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events
provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this
concise information with specific facts will improve your
overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource
accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80
minutes!"
The
Japanese Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Japanese Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
