Asia

Flag of Japan

Japan is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean comprising four main islands plus more than 6,800 smaller ones, home to a society that uniquely blends ancient traditions with cutting-edge modernity. The Japanese imperial dynasty traces an unbroken lineage for over 2,600 years, making it the world's oldest hereditary monarchy. Japan is famous for its cherry blossom festivals, tea ceremony, manga and anime, sushi, precision engineering, and has made profound contributions to global culture, design, and technology.

CapitalTokyo
RegionAsia
Current flag since1870
Main coloursWhite, Red
Populationabout 124 million
Areaabout 378,000 km²
GeographyIsland nation
Flags in history4

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Japan means

The Hinomaru, “circle of the sun”, reflects Japan's name, Nihon, often translated as “origin of the sun”. A red sun disc was used on fans and banners for centuries before it became the flag of Japanese merchant ships in 1870. It only became the legal national flag in 1999, when a law also fixed the disc at the exact centre.

How to recognise it

White with a red disc (Hinomaru) in the exact centre. Bangladesh is green with its red disc set slightly left of centre.

Did you know?

Japan has the world's oldest company — Kongō Gumi — a construction firm founded in 578 AD.

Easily confused with

Japan's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Bangladesh

Palau

Flag history of Japan

Every flag that has flown over Japan, from today back through time.

1870–present

Japan (Hinomaru)

The white field with a central red disc — the Nisshōki, or "sun-mark flag" — was designated the national merchant ensign in 1870. Though used for centuries before, it was only formally legislated as the national flag in 1999.

1870–1945

Rising Sun (Imperial military)

A military banner, not the national flag: the Imperial Japanese Army adopted this 16-ray Rising Sun design in 1870. It became closely associated with Japan's wartime expansion until 1945.

Imperial Japanese Navy ensign:

1889–present

Naval ensign

The Navy's version offsets the sun toward the hoist. Controversially, the modern Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force readopted it in 1954, so it still flies at sea today.

1603–1868

Tokugawa shogunate

The Edo-period military government of the Tokugawa shoguns that unified Japan and sealed it off from the world for over two centuries.

1429–1879

Ryukyu Kingdom

An independent island kingdom that traded across East Asia and paid tribute to China, annexed by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture.

Related historical states

Empires, kingdoms and republics that once covered part of Japan.

1603–1868

Tokugawa Shogunate

A white field bisected by a thick black stripe served as the standard of the Tokugawa bakufu, flown during the Sakoku period when Japan was largely closed to the world.

1870–1945

Empire of Japan

The 16-rayed Rising Sun was adopted as the Imperial Japanese Army's war flag in 1870; the rays-only design is still used today by the Maritime Self-Defense Force.

1869

Republic of Ezo

Founded by rebel Tokugawa naval officer Enomoto Takeaki on Hokkaido, it is often called the first republic in Asia to hold an election. It lasted barely five months.

1429–1879

Kingdom of Ryukyu

A white field with the Shō dynasty's three-comma mitsudomoe swirl. The independent Okinawan trading kingdom was annexed by Japan in 1879.

1973

Ainu

The flag of the indigenous Ainu of Hokkaido, designed in 1973: a blue field for sky and sea, a white wave for snow, and a red arrow for the aconite hunting poison.

1889–1945

Empire of Japan (Naval Ensign)

The 16-rayed Rising Sun naval ensign, with the disc offset toward the hoist, flew over the Imperial Japanese Navy and is still used by the Maritime Self-Defense Force today.