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

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National flags

FlagDateUseDescription
13 August 1999 – presentCivil 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 1870 – 1952 – 12 August 1999Civil 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

FlagDateUseDescription
1869–presentImperial standard of the emperor of JapanA gold 16 petal chrysanthemum centered on a red background
2019–presentImperial standard of the emperor emeritusSimilar to the standard of the emperor, but with a darker background
1926–presentImperial standard of the empress, the Empress dowager, the grand empress dowager and the empress emeritaA pennant of the standard of the emperor
1926–presentImperial standard of the regent of JapanSimilar to the standard of the emperor, but with a white border
1926–presentImperial standard of the heir imperial son and the imperial grandson who is an heir apparentSimilar to the standard of the emperor, but with a white orle
1926–presentImperial standard of the wife of the heir imperial son and the wife of the imperial grandsonA pennant of the standard of the heir imperial son
2020–presentImperial standard of the crown prince if not the son of the emperorA gold 16-petaled chrysanthemum centered on a white background with a red orle and border
1926–presentImperial standard of other members of the Imperial HouseSimilar to the standard of the crown prince, but without the red orle

Governmental flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1872–1887Ensign of Japan PostHinomaru with a red horizontal bar placed in the center of the flag.
1892–presentEnsign of Japan CustomsWhite represents land, blue represents sea, and the red disc represents the customs on a border.

Military flags

Self-Defense Force and Imperial Army/Navy

FlagDateUseDescription
1954–presentFlag of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Ground Self-Defense ForceA sun disc design with 8 red rays extending outward, and a gold border partially around the edge.
1889–1945Ensign of the Imperial Japanese NavySun disc with 16 rays on a white field, with the disc skewed to the hoist.
1945–presentEnsign of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense ForceSun disc with 16 rays on a white field, with the disc skewed to the hoist.
1955–1957Former ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense ForceUsed from 1955 to 1957.
1957–1972Former ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense ForceUsed from 1957 to 1972.
1972–2001Former ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense ForceUsed from 1972 to 2001.
2001–presentEnsign of the Japan Air Self-Defense ForceCurrent ensign, used since 2001.
1972–presentStandard of the prime minister of JapanFive cherry blossoms on a purple background.
1972–presentNaval standard of the prime minister of JapanFive cherry blossoms on a purple background.
1972–presentStandard of the minister of defense of JapanFive cherry blossoms on a magenta background.
1972–presentNaval standard of the minister of defense of JapanFive cherry blossoms on a magenta background.
1972–presentStandard of the vice minister of defense of JapanFour cherry blossoms on a magenta background.
1972–presentNaval standard of the vice minister of defense of JapanFour cherry blossoms on a magenta background.
Standard of Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
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–Standard of Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
1965–Standard of vice admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
1965–Standard of rear admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
1965–Standard of commodore of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force


1965–Standards of commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
1965–Standard of senior captain of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
1954–Masthead pennant of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
1905–1945, 2011–The "Z flag", unofficial naval ensignDerived from International maritime signal flag "Z" Made famous by its use to signal the opening of the Battle of Tsushima.
Flag of composite forces chief of staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
1972–Flag of infantry battalion group of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
1982–Flag of air defense command of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
1980–Flag of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force reserve
1870–1945War flag of the Imperial Japanese ArmyCentered sun disc with 16 rays on a white field.
1889–1945Standard of admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy
1914–1945Standard of vice admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy
1914–1945Standard of rear admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy
1914–1945Standard of commodore of the Imperial Japanese Navy
1914–1945Standard of commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy
1914–1945Standard of senior captain of the Imperial Japanese Navy
1870–1945Standard of duty ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Japan Coast Guard

FlagDateUseDescription
1951–Ensign of the Japan Coast GuardThe symbol represents a mariner's compass.
1951–Standard of the minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism
1951–Standard of the Japan Coast Guard commandant
1951–Standard of the commander of Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
1951–Flag of the commander

Historical flags

13th century-19th centuryMilitary Flag of the warriors loyal to Japanese court.A red field with a golden disc in the center and 3 sestiere on the fly.
1429–1879Merchant Flag of the Ryukyu Kingdom.A triangular yellow field with a red border and a red disc in the center.
1580–1587Flag of the Portuguese Empire used in Portuguese Nagasaki.A white field with a Portuguese coat of arms in the center.
1602–1871Flag of the Satsuma Domain.A horizontal bicolour of red and white.
1641–1854Flag used in DejimaA horizontal tricolor of red, white and blue.
1603–1868Naval ensign of the Tokugawa Shogunate.[1]A bicolour flag consisting of three bands; white, black, and white.
1905–1910Flag of the Resident General of Korea.A blue ensign with the Flag of Japan in the canton.
1945–1952Civil and naval ensign during the occupation of Japan.Derived from International maritime signal flag "E".
1797[2]–1879Flag of the Ryukyu Kingdom.Features a mitsudomoe, the symbol of the ruling Second Shō dynasty.
1950 (Jan–Mar)Proposed flag of Okinawa.Called the Okinawan Flag (沖縄旗) or the Ryukyu Flag (琉球旗), 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.
1952–1967Civil ensign during the occupation of Okinawa.Derived from International maritime signal flag "D".
1967–1972Civil ensign of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands.Ryukyus pennant above Japanese flag was used during U.S. occupation of Ryukyu Islands.

Daimyō Banners present in old paintings

Minorities

FlagDateUseDescription
(1996) 1994–Flag of MindanFlag of Mindan, 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.
1923–1945Flag of National Levelers Association / Buraku Liberation LeagueFlag of National Levelers Association, a burakumin rights group, and Buraku Liberation League, NLA's succeeding group. Named the Crown of Thorns Flag (荊冠旗, Keikanki). Black represents a dark society with discriminations. Red represents blood.
1945–Flag of Buraku Liberation LeagueThe current Buraku Liberation League flag, with a white star representing hope.
1973–Flag of Ainu.

Cultural flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1919–Flag of safetyNamed the Green Cross (緑十字, Midori-jūji). 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–Flag of industrial healthAnnounced by the Labour Standards Bureau, the Ministry of Labor of Japan (the current Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), over a public subscription.
1965–Flag of safety and healthDesigned by the Japan Industrial Safety & Health Association. These three flags are frequently flown on factories or construction sites.
1887–Postal flagThe 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 "symbol flags" (シンボル旗). They may be used on less formal occasions. Famous symbol flags include the one used in Tokyo.

FlagPrefectureGeocode
AichiJP-23
AkitaJP-05
AomoriJP-02
ChibaJP-12
EhimeJP-38
FukuiJP-18
FukuokaJP-40
FukushimaJP-07
GifuJP-21
GunmaJP-10
HiroshimaJP-34
HokkaidōJP-01
HyōgoJP-28
IbarakiJP-08
IshikawaJP-17
IwateJP-03
KagawaJP-37
KagoshimaJP-46
KanagawaJP-14
KarafutoN/A
KōchiJP-39
KumamotoJP-43
KyotoJP-26
MieJP-24
MiyagiJP-04
MiyazakiJP-45
NaganoJP-20
NagasakiJP-42
NaraJP-29
NiigataJP-15


ŌitaJP-44
OkayamaJP-33
OkinawaJP-47
ŌsakaJP-27
SagaJP-41
SaitamaJP-11
ShigaJP-25
ShimaneJP-32
ShizuokaJP-22
TochigiJP-09


TokushimaJP-36
TokyoJP-13
TottoriJP-31
ToyamaJP-16
WakayamaJP-30
YamagataJP-06
YamaguchiJP-35
YamanashiJP-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

FlagDatePartyDescription
Current
2017–presentTomin First no Kai
1995–presentIshin Seito Shimpu
Link to file1982–presentNational Socialist Japanese Workers' Party
1972–presentJapanese Communist Party
1970–presentKariyushi Club (Ryukyu Independence Movement)
1955–presentLiberal Democratic Party
1923–1942
1946–present		Rikken Yoseikaija
Former
2005–2013People's New Party
1960–1994Democratic Socialist Party
1945–1996Japan Socialist Party
1936–1944Tōhōkai
Other
1936The Righteous ArmyThe four characters reading "Revere the Emperor, Destroy the Traitors" (尊皇討奸) are placed in the corners of a standard Japanese flag.

References

  1. ↑ "Daimyo Flags, 19th Century".
  2. ↑ Itai Hidenobu 板井英伸 (2008). ""Naha-kō zu byōbu" ni miru 19 seiki Naha-kō no fune 『那覇港図屏風』にみる19世紀那覇港の船 (19th Century Boats in Naha Port as Depicted in the Naha Port Folding Screen)". Hikaku minzoku kenkyū 比較民俗研究 (in Japanese). 22 (22): 93–136. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
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