Rising Sun Flag
Naval ensign, flown by ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (1889–1947) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. (1954–present) Flag ratio: 2:3
War flag of the Imperial Japanese Army. (1870–1945)
The flag of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.The Rising Sun Flag (旭日旗, Kyokujitsu-ki) is a Sunburst pattern flag of Japan.[1] [2] [3] It is used as the sign of good luck in celebration or festival, the emblem of a family or organization, the flag of fishing vessels and the ensign of the Japanese Self-Defense Force. The design is also incorporated into many commercial products and advertisements.
Design
The design is similar to the flag of Japan in that it has a red circle close to the middle signifying the sun, the difference being the addition of 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.[4] The Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy both had a version of the flag; the naval ensign was off-set, with the red sun closer to the lanyard side, while the army's version (which was part of the regimental colors) was centered. It was adopted in 1889. The flag was used in overseas actions from the Meiji period to World War II. When Japan was defeated in August 1945 and the Imperial Army and Navy were dissolved, the flag fell into disuse. However with the re-establishment of a Self-Defense Force the flag was re-adopted in 1954. The flag with 16 rays is today the ensign of the Maritime Self-Defense Force while the Ground Self-Defense Force uses an 8-ray version.[5]
Present-day perception
In the last few years, this flag is considered offensive in countries which were victims of Japanese aggression, specifically in China and the Koreas,[6][7] where it is considered to be associated with Japanese militarism and imperialism. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Japanese fans were warned not to fly the flag as it would cause offense and trouble with the Chinese.[8][9] In Japan itself the flag is sometimes seen at sporting events and protests by extreme right-wing groups.[7] The Rising Sun flag also appears on commercial product labels, such as on the cans of one variety of Asahi Breweries lager beer.[10] The design is also incorporated into the flag of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun as well as banners called Tairyō-ki (大漁旗, Good Catch Flag) flown by fishermen.
Examples of the Rising Sun flag in use
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Satsuma Rebellion: Battle of Shiroyama 1877. (1880 painting) -
Flag of the Asahi Shinbun Company. -
Emperor Hirohito flying the flag in 1902. -
IJA troops in Manchuria, 1931. -
Crew members aboard Shokaku launching the attack on Pearl Harbor with the naval ensign above, 1941.
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JGSDF troops, April 2007. -
JMSDF crew members aboard JDS Kongo (DDG 173) with the naval ensign on top of the ship, October 2007. -
A truck of a Japanese right-wing group near Yasukuni shrine. -
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See also
References
- ^ various. "Tiezou mini". Asahi Shimbun Pubications Inc.
- ^ various. "Digital Daijisen". Shogakukan Inc.
- ^ various. "Daijirin 3rd ed". Sanseido Co.,Ltd.
- ^ "海軍旗の由来". kwn.ne.jp. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ Phil Nelson. "Japanese military flags". Flags Of The World. Flagspot.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ 袁, 炯贤 (11 August 2006). "赵薇欲代言抗日网游洗刷"军旗装事件"之辱". 新华通讯 (Xinhua News Agency). Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ a b "욱일승천기 (旭日昇天旗)". doopedia (두산백과). Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ Okamura, Naoto (8 August 2008). "Japan fans warned about rising sun flag". Reuters. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Japan fans warned about rising sun flag". Japan Probe. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Asahi Beer New Design". Japan Visitor Blog. December 12, 2011.
