Flag of Japan
Asia
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Flag adopted
- 1999
- Population
- 123,210,000
- Area
- 377,930 km²
- Languages
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese yen (¥) — JPY
- Demonym
- Japanese
- Government
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Subregion
- Eastern Asia
- Driving side
- Left
- Timezones
- UTC+09:00
- Independence
- 1947
Religions
- Shintoism 48.6%
- Buddhist 46.4%
- Other 4%
- Christian 1.1%
About This Flag
The flag of Japan, officially called Nisshoki ('sun-mark flag') and commonly known as Hinomaru ('circle of the sun'), is a white rectangular field with a crimson-red disc at its center. The design embodies Japan's identity as the 'Land of the Rising Sun,' a name derived from the country's position east of the Asian mainland.
The sun disc motif has been associated with Japan since at least the 7th century, when Emperor Monmu used a sun-emblem flag in his court. Although the Hinomaru was used de facto for centuries, particularly by feudal lords and the Meiji government, it was not formally designated as the national flag by law until August 13, 1999, under the Act on National Flag and Anthem.
What the colors & design mean
The white field represents honesty, purity, and the integrity of the Japanese people. The red disc symbolizes the sun, central to Japanese mythology as the goddess Amaterasu, the divine ancestor of the imperial line, is the deity of the sun.
Pattern: Solid Field
Fun Facts
- Despite being one of the world's most recognizable flags, the Hinomaru was not legally established as the national flag until 1999 — for over a century it was used by custom rather than law.
- The earliest recorded use of the sun-disc motif dates to Emperor Monmu's court in 701 AD, making the design concept over 1,300 years old.
- During the feudal period, various daimyo (lords) used the Hinomaru on their ships and in battle, and it became associated with Japan internationally through maritime trade.
- The 1999 law specifies the exact crimson shade and that the disc must be centered with a diameter three-fifths of the flag's height.
Similar looking flags
These flags share similar colors and patterns:
More Asia Flags
🇦🇫 Afghanistan · 🇦🇲 Armenia · 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan · 🇧🇭 Bahrain · 🇧🇩 Bangladesh · 🇧🇹 Bhutan · 🇧🇳 Brunei · 🇰🇭 Cambodia
Explore by Category
Test Your Knowledge!
Think you can identify the flag of Japan?
Play Flag Quiz