Hinomaru: Japan’s Flag and Its Complex History

Japan’s national flag, the hinomaru, a red sun disk on a white background, traces its roots to ancient sun worship and the country’s identity as the “land of the rising sun.” While depictions of the sun appear in Japanese ceremonies as early as 701, the specific design of the hinomaru emerged between the 12th and 19th centuries, possibly during times of war. It gained official status in 1854 as a maritime flag, but full legal recognition as the national flag only came in 1999, nearly 130 years later.

The delay in formalizing the flag’s status stemmed from its association with Japanese militarism following World War II and resistance from those who opposed its display. A tragic 1999 suicide by a school principal caught between enforcing flag protocols and staff objections ultimately spurred the passage of the Act on the National Flag and Anthem.

Even the precise shade of red used in the hinomaru was a point of deliberation. For the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, officials analyzed 500 household flags to determine the most common shade and standardize the color.