A Clarification for International Audiences
Executive Summary
The Rising Sun flag has become a subject of international debate, particularly in East Asia. This document presents Japan’s official position and historical context to promote accurate understanding of this symbol in the international community.
1. Japan’s Official Position
The Japanese government maintains that claims characterizing the flag as an expression of political assertions or a symbol of militarism are absolutely false, and that displaying the Rising Sun Flag is not political promotion.
Japanese government officials have explained that the rising sun flag is a celebratory flag that has been associated with joyful events such as childbirth and festivals by Japanese people since ancient times, and is in no way a political promotion.
2. Historical and Cultural Context
Ancient Origins
The symbolism of the rising sun has held meaning in Japan since the Asuka period (538-710 CE). In 607 CE, an official correspondence beginning with “from the Emperor of the rising sun” was sent to the Chinese Emperor Yang of Sui. Japan is often referred to as “the land of the rising sun,” and the Japanese word for Japan, Nihon or Nippon, literally means “the origin of the Sun.”
In the 12th century work The Tale of the Heike, it was documented that different samurai carried drawings of the Sun on their fans.
Modern Usage
The flag was originally used by feudal warlords in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868 AD). The rising sun design is seen in numerous scenes in daily life in Japan, such as in fishermen’s banners hoisted to signify large catches of fish, flags to celebrate childbirth, and in flags for seasonal festivities.
Commercially, the Rising Sun Flag is used on many products, designs, clothing, posters, beer cans (Asahi Breweries), newspapers (Asahi Shimbun), and in various media including manga, comics, anime, movies, and video games.
3. Current Official Use
Maritime Self-Defense Force
Japan’s naval vessels must display the ensign under domestic laws, according to the Self-Defense Forces Act. Moreover, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea mandates that warships must bear an external mark distinguishing the ship’s nationality.
The flag is presently flown by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and an eight-ray version is flown by the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Legal Status
The JSDF Rising Sun Flag was adopted by a law/order/decree published in the Official Gazette of June 30, 1954.
4. International Precedents and Comparisons
Similar Solar Symbols Worldwide
Japan notes that the design of the rising sun is used throughout the world, and similar designs are used internationally, for example, the flags of the Republic of North Macedonia, State of Arizona (US), and State of Lara (Venezuela).
Distinction from Nazi Symbolism
The comparison to the Nazi swastika is factually inaccurate for several key reasons:
- Historical Duration: The Rising Sun design has been used in Japan for over 1,000 years, predating modern nationalism by centuries. The Nazi swastika was adopted specifically by a political party in 1920 and used for only 25 years.
- Ideological Association: The Nazi Party adopted the swastika as its official flag and it became a clear symbol of Aryan racial supremacy and anti-Semitism. The Rising Sun has no equivalent ideological foundation tied to racial supremacy.
- Legal Treatment: While perpetrators of the Holocaust were prosecuted at Nuremberg and Nazi organizations were condemned as “criminal,” no equivalent treatment was meted out to any Japanese organization.
- Current Prohibition: The Nazi flag is banned in Germany and across Europe. The Rising Sun flag remains the official ensign of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and is widely used in civilian life.
5. Historical Context and Regional Perspectives
Acknowledgment of Concerns
Japan recognizes that some neighboring countries, particularly South Korea and China, associate the flag with historical grievances from the period of Japanese imperialism (1895-1945).
Timeline of the Modern Controversy
The current Rising Sun flag controversy originated from a specific incident on January 25, 2011, during the AFC Asian Cup semi-final match between Japan and South Korea. After scoring a penalty kick, South Korean player Ki Sung-yueng performed a monkey gesture, which drew significant criticism in Japan as a racist act.
The following day, Ki posted on Twitter claiming that he had been upset by seeing Rising Sun flags in the stadium, attempting to justify his actions. However, subsequent investigations found no evidence that Rising Sun flags were present at the match venue. Furthermore, Ki later changed his explanation, claiming the gesture was a protest against racist treatment he had received from St Johnstone fans in Scotland, demonstrating inconsistency in his account.
This incident triggered an organized campaign in South Korea to characterize the Rising Sun flag as a “war crime flag.” In 2012, Koreans living in New York formed a political group called “The Citizens Against War Criminal Symbolism” and started an international campaign to equate the Rising Sun Flag with the Nazi swastika. The same year, the neologism “war crime flag” (전범기) was first coined and began to be used in South Korea.
Problems with the “War Crime Flag” Terminology
The term “war crime flag” is a neologism created in South Korea in 2012 and has no basis in international law or historical scholarship.
Why this terminology is problematic:
- Lack of Legal Basis: The concept of a “war crime flag” does not exist in international law. War crimes are committed by individuals and organizations, not by flags themselves.
- Arbitrary Standards: If this logic were applied consistently, the national flags of many countries used during World War II should be similarly condemned. However, South Korea does not make such claims about other nations’ flags.
- Double Standards: The South Korean military committed numerous documented war crimes during the Vietnam War (1964-1973), including civilian massacres, rape, and village burnings. By the same logic, the Taegeukgi (South Korean flag) should be criticized as “a flag that evokes war crimes,” yet South Korea has not adequately acknowledged this history.
- Selective Use of History: South Korea raised no objections to the Rising Sun flag used by Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force from 1952 to 2010. The sudden problematization beginning in 2011 suggests this issue is based more on political motives than historical facts.
- Recently Manufactured Controversy: Google Trends and Naver Trend data show that search interest in the Rising Sun flag in South Korea was essentially zero before 2011, with the first major spike occurring during the week of January 24-30, 2011 (coinciding with Ki’s incident). This demonstrates that the current controversy is not rooted in longstanding historical grievance but is a recently constructed political narrative.
Previous Acceptance
South Korea did not object to Japan’s adoption of the Rising Sun Flag for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in 1952, nor to the entry into South Korean ports of Japanese warships flying the flag at the 1998 and 2008 navy fleet reviews held in South Korea.
This historical acceptance demonstrates that the current controversy is relatively recent rather than a longstanding position.
6. International Community Response
Olympic Games Position
Media reports said Japan’s organizing committee ruled the flag isn’t banned inside Olympic stadiums, with Tokyo 2020 stating that the flag itself is not considered to be a political statement.
Expert Perspectives
According to Professor Leif-Eric Easley at Ewha University in Seoul, it would be inappropriate to ban the flag from naval exchanges because a version is used by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces.
7. Key Points for Understanding
What the Flag Represents to Japan
- Cultural Heritage: A symbol with over 1,000 years of history in Japanese culture
- Natural Phenomenon: Representation of the sun rising over the Japanese archipelago
- Celebratory Symbol: Used in festivals, sporting events, and joyous occasions
- National Identity: Part of Japan’s legitimate military and cultural symbolism
- Legal Requirement: Mandated by law for Self-Defense Force vessels
Japan’s Approach to Historical Issues
Japan maintains that:
- The Rising Sun flag predates and transcends the 1895-1945 period of imperialism
- The flag’s historical and cultural significance extends far beyond any particular era
- Contemporary use of the flag is not intended as political statement or glorification of militarism
- Japan respects that other nations have different perspectives while maintaining its own position
8. Distinguishing Features
Design Variations
There are important distinctions between different versions:
- Imperial Japanese Army Flag (1870-1945): 16 symmetrical rays, 2:3 ratio – no longer in use
- Current JSDF Flag (1954-present): 8 asymmetrical rays, 8:9 ratio – significantly different design
- Commercial and Cultural Uses: Various artistic interpretations for civilian purposes
9. International Law Considerations
Maritime Law
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea mandates that warships must bear an external mark distinguishing the ship’s nationality, which is exactly what the flag in question serves as.
Freedom of Expression
In democratic societies, symbols with complex histories are generally addressed through dialogue and education rather than prohibition, unless they represent clear threats to public order or are legally designated as hate symbols by international consensus.
10. Moving Forward
Japan’s Commitment
Japan continues to:
- Engage in dialogue with neighboring countries
- Explain its position respectfully at international forums
- Maintain its cultural traditions while being sensitive to regional concerns
- Honor its international legal obligations regarding military insignia
Call for Mutual Understanding
Japan seeks mutual understanding based on:
- Recognition of the flag’s extensive pre-modern history
- Acknowledgment of the legal status of military ensigns under international law
- Respect for different cultural interpretations while maintaining national traditions
- Dialogue rather than unilateral demands for prohibition
Conclusion
The Rising Sun flag is an integral part of Japanese cultural heritage with over a millennium of history. While Japan acknowledges that some neighboring nations view the flag through the lens of 20th-century conflicts, the symbol’s significance extends far beyond any single historical period.
Japan will continue to explain at every opportunity its view that the display of the Rising Sun Flag is not political promotion, to the international community.
Understanding this issue requires recognizing both the depth of Japanese cultural attachment to this symbol and the sensitivities of neighboring countries, while maintaining perspective on historical facts, international law, and the fundamental differences between this flag and genuinely prohibited symbols like the Nazi swastika.
Additional Resources
For more information on Japan’s official position:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/rp/page22e_000892.html
- National Institute for Defense Studies Commentary
- Japanese Government Official Statements
This document is intended for educational and informational purposes to promote accurate understanding of Japan’s position on the Rising Sun flag in international discourse.