Japan’s national flag is a white rectangle with a red disc in the centre representing the sun. It is commonly called the Hinomaru, meaning “circle of the sun.”

What does the Japanese flag look like?

The design is exceptionally simple: a crimson-red circular disc centred on a white field. Its official name in Japanese law is the Nisshōki, or “sun-mark flag.”

Why a sun?

Japan has long been associated with the rising sun because of its position east of the Asian mainland and because solar imagery has deep connections with Japanese imperial and religious tradition.

History and legal status

Sun-disc banners have been used in Japan for centuries. The Hinomaru became the standard national flag for merchant and official use during the Meiji period in the nineteenth century. A 1999 law formally established the Nisshōki as Japan’s national flag.

Japan flag facts

• Common name: Hinomaru
• Official name: Nisshōki
• Colors: white and crimson red
• National flag law: 1999