The Japanese flag shows a red circle on a white background. The circle represents the sun, which is reflected in the flag’s Japanese name, Hinomaru, meaning “circle of the sun.”
Japan is often called the “Land of the Rising Sun,” partly because of its position east of the Asian mainland and partly because the sun has longstanding cultural and mythological importance in Japan. The central red disc therefore gives the flag a direct visual connection to the country’s identity.
The design is known officially as the Nisshōki, while Hinomaru is the more familiar everyday name. Japan’s flag has been used in various forms for centuries, and it was recognized for use on Japanese commercial ships in 1870. Its status and symbolism became politically sensitive because of Japan’s wartime history.
The modern flag’s proportions and design were formally defined in Japan’s 1999 national-flag law. It is important not to confuse the national flag with the Rising Sun flag used by Japan’s military, which adds rays extending from the sun. The national flag has a simple, solid red disc with no rays.