List of Japanese flags
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:31:01 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present. Historically, each daimyō had his own flag. (See sashimono and uma-jirushi.)
Tables
· National flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| | 13 August 1999 – present | Civil and state flag and ensign of Japan. | Flag ratio: 2:3. This flag was designated by Proclamation No. 127, 1999. The sun-disc is perfectly centered and is a brighter shade of red. |
| | 27 February 1870 – 13 August 1999 | Civil and state flag and ensign of the Empire of Japan, and the Japanese state. | Flag ratio: 7:10. Disc is shifted 1% towards the hoist (left). This flag was designated by Proclamation No. 57, 1870. |
· Imperial flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| | 1869–present | Imperial standard of the Emperor of Japan | A gold 16 petal chrysanthemum centered on a red background |
| | 2019–present | Imperial standard of the Emperor Emeritus | Similar to the standard of the Emperor, but with a darker background |
| | 1926–present | Imperial standard of the Empress, the Empress Dowager, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Emerita | A pennant of the standard of the Emperor |
| | Imperial standard of the Regent of Japan | Similar to the standard of the Emperor, but with a white border | |
| | Imperial standard of the heir imperial son and the imperial grandson who is an heir apparent | Similar to the standard of the Emperor, but with a white orle | |
| | Imperial standard of the wife of the heir imperial son and the wife of the imperial grandson | A pennant of the standard of the heir imperial son | |
| | 2020–present | Imperial standard of the Crown Prince if not the son of the Emperor | A gold 16-petaled chrysanthemum centered on a white background with a red orle and border |
| | 1926–present | Imperial standard of other members of the Imperial House | Similar to the standard of the Crown Prince, but without the red orle |
· Governmental flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| | 1872–1887 | Ensign of Japan Post | Hinomaru with a red horizontal bar placed in the center of the flag. |
| | 1892–present | Ensign of Japan Customs | White represents land, blue represents sea, and the red disc represents the customs on a border. |
· Military flags › Self-Defense Force and Imperial Army/Navy
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| | 1954–present | Flag of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | A sun disc design with 8 red rays extending outward, and a gold border partially around the edge. |
| | 1889–1945 | Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy | Sun disc with 16 rays on a white field, with the disc skewed to the hoist. |
| | 1945–present | Ensign of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | |
| | 1955–1957 | Former ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force | Used from 1955 to 1957. |
| | 1957–1972 | Used from 1957 to 1972. | |
| | 1972–2001 | Used from 1972 to 2001. | |
| | 2001–present | Ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force | Current ensign, used since 2001. |
| | 1972–present | Standard of the Prime Minister of Japan | Five cherry blossoms on a purple background. |
| | Naval standard of the Prime Minister of Japan | ||
| | Standard of the Minister of Defense of Japan | Five cherry blossoms on a magenta background. | |
| | Naval standard of the Minister of Defense of Japan | ||
| | Standard of the Vice Minister of Defense of Japan | Four cherry blossoms on a magenta background. | |
| | Naval standard of the Vice Minister of Defense of Japan | ||
| | Standard of Chief of Staff, Joint Staff | ||
| | 2025–present | Standard of Commander, Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command | |
| | 2024–present | Standard of Commander of Joint Unit | |
| | Standard of Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | ||
| | Standard of Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | ||
| | 1982–present | Standard of Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force | |
| | 1965–present | Standard of vice admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | |
| | Standard of rear admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | ||
| | Standard of commodore of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | ||
| | Standards of commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | ||
| | |||
| | Standard of senior captain of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | ||
| | 1954–present | Masthead pennant of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | |
| | 1905–1945; 2011–present | The "Z flag", unofficial naval ensign | Derived from International maritime signal flag "Z" Made famous by its use to signal the opening of the Battle of Tsushima. |
| | 1999–present | Standard of the army commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | Established in March 1999. |
| | Standard of the divisional commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force | Army commander's flag until March 1999. | |
| | Standard of the brigade commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | The brigade commander's flag is the flag of the six brigades that were reorganized from the four divisions and two combined brigades, and newly established in March 1999. | |
| | The brigade commander's flag is the flag of other brigades. It was used as a flag for divisional commanders until March 1999. | ||
| | Until 1999 | Standard of the former brigade commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | It was used until March 1999. This flag was used not only major general but also when the colonel was the brigade commander. |
| | 1972–present | Flag of infantry battalion of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | |
| | 1982–2001 | Standard of lieutenant general of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force | Standard of the commander in chief of the air defense command of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force from 1982 until 2001. |
| | 1982–2001 | Standard of major general of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force | Standard of the air division commander of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force from 1982 until 2001. |
| | 1980–present | Flag of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force reserve | |
| | 1870–1945 | War flag of the Imperial Japanese Army | White field with a centered red disc and 16 red sun rays radiating to the edges. |
| | 1945–present | War flag of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | |
| | 1889–1945 | Standard of admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy | |
| | 1914–1945 | Standard of vice admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy | |
| | Standard of rear admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy | ||
| | Standard of commodore of the Imperial Japanese Navy | ||
| | Standard of commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy | ||
| | Standard of senior captain of the Imperial Japanese Navy | ||
| | 1870–1945 | Standard of duty ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy |
· Military flags › Japan Coast Guard
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
| | 1951–present | Ensign of the Japan Coast Guard | The symbol represents a mariner's compass. |
| | Standard of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | ||
| | Standard of the Japan Coast Guard commandant | ||
| | Standard of the commander of Regional Coast Guard Headquarters | ||
| | Flag of the commander |
References
- "Daimyo Flags, 19th Century"https://www.fotw.info/flags/jp_daimy.html#tok