This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present. Historically, each daimyō had his own flag. (See sashimono and uma-jirushi.)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Japan.
National flags
Imperial flags
Governmental flags
Military flags
Self-Defense Force and Imperial Army/Navy
Japan Coast Guard
Historical flags
Daimyō Banners present in old paintings
Arima Noriyari
Arima Toyōji
Arima Toyōji
Hayashi Katsumasa
Honda Masatomo
Hori Naoyori
Inoue Masatsugu
Katō Akinari
Kuroda Tadayuki
Kuroda Tadayuki
Makino Narizumi
Matsudaira Tadakatsu
Matsudaira Chikatoki
Matsudaira Mitsunaga
Matsudaira Naomasa
Matsudaira Naonori
Matsudaira Shigenao
Matsudaira Tadaaki
Matsudaira Tadaaki
Matsudaira Terusada
Mizuno Katsunari
Mizuno Katsunari
Mori Nagatsugu
Nabeshima Tadanao
Nabeshima Tadanao
Ogasawara Nagatsugu
Okudaira Iemasa
Okudaira Iemasa
Ōtani Yoshitsugu
Sakai Ietsugu
Sakai Ietsugu
Sakikibara Motonao
Shimazu Mitsuhisa
Tachibana Tadashige
Terazawa Katataka
Toda Ujinobu
Uesugi Mochifusa
Minorities
Cultural flags
Prefectural flags
Each modern prefecture has a unique flag, most often a bicolour geometric highly stylised design (mon), often incorporating the letters of Japanese writing system and resembling company logos. A distinct feature of these flags is that they use a palette of colours not usually found in flags, including orange, purple, aquamarine and brown.
Some prefectures also have alternative official flags called "symbol flags" (シンボル旗). They may be used on less formal occasions. Famous symbol flags include the one used in Tokyo.
Municipal flags
Most municipalities have unique flags. Like prefectural flags, most of them are with a bicolour geometric highly stylized symbol, often incorporating Japanese characters.
Political flags
References
- ^ "Daimyo Flags, 19th Century".
- ^ Itai Hidenobu 板井英伸 (2008). ""Naha-kō zu byōbu" ni miru 19 seiki Naha-kō no fune 『那覇港図屏風』にみる19世紀那覇港の船 (19th Century Boats in Naha Port as Depicted in the Naha Port Folding Screen)". Hikaku minzoku kenkyū 比較民俗研究 (in Japanese). 22 (22): 93–136. Retrieved June 17, 2018.