The Real Reason Japan’s National Flag Was Legally Changed in 1999
Japan’s red circle on white, called the Hinomaru, had long served as the country’s flag. It flew over schools, ships, and international gatherings, yet it was never officially recognized by law. That changed in 1999 after a national debate erupted following a school dispute that ended in tragedy. The incident pushed lawmakers to pass a bill that finally gave the flag its legal status, surprising many who thought it already had one.
The Flag Lost Its Legal Standing in 1885
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Japan first declared the Hinomaru its national flag in 1870 under the early Meiji government. It was designed for merchant ships and helped identify Japanese vessels during international trade. As the country began modernizing, the flag gradually came to symbolize national unity and was displayed on land as well. But in 1885, the government revised its legal code and eliminated older laws that hadn’t been reprinted in new statutes.
Among the discarded rules was the 1870 order that made the flag official. That legal gap left Japan without a national flag by definition, even though citizens and institutions kept using the Hinomaru as a de facto symbol. The red circle continued to appear in official portraits, ceremonies, and military contexts throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It remained one of Japan’s most visible icons, just not one recognized in law for well over a hundred years.
The Postwar Period Made Symbolism Contentious
After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the Hinomaru’s meaning became deeply complicated. During the Allied occupation, use of national symbols was tightly controlled by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP). Anyone wanting to display the flag had to obtain approval. These restrictions softened in later years, but the stigma surrounding the symbol remained.
To many inside Japan, the flag had come to represent the militarism and imperial expansion that devastated Asia during the first half of the 20th century. For others, it was simply the national emblem and a part of their identity, rather than an ideology.
That divide made it politically risky for leaders to pursue official recognition. In 1974, lawmakers attempted to reestablish the flag’s legal status but faced strong opposition rooted in the country’s pacifist constitution and collective memory of the war. The conversation lingered in politics and education for decades without resolution, which created tension every time schools or officials displayed the flag.
A Principal’s Death Forced a National Reckoning
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The long-standing controversy took a tragic turn in 1999. Toshihiro Ishikawa, principal of Sera High School in Hiroshima Prefecture, became trapped in an impossible situation. The prefectural education board ordered schools to use the Hinomaru and play “Kimigayo,” the national anthem, during ceremonies. Many teachers resisted and said the icons were tied to the country’s wartime history.
Ishikawa found himself torn between obeying official directives and respecting his faculty’s strong objections. Under growing pressure and unable to find a compromise, he took his own life. His death shocked Japan and pushed the issue into national headlines.
Politicians realized the debate could no longer be ignored. The tragedy transformed what had been a quiet bureaucratic matter into a moral and cultural crisis and led to calls for clarity through legislation. For the first time in decades, there was political consensus that Japan needed to legally define its national symbols to prevent future conflicts like this one.
Parliament Passed the Law Amid Ongoing Debate
After years of hesitation, Japan’s parliament acted swiftly following the public reaction to Ishikawa’s death. The government, led by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, introduced the National Flag and Anthem Law to formally designate the Hinomaru and “Kimigayo” as national symbols. The House of Representatives passed the bill on July 22, 1999, by a vote of 403 to 86.
Consequently, the House of Councillors approved it shortly after, with 166 votes in favor and 71 against. The law went into effect on August 13. Its passage ended 114 years of uncertainty over the flag’s status.