List of Japanese flags

This is a list of Japanese flags, past and present. Historically, each daimyō had his own flag. (See sashimono and uma-jirushi.)

National flags

Main article: Flag of Japan

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 – 12 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
	1926–present	Imperial standard of the regent of Japan	Similar to the standard of the emperor, but with a white border
	1926–present	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
	1926–present	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

See also: Rising Sun Flag

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	Sun disc with 16 rays on a white field, with the disc skewed to the hoist.
	1955–1957	Former ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force	Used from 1955 to 1957.
	1957–1972	Former ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force	Used from 1957 to 1972.
	1972–2001	Former ensign of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force	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.
	1972–present	Naval standard of the prime minister of Japan	Five cherry blossoms on a purple background.
	1972–present	Standard of the minister of defense of Japan	Five cherry blossoms on a magenta background.
	1972–present	Naval standard of the minister of defense of Japan	Five cherry blossoms on a magenta background.
	1972–present	Standard of the vice minister of defense of Japan	Four cherry blossoms on a magenta background.
	1972–present	Naval standard of the vice minister of defense of Japan	Four cherry blossoms on a magenta background.
		Standard of Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
		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–	Standard of Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
	1965–	Standard of vice admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
	1965–	Standard of rear admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
	1965–	Standard of commodore of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
	1965–	Standards of commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
	1965–	Standard of senior captain of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
	1954–	Masthead pennant of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
	1905–1945, 2011–	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.
		Flag of composite forces chief of staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
	1972–	Flag of infantry battalion group of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
	1982–	Flag of air defense command of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
	1980–	Flag of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force reserve
	1870–1945	War flag of the Imperial Japanese Army	Centered sun disc with 16 rays on a white field.
	1889–1945	Standard of admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy
	1914–1945	Standard of vice admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy
	1914–1945	Standard of rear admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy
	1914–1945	Standard of commodore of the Imperial Japanese Navy
	1914–1945	Standard of commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy
	1914–1945	Standard of senior captain of the Imperial Japanese Navy
	1870–1945	Standard of duty ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Japan Coast Guard

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1951–	Ensign of the Japan Coast Guard	The symbol represents a mariner's compass.
	1951–	Standard of the minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism
	1951–	Standard of the Japan Coast Guard commandant
	1951–	Standard of the commander of Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
	1951–	Flag of the commander

Historical flags

	13th–19th century	Military Flag of the warriors loyal to Japanese court.	A red field with a golden disc in the center and 3 sestiere on the fly.
	1429–1879	Merchant Flag of the Ryukyu Kingdom.	A triangular yellow field with a red border and a red disc in the center.
	1602–1871	Flag of the Satsuma Domain.	A horizontal bicolour of red and white.
	1641–1854	Flag used in Dejima	A horizontal tricolor of red, white and blue.
	1603–1868	Naval ensign of the Tokugawa Shogunate.[1]	A bicolour flag consisting of three bands; white, black, and white.
	1905–1910	Flag of the Resident General of Korea.	A blue ensign with the Flag of Japan in the canton.
	1945–1952	Civil and naval ensign during the occupation of Japan.	Derived from International maritime signal flag "E".
	1797[2]–1879	Flag of the Ryukyu Kingdom.	Features a mitsudomoe, the symbol of the ruling Second Shō dynasty.
	1950 (Jan–Mar)	Proposed flag of Okinawa.	Called the Okinawan Flag (沖縄旗) or the Ryukyu Flag (琉球旗), proposed by the Okinawa Civil Government. The US administration stated they would decide the flag after the foundation of the unified government of the islands. However, the flag was forgotten ever since. Red, white, and blue represent peace, freedom, and enthusiasm, respectively. A star represents hope.
	1952–1967	Civil ensign during the occupation of Okinawa.	Derived from International maritime signal flag "D".
	1967–1972	Civil ensign of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands.	Ryukyus pennant above Japanese flag was used during U.S. occupation of Ryukyu Islands.

Daimyō Banners present in old paintings

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  Ankokuji Ekei
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  Ankokuji Ekei
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  Arima Naozumi
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  Arima Noriyari
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  Arima Toyōji
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  Arima Toyōji
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  Chōsokabe Morichika
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  Chōsokabe Morichika
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  Date Hidemune
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  Date Masamune
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  Date Masamune
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  Date Masamune
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  Doi Toshikatsu
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  Doi Toshikatsu
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  Hachisuka Iemasa
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  Hayashi Katsumasa
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  Honda Masatomo
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  Hori Naoyori
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  Hoshina Masayuki
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  Hoshina Masayuki
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  Hosokawa Mitsunao
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  Hosokawa Tadaoki
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  Hosokawa Tadatoshi
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  Ii Naotaka
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  Ikeda Mitsumasa
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  Ikoma Takatoshi
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  Inoue Masatsugu
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  Ishida Mitsunari
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  Ishida Mitsunari
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  Katō Akinari
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  Katō Kiyomasa
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  Kawajiri Hidetaka
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  Kikkawa Hiroie
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  Kikkawa Hiroie
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  Kobayakawa Hideaki
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  Kobayakawa Hideaki
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  Konishi Yukinaga
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  Kuroda Tadayuki
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  Kuroda Tadayuki
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  Kuroda Nagamasa
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  Kyōgoku Takatomo
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  Kyōgoku Takatsugu
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  Makino Narizumi
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  Matsudaira Tadakatsu
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  Matsudaira Chikatoki
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  Matsudaira Mitsunaga
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  Matsudaira Naomasa
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  Matsudaira Naonori
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  Matsudaira Nobutsuna
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  Matsudaira Nobutsuna
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  Matsudaira Shigenao
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  Matsudaira Tadaaki
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  Matsudaira Tadaaki
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  Matsudaira Tadamasa
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  Matsudaira Tadamasa
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  Matsudaira Terusada
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  Matsukura Katsuie
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  Mizuno Katsunari
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  Mizuno Katsunari
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  Mōri Hidemoto
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  Mōri Hidenari
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  Mori Nagatsugu
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  Nabeshima Katsushige
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  Nabeshima Katsushige
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  Nabeshima Motoshige
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  Nabeshima Tadanao
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  Nabeshima Tadanao
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  Nagai Naomasa
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  Nanbu Shigenao
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  Natsuka Masaie
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  Natsuka Masaie
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  Niwa Nagahide
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  Niwa Nagahide
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  Oda Nobunaga
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  Oda Nobunaga
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  Oda Nobutaka
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  Ogasawara Nagatsugu
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  Ogasawara Tadazane
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  Ogasawara Tadazane
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  Ogasawara Tadazane
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  Okudaira Iemasa
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  Okudaira Iemasa
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  Ōtani Yoshitsugu
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  Sakai Ietsugu
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  Sakai Ietsugu
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  Sakai Tadakatsu
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  Sakai Tadakiyo
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  Sakikibara Motonao
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  Satake Yoshinobu
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  Satake Yoshinobu
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  Shibata Katsuie
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  Shimazu Mitsuhisa
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  Shimazu Yoshihiro
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  Sō Yoshitoshi
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  Tachibana Muneshige
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  Tachibana Muneshige
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  Tachibana Tadashige
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  Terazawa Katataka
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  Toda Kazuaki
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  Toda Kazuaki
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  Toda Ujikane
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  Toda Ujinobu
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  Tōdō Takatora
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  Tōdō Takatora
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  Tokugawa Hidetada
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  Tokugawa Hidetada
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  Tokugawa Ieyasu
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  Tokugawa Yorifusa
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  Tokugawa Yorinobu
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  Tokugawa Yorinobu
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  Tokugawa Yoshinao
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  Toyotomi Hidetsugu
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  Toyotomi Hidetsugu
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  Toyotomi Hideyoshi
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  Tsutsui Junkei
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  Uesugi Kagekatsu
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  Uesugi Mochifusa
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  Ukita Hideie
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  Yamauchi Kazutoyo

Minorities

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	(1996) 1994–[citation needed]	Flag of Mindan	Flag of Mindan, a pro-South organization of Zainichi Koreans. The pink flower surrounding the taegeuk is a hibiscus syriacus, the national flower of South Korea. The formal name of the society (Zainihon Daikanminkoku Mindan) is written in kanji in white, and the abbreviation (Mindan) is written in hangul in yellow. The blue field of the flag stands for clear sky and sea.
	1923–1945[citation needed]	Flag of National Levelers Association / Buraku Liberation League	Flag of National Levelers Association, a burakumin rights group, and Buraku Liberation League, NLA's succeeding group. Named the Crown of Thorns Flag (荊冠旗, Keikanki). Black represents a dark society with discriminations. Red represents blood.
	1945–[citation needed]	Flag of Buraku Liberation League	The current Buraku Liberation League flag, with a white star representing hope.
	1973–[citation needed]	Flag of Ainu	.

Cultural flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1919–	Flag of safety	Named the Green Cross (緑十字, Midori-jūji). Designed by Toshifumi Gamō as the symbol of the governmental "safety week" campaign. The cross represents philanthropism in Western sense, and the place where good deeds gather in Oriental sense. JIS Z9103-1986 designates the symbol as the safety indication sign.
	1953–	Flag of industrial health	Announced by the Labour Standards Bureau, the Ministry of Labor of Japan (the current Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), over a public subscription.
	1965–	Flag of safety and health	Designed by the Japan Industrial Safety & Health Association. These three flags are frequently flown on factories or construction sites.
	1887–	Postal flag	The Postal symbol, 〒, on a white field.

Prefectural flags

Main article: List of flags from Japanese subregions

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.

Flag	Prefecture	Geocode
	Aichi	JP-23
	Akita	JP-05
	Aomori	JP-02
	Chiba	JP-12
	Ehime	JP-38
	Fukui	JP-18
	Fukuoka	JP-40
	Fukushima	JP-07
	Gifu	JP-21
	Gunma	JP-10
	Hiroshima	JP-34
	Hokkaido	JP-01
	Hyōgo	JP-28
	Ibaraki	JP-08
	Ishikawa	JP-17
	Iwate	JP-03
	Kagawa	JP-37
	Kagoshima	JP-46
	Kanagawa	JP-14
	Karafuto	N/A
	Kōchi	JP-39
	Kumamoto	JP-43
	Kyoto	JP-26
	Mie	JP-24
	Miyagi	JP-04
	Miyazaki	JP-45
	Nagano	JP-20
	Nagasaki	JP-42
	Nara	JP-29
	Niigata	JP-15
	ŌitaŌita	JP-44
	Okayama	JP-33
	Okinawa	JP-47
	Ōsaka	JP-27
	Saga	JP-41
	Saitama	JP-11
	Shiga	JP-25
	Shimane	JP-32
	Shizuoka	JP-22
	Tochigi	JP-09
	Tokushima	JP-36
	Tokyo	JP-13
	Tottori	JP-31
	Toyama	JP-16
	Wakayama	JP-30
	Yamagata	JP-06
	Yamaguchi	JP-35
	Yamanashi	JP-19

Municipal flags

Main article: Lists of Japanese 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

Flag	Date	Party	Description
Current
	2017–present	Tomin First no Kai
	1995–present	Ishin Seito Shimpu
	1982–present	National Socialist Japanese Workers' Party
	1972–present	Japanese Communist Party
	1970–present	Kariyushi Club (Ryukyu Independence Movement)
	1955–present	Liberal Democratic Party
	1923–1942 1946–present	Rikken Yoseikaija
Former
	2005–2013	People's New Party
	1960–1994	Democratic Socialist Party
	1945–1996	Japan Socialist Party
	1936–1944	Tōhōkai
Other
	1936	The Righteous Army	The four characters reading "Revere the Emperor, Destroy the Traitors" (尊皇討奸) are placed in the corners of a standard Japanese flag.

References

1. "Daimyo Flags, 19th Century".
2. 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.