Short look

That flat one doesn’t deserve anything better

Hopefully, Japan has learned that if you start a war, then you should be prepared to get spanked.

A woman carries an Imperial Japanese flag

To be entirely accurate it's not actually an Imperial Japanese flag. It's the JMSDF naval ensign still used today.

https://www.mod.go.jp/e/p_affair/answers/flag/index.html

Flags and Jean shorts? I can surmise the flag bearer didn't vote. she, the cats mother is more willing to wander around in a permanent level of foolish sufferance .

To be entirely accurate

Its still the flag flown during the period abe and his ilk fondly refer to as the good ol'days. The fact that's it's still around now goes to show how genuinely 'apologetic' japans been towards its atrocious past.

That flag will come in handy to patch the rear end of her raggedy pants.

The fact that's it's still around now goes to show how genuinely 'apologetic' japans been towards its atrocious past.

Are you suggesting that a country must cut ties with all long established and historic symbols and motifs after losing a war? Angela Merkel still flies around on a plane with the Luftwaffe iron cross insignia, and America has now killed more civilians than the Taliban in their lost war in Afghanistan. Are you prepared to hold other countries to the same standard?

 Are you prepared to hold other countries to the same standard

100% yes. If the swastika isn't making a comeback, neither should the imperial flag.

100% yes. If the swastika isn't making a comeback, neither should the imperial flag.

It seems like you're prepared to draw a distinction between the swastika and the iron cross. Why? Is it because one was used exclusively by the Nazi regime while the other pre-dates the Nazis and has a decades long military history stretching back to Imperial Prussia?

The rising sun ensign is far more comparable to the iron cross. The flag itself pre-dates WW2 by almost a century and the motif is even older. The same ensign flew on Japanese ships in WW1 when Japan was allied with Britain, France and the US.

Her right to wear and sport whatever she wants.

But this one picture here, is enough 'proof' for the anti-Japan crowd to keep moaning to everyone here and around the world, that every single Japanese person is ignorant of their past and lives their lives everyday actively whitewashing history. Along with the Japanese government.

(rolls eyes)

I bet she doesnt have a clue what it or the shrine even means.

Her father/husband must be sailor. She must be proud of him.

And aren't those American jeans? The Yasukuni souls are turning over.

COOL nice coordination!

I bet she doesnt have a clue what it or the shrine even means. 

From the usual knee-jerk reactions every time this shrine is discusssed, I suspect most posters also have no clue. To them Yasukuni Shrine = "war criminals" and nothing else.

Hopefully, Japan has learned that if you start a war, then you should be prepared to get spanked.

There are a few other countries that are greatly overdue for a major spanking...

And aren't those American jeans?

She might be American....

That flag will come in handy to patch the rear end of her raggedy pants.

Not a follower of fashion, I see. Those shorts probably cost her around $300.

She might be American....

Oh yeah, right dude. Especially with those flags?? American?? LOL

In fact, if it really is an American girl, the Yasukuni souls will really be outraged.

Aesthetically speaking, I've always loved this flag (imo one of the most beautiful if not the most).

Good for her. Her country, her flag, her right.

Good for her. Her country, her flag, her right.

How do you know she’s Japanese? There are some people who pretend to be Japanese. I know it’s weird but it does happen.

Ganbare Japan!Today  01:07 pm JST

Good for her. Her country, her flag, her right.

No one ever said otherwise.

This is not the Japan flag. This is intended to support the Imperial flag. Why display the naval ensign? The Hinomaru is the flag. Anything related pre-1945 should be outlawed.

Why display the naval ensign in the middle of Tokyo? It's not a port naval event. It was intended to copy the Imperial Flag.

@zichi

Even obachans trying to chat me up in the stores.

Know what you mean. Then we both pass a mirror and break up.

@TigersTokyoDome

Why display the naval ensign in the middle of Tokyo? It's not a port naval event.

Guy, gal, whomever, this is JAPAN. I was entertained for many years as I passed pachinko halls (passed I tell you!) by the strains of the Gunkan March followed immediately by Anchors Away. I don’t think it was a port naval event.

The flag gives me the jitters. If it predates the aggressive, expansionist Japan of the early to middle 20th Century, then yes, it doesn't need to be banned. However, I do think Japan could do a much better job of explaining the flag's history and celebrating its longer and more peaceful usage. If it gives people the jitters, myself included, it is because little has been done to stop people associating it with conquest. Just as little has been done to stop ultranationalists owning Yasukuni as a place where Japan's conquests are to be celebrated, not one where we solemnly remember the dead.

(I recommend anyone who likes to point out that Yasukuni has Class A war criminals look up what that expression actually means. It is enough to say Yasukuni has war criminals. Class A is the crime against peace of starting a war. Given that many wars have been started since WWII without any politicians being prosecuted, Class A is questionable in its application and cannot be held up as some gold standard of war crimes. Yasukuni is probably more problematic for enshrining Class B war criminals, people who were directly responsible for atrocities like mass murder of civilians or POWs)

2.5 million military and civilian Japanese died in WWII under the patriotic Imperial flag. I hope these idiots feel proud to support it.

The UK and the US combined suffered half of that number. One of the reasons is that the Japanese population were forced to die for the cause. Are people really proud of that time?

Not sure if many young women get their nails done up and wear mini shorts to go to a shrine to celebrate Japan surrendering in WW2 but you go girl! lol

日本の安倍政府は韓国、中国、ロシア、東南アジアの国々に謝罪せよ〜！

韓国一般人虐殺〜！

韓国人強制労働犠牲~~！

韓国女性性奴隷虐待~~！

日本の首相安倍は、ドイツの行動を見ているか？

日本の安倍の先祖が韓国を支配した

また、君たちは今、米国の支配を受けている。

日本の安倍政府は誤った歴史を全く反省していない。

安倍政府は、日本を戦うことができる国にしたい。

世界中の人々が歴史の過ちを反省していない安倍政府を糾弾して〜！

私は韓国人です。

Japan's Abe government apologizes to South Korea, China, Russia, Southeast Asia.

Korean massacre ~ !!

Korean forced labor victims ~~ !!

Korean female sexual slave abuse ~~ !!

Is Prime Minister Abe watching Germany's actions?

The ancestors of Japanese Abe ruled Korea

And you are now under American control.

The Japanese Abe government has not reflected the wrong history at all.

The Abe government wants to make Japan a country that can fight.

People all over the world should condemn the Abe government, which does not reflect on the mistakes of history.

I'm a Korean.

Not sure if many young women get their nails done up and wear mini shorts to go to a shrine to celebrate Japan surrendering in WW2 but you go girl! lol

In America, people BBQ, get drunk and cause accidents with fireworks on Veterans Day. To each country it’s own.

On a different note, I’ll bet the Yasukuni=evil crowd here have never even been to Yasukuni, much less taken a guided tour of the Yushukan museum and are only repeating the same misconceptions that’s have been repeated on JT for the past decade.

@BeerDeliveryGuyToday  02:58 pm JST

Not sure if many young women get their nails done up and wear mini shorts to go to a shrine to celebrate Japan surrendering in WW2 but you go girl! lol

In America, people BBQ, get drunk and cause accidents with fireworks on Veterans Day. To each country it’s own.

On a different note, I’ll bet the Yasukuni=evil crowd here have never even been to Yasukuni, much less taken a guided tour of the Yushukan museum and are only repeating the same misconceptions that’s have been repeated on JT for the past decade.

My thoughts (and more) exactly.

That flag was created more than 400 years ago and was NOT created for the purpose of waging war as opposed to the Nazi swastika flag.

Were the European colonial powers forced get rid of their flag after the atrocities they committed?

Was the US government forced to get rid of their flag after the atrocities committed by their industrial-military complex ?

The answer is no on both accounts.

@Mister X

Was the US government forced to get rid of their flag after the atrocities committed by their industrial-military complex ?

Military-industrial complexes don’t commit atrocities. People do either independently or under the order of military superiors.

That Flag represents an era, a present education system would wish to ignore. I would bet a pound to a dollar the bearer thinks it is a fashion accessory

I think the furore around this flag is overdone.  and yes it is a good looking flag.

The rising sun ensign is far more comparable to the iron cross. The flag itself pre-dates WW2 by almost a century and the motif is even older. The same ensign flew on Japanese ships in WW1 when Japan was allied with Britain, France and the US.

So you are saying that the flag is the one the Imperial army choose to endorse before turning colonialist and seizing lands as a proof that it should be considered as the same the Kingdom of Prussia Iron Cross. I think you kind of missed the point.

Mister X is more accurate on that matter :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Sun_Flag

The problem with this flag is that since Japan was isolationist before, so others countries knowledge of this flag is associated with expansionist Imperial Japan. Moreover since far rights negationists &co just go around with it. Even for Japanese people (no idea of the amount, just random subject happening sometimes), it can be an itchy subject.

In that matter, I guess art will be the more efficient way to explain the history. As it happened for the Svastika, for which people separate the use by neo-nazi and the like and by others.

@kohakuebisu

Ok, so the best way is just to separate every war criminal from the non war criminal. They can have their separate area to pray with explanation of the death cleansing and some anti-Yushukan museum : explain the crime, explain the power system, present psycho-social relevant researches, ...

Kaerimashita,

That is because either you have no empathy or you are totally ignorant to what the Japanese did during the 1930s-until the end of the war under the auspices of said flag.

The problem with this flag is that since Japan was isolationist before, so others countries knowledge of this flag is associated with expansionist Imperial Japan.

That's certainly true but Japan did do trade with the the Dutch imperialistic VOC and they were visited by European missionaries so there must have been at least some notion of the Rising Sun flag in the West.

That flag will come in handy to patch the rear end of her raggedy pants.

No need to patch those shorts. They be fine just as they are.

That is because either you have no empathy or you are totally ignorant to what the Japanese did during the 1930s-until the end of the war under the auspices of said flag.

So we should ban the national flags of every country that  ever went to war while committing atrocities ?

There won't be many national flags left in that case I'm afraid.

Imagine if German gals wears the Nazi swastika while visiting a shrine that honors Nazi war criminals in Berlin!

Imagine if German gals wears the Nazi swastika while visiting a shrine that honors Nazi war criminals in Berlin!

Completely wrong analogy because the Nazi swastika was specifically created for going to war and to spread Nazi ideology, the Rising Sun flag is around for more than 400 years and was not created for war mongering or fascist ideology.

A correct analogy would be the German national flag who is weaving as we speak at cemetaries were German soldiers from WWI and WWII are buried.

Should we ban the German national flag according to you ?

@Mister X

Completely wrong analogy

Well I want to point out that your analogy is also completely wrong. Or to put it more precisely, misplaced.

Trying to depict the imperialism flag, the rising sun flag as the same as a national flag is just laughable.

You're trying your best to ignore the intent and mindset of the people who are waving or carrying these rising sun flag to yasukuni shrine or to the streets.

The flag has long been associated and is the flag that symbolizes the atrocities of war crimes Japan commited to the entire East, Southeast Asia, and the U.S.

Just because the flag has been used prior to WW2 and is now being used for some naval flag does not give anyone the right to wave a flag that has given so much pain to so many different countries and its citizens, especially at a time where all countries who suffered from Japan's atrocities expect a true remorse from the Japanese government and its people.

Lots of people say enough time has passed and its time to move on for the victims. I want to say it is the victims' decision to whether or not to move on. Especially, when it is the situation where one "truly" apologizes of its behavior at one point but after a few months recants on its apology and annoucing that the Japanese government had nothing to do with the depicted war crimes.

It is Japan who is forcing East and Southeast Asian countries to live in the past, as they have constantly changed their words and stance on the issue.

Well, I don't worry about flags much. What I care about is my family members having to fight their way through a burning Sendai, as my Mother-in-law had to do, to save the last family valuables to sell for food. Oh, sorry! Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned this.

Trying to depict the imperialism flag, the rising sun flag

Nope it is you who are wrong I am afraid, the Rising Sun flag has been used as a traditional national symbol of Japan since at least the Edo period (1603–1868) so imperialism had nothing to do with its origins and this was the case for at least 300 years until it was used by the IJA.

Since 1954 the Rising Sun flag is used by the the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force so for more than 60 years imperialism again has nothing to do with the flag.

You're trying your best to ignore the intent and mindset of the people who are waving or carrying these rising sun flag to yasukuni shrine or to the streets.

Nope wrong again I have been pretty vocal here on this site about Japan's warcrimes in the past, as I am for other countries too, even expressing my disgust for military suits being worn at the Yasukuni shrine but people can be proud of the Rising Sun flag if they want to nothing wrong with that.

not give anyone the right to wave a flag that has given so much pain to so many different countries and its citizens

Shall we ban the flags of the European colonists (Brittain, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Germany...) too then as well as the American Stars and Stripes ?

annoucing that the Japanese government had nothing to do with the depicted war crimes.

Who announced Japan had nothing to do with the depicted war crimes ?

It is Japan who is forcing East and Southeast Asian countries to live in the past, as they have constantly changed their words and stance on the issue.

You must be joking right ? The South Korean government has rejected multiple attempst by the Japanese government to make amends and China is aggressively expanding its territory as we speak violating human rights left and right.

More than likely someone has snapped a picture of a "Tourist" who has been given / picked up a flag-like symbol and stuck it in their pocket as a memento of their trip to Japan.

So, in short, Happy Memories, and if you even find out the true meaning of that symbol, then you have it up to yourself to choose what to do, hopefully without offending people of your own Nationality, but hopefully that won't discolor your memories of your visit, and perhaps you will come back again.

The woman on the photograph is carrying a Japanese Naval Ensign , not a Japanese Imperial Flag. Note the 2 : 3 ratio of the image of the sun.

Japanese Imperial Flag

There never was such a thing as a Japanese Imperial flag.

Japanese Imperial Flag

There never was such a thing as a Japanese Imperial flag.

Fair point Mister X. Perhaps the editor means Rising Sun Flag.

@ Mister X

I feel there's pretty much disagreement on every aspect and I don't feel the conversation is going to be productive in any way. From your comments I believe your stance is that there is no problem whatsoever with Japanese people using and waving the Rising Sun flag?

Rising Sun flag unlike the flags that you mentioned, such as the national flags, is not the Japanese National flag. Using the rising sun flag just promotes the idea that the Japanese are reminiscing the past Japanese Imperial era where they colonized and expanded throughout Asia and the pacific. I'm just trying to make a point that foreigners, especially from East Asian and South East Asian, countries, associate the Rising Sun flag to the Imperial Japan era where brutal war crimes were committed against them.

I feel these people have every right to be upset when such flag is being used as if the Japanese seemingly are reminiscing the "good old days".

Guys, come on, why on earth would someone bring the Japanese Naval Ensign out of the blue? The logical conclusion is that the flag was used as the past Rising Sun flag that was used during WW2. Denying that is like just lying to yourselves.

You must be joking right ? The South Korean government has rejected multiple attempst by the Japanese government to make amends and China is aggressively expanding its territory as we speak violating human rights left and right.

I'll just laugh at this particular comment. Just spend some time to get the facts straight. Look up how many times Japanese officials retracted their "apologies".

And we are not talking about current human rights violations, just because other countries has done something similar does not take away the right to depict the wrongdoings of the past.

I'm just trying to make a point that foreigners, especially from East Asian and South East Asian, countries, associate the Rising Sun flag to the Imperial Japan era where brutal war crimes were committed against them.

I don't think you have the authority to speak on behalf of those countries, I'm afraid.

The only people that are making this an issue is Korea and it's a recent phenomenon. The Japanese Naval vessel that displays this flag have docked in many ports including Qindao port in China just recently.

The ensign flag was officially adopted again in 1954 and have been displayed and docked all parts of the world for over fifty years.

@nigelboy

Btw, I am not speaking on behalf of the countries, but that doesnt mean I can't write my own opinion based on observations.

Japanese navel vessel displaying the flag is not the issue at dispute. The audacity of Japan adopting its Rising Sun Flag to be their naval ship flag can be a subject for another day.

The sad part of your argument is that when people see that flag, they think of it as the Rising Sun flag used during WW2. The majority of people don't even know that it is the naval ensign. The troubling part is that the flag is not used as a naval ensign flag but as the Rising Sun flag that was used in WW2.

The sad part of your argument is that when people see that flag, they think of it as the Rising Sun flag used during WW2. The majority of people don't even know that it is the naval ensign. The troubling part is that the flag is not used as a naval ensign flag but as the Rising Sun flag that was used in WW2.

Unless you're a mind reader, you have no idea what these 'people' think. And so what if it was used during WW2? Did people across the globe complain about it when JMSDF adopted in 1954? Did the Korean nationals complain when the JMSDF vessel with the SAME flag docked in Pusan, Korea in 1998? There is absolutely nothing troubling about displaying a flag (in any shape or form) that has been widely accepted for over half a century. The truly SAD part is when somebody all of sudden, after half a century, tries to make an issue out of it by creating a narrative.

How were people suppose to know in 1954 the Japanese started using the flag again?

As for 1998 in Busan, I'm sure there were people complaining and expressing concerns. So you mean people cant be dissastified with using the same flag just because you think nobody protested about it that time? Now there are peoplecomplaining about it, and people are complaining more about Japanese people bringing the Rusung Sun Flag to Yasukuni Shrines because objectively its seen as a yearning for the past and to commemorate its "conquest".

All Japanese people should be ashamed of Japan's conduct during the WW2, not be proud of it or commemorate it by displaying the Rising Sun flag which is basically the symbol of Japanese Imperialsm.

If you keep arguing its not the symbol of Japanese Imperialsm, newsflash to you, every Korean would think of Japanese Imperialsm and Japanese colonial period when they see the Rising Sun flag, and don't think that its a Naval ensign flag, especially if that flag is not displayed on the ship or in any vicinity of a ship.

Japan is free to use that flag, but you should be open to receive critism not just deny the fact that people still perceive that flag as a symbol standing for Japanese Imperialsm

A lot of people here get awfully ahead of themselves. Oh, let's just all assume this girl is a Japanese nationalist going to celebrate the memory of all buried war criminals during the 74th anniversary of Japan's surrender in WW2 and waving the Rising Sun flag up high and proud.

..Or perhaps it's just a 20-something young woman who bought a tiny flag without thinking any more about its long, partly tarnished history and wanted to visit a shrine during a warm summer day of August like people tend to do in Japan.

I'm sure it was in fact the photographer who wanted to convey a message to viewers by perhaps creating a contrast between loosely tied relationship of a representative of younger generations and once so powerful symbol of old but not forgotten generations.

Leave the mockery and hatred aside for a moment and look what's in front of you.

@ Sync_

Well said.

Just wanted to point out, that there are a lot of people, including me, who think of the horrendous colonial period when they see the Rising Sun Flag.

@Sam

Did you even read my last post or do you know even the slightest about Japanese history and the actual situation concerning their relations with South Korea and China ?

You are wrong on so many levels I am not even sure you are being serious or not.

How were people suppose to know in 1954 the Japanese started using the flag again?

Are you serious? How about the defense representatives of countries' "especially from East Asian and South East Asian, countries, associate the Rising Sun flag to the Imperial Japan era where brutal war crimes were committed against them."(Your words)

Just 9 years after WW2. I'm quite positive that their memories are much much fresher than that of certain individuals who started to complain half a century later.

I think most soldiers, of most nations, saw themselves as patriots. Perhaps the time will come when individuals see themselves as humans first, and nationals second. Until them, it is beyond the capability of most people to evaluate their country's behavior as it is happening.

@Sam

I don't think that its a Naval ensign flag, especially if that flag is not displayed on the ship or in any vicinity of a ship.

At least it is being displayed on the young lady's stern.

If you really think what you write, it is only because you have been indoctrinated to think so in a very one sided manner. You certainly weren't there are the time to know.

It is worth mentioning the photograph probably is too sexist or prurient in interest?

I'm pretty sure there was sufficient old man, baggy ass carrying flags that day.

However, it does open new doors to future potential articles, like a "Senkaku Islands Wet T-shirt Competition", perhaps a tri-party "Takeshima Islands Pole Dancing festival", or a regular "Hot or Not? Yankee Princess Camptown Comfort Woman" feature?

An affluent bimbette displaying her nationalistic assets.

What's the rumpus?