Show of force

Ooh that flag is so provocative.

That trash should be ban just as the Nazi's flag.

We can't really change that war flag? The imperial memories are incredible negative.

That is the most beautiful naval ensign ever to grace the high seas.

We can't really change that war flag? The imperial memories are incredible negative.

Waaah, the war standard used by the enemies my granfather fought against is respected..wahhhh

but I do agree that the JMSDF doesn't deserve to fly that ensign, this is the greatest disrespect for the many Imperial Japanese Navy men who are resting at the bottom of the ocean, inglorious but defiant. Knowing that these American pawns are calling it their own is comparable to grave robbing.

That is not the War Flag of the Imperial Japanese Army used in WW2, rather it is the Naval Ensign ....they are slightly similar but not the same.

I am interested to know if the Army still uses the War flag. Anyone know? Or were laws passed to ban it?

Just answered my own question thanks to wikipedia....

It was re-adopted on June 30, 1954, and is now used as the war flag and naval ensign of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

I am interested to know if the Army still uses the War flag. Anyone know? Or were laws passed to ban it?

No sir, the GSDF flies the 8 rays with gold cordon. But the poor quality of discipline exhibited during the war is maintained.

I find it ill-defined that the modern JSDF is using an ensign that has such a strong image of imperialism. Black vans and bosozoku motorbikes swirl them around as well. Not a very positive image.

Good timing on all of this, love the placement of the flag, I'm show China and NK are going to love all of this.

Check out the ladies' regulation handbags! LOL!

That's almost as silly as the China People's Liberation Army Womens' "Hello Kitty" Brigade put on parade in 2009.

I have to admit, it is a fine looking flag.

I know this will probably start a barrage of criticism, but why shouldn't Japan use it? Sure we all know they did some terrible things during the war, but so did, ahem, the allies - are we as "victors" so quick to forget our own crimes against humanity?

If we expect Japan to change her naval ensign because of her wartime behaviour, the US should change hers as well.

That flag is a real eyesore.

Beautiful flag! Show it more often!

"Beautiful flag!"

You've got to be kidding.

They dont change the flag because none of them think/know they did anything wrong during WW2. Somebody forgot to tell them at school and they sure dont read Japan Today.As for what other Asian countries think? They are too stupid to even know or worry about that

I agree it beautiful..

The sight of that flag in the picture gave me shivers down my spine. Then the feeling was replaced by outrage and anger that that flag is still being flown and used here, despite the association with Japan`s evil past.

Both the rayed and non-rayed version of the rising sun existed and were used during WWII.

It’s an attractive flag. Unfortunately, Imperial Japan turned it into a symbol of tyranny and oppression.

The sight of that flag in the picture gave me shivers down my spine.

Then you remembered that you had no reason to be upset.

I am glad that is settled.

Then the feeling was replaced by outrage and anger that that flag is still being flown and used here, despite the association with Japan`s evil past.

Alot of people associate the US and UK flag as symbols of its evil past..present, but I don't. Alot of people try to make their personal emotional response as some objectively rational dissonance.

A lot of ladies lined up there. I wonder if they put out a sexy calender or anything?

These are from the maritime self defence forces and their flag is not the same as the rising sun WW2 flag..notice how the red circle is off centre...this is the flag of the japanese maritime SDF who adopted this flag after the end of the second world war!

The uninformed grumbles in here over the MSDF naval ensign remind me of the occasional hysteria from people who mistake the Buddhist manji (卍）for the Nazi swastika. The Asahi Shimbun uses a similar rising sun symbol for its corporate logo, by the way.

Forget the flags, note the women. A JSDF officer once told me that they have so many women officers in the military so they can pour the male officers' beer for them when they go out in the evening.

I saw let them keep the flag. It their country, and unlike the Nazi swastika flage, was not a symbol of a movement.

Too much pandering to world wide PC and trying to say that no country is better than another. On a side note, I think JAL mad a bad decisionto remove the crane from their aifliners as well as the Britishi Airways removing the Union Jack. Be proud of your nation and its heritage, both good and bad.

Seriously, how would the international community have reacted and responded if Germany had brought back the swastika flag after the allied forces left? That is exactly what the Japanese govt. has done and they have gotten away with it. Unbelievable!

american_bengoshi:"Seriously, how would the international community have reacted and responded if Germany had brought back the swastika flag after the allied forces left?"

For a supposed "bengoshi" you sure show how little you know of history the Swastika was pushed on Germany by the Nazi and after the war they returned to a version of the old Weimar Republic and it has a war flag similar to it with the coat of arms that is basically that of imperial one minus the crown that flies at most government offices and Embassies so no comparison possible.

I may not agree with Japan keeping the flags and perhaps it would have been best to find and alternative but they were around long before the war.

But as someone mentioned the USA, UK, and to some extent Australian and New Zealand flags (with the Union Jack on them ) could be also viewed as a insult to the many Aboriginal people of NA, Auz, NZ, as well as all the places Colonized or oppressed by those who flew those flags in the past!

there seems to be be big flag in the way of the lovely picture..was this a mis shot

Do you want a Japanese Naval flag with a "Hello Kitty?" Do you want a US flag with a "Gucci?" Do you want a Chinese flag with a "Mickey Mouse?"

Flag is a flag. Too bad so many are offended by the flag, but I do understand your feelings.

To 888naff,

"there seems to be be big flag in the way of the lovely picture..was this a mis shot"

That photo was taken by a professional photographer - note that w/out the flag, the picture is very plain and common of military assemblies -professionals seek images that provoke emotions. The picture would be sooooo hard to find naturally, the flag was positioned there?

As the state of country deteriorates the nationalism and militarism is on the rise. It seems the nation has learned nothing from its past.

Kan proclaims an increased threat in the region and immediately concludes that more military is needed, where a truly advanced state would first conclude that more diplomacy and placidity is required.

Nothing new, nothing better, can come from the current government and opposition filled with backwardly statesmen with a blatant lack of wisdom, vision and leadership.

Japan had the chance to become the eastern Swiss, a prosperous international and open minded hub that attracts people and money from the world, but the Japanese character never changed and the chance came and went away.

Sarge at 07:10 PM JST - 24th October That flag is a real eyesore.

If the US Navy doesn't have a problem with it neither do I.

@OssanAmerica

If the US Navy doesn't have a problem with it neither do I.

Ditto!

YuuuuESSSS Pinkey!!!!

The Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun shall rise again!!!

I can already hear Kimigura.

Btw, the red sun was off center both before and during WW2 as well.

The picture would be sooooo hard to find naturally, the flag was positioned there?

Yes, the flag was positioned there because flags growing out of the ground naturally would be sooooo impossible.

To Thetruthhurts:

"Yes, the flag was positioned there because flags growing out of the ground naturally would be sooooo impossible."

What I am talking about is the flag is most likely situated on the ground, perhaps held by a person. The flag is not on a mast. The SDF is looking towards the photographer, so I presume some activity to warrant the attention. If the flag is positioned, note how hard it would be to get the angle, and the perfect cropping to the scene. The angle connotes the photographer is elevated - most likely a staged shot (the flag positioning).

The ability to analyze photos and films is important in the Far East, since propaganda have been prominent in the numerous wars. Guys from GHQ found the skill critical.

apecNetworks,

The ability to analyze photo and films is soooooo important anywhere. This importance has very little to do with propaganda, however. GHQ no longer exists and your analysis makes little sense. Staged shot means all those people were just standing there for the purpose of this photograph and that the situation is not a real one. If you would read the caption, you would see the photograph is of a military review.

To Thetruthhurts,

What I am posting about is a "secret", and you don't know.

apecNetworks,

What I know is that nothing you have posted about is a 'secret' at all. In fact, you have merely posted obvious and known things in a manner that seems to be designed to show us you are just soooooo 'in the know'.

What I further know is that military reviews occur all the time in Japan and in these military reviews the flag is often held by someone as opposed to it being on a pole.