Japan-S Korea spat over use of wartime flag continues

"The rising sun flag was used by the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy during World War II, and is thus regarded in South Korea and China as a symbol of Japan's wartime aggression."

Meanwhile the rest of the world has moved on but for those two countries that wish to live in the past and keep reminding everyone of just how miserable they are so they keep harping on Japan and stealing its technology to claim as their own. If Japan suddenly stopped being a world leader in technology, South Korea and China would be in the dark ages within a decade because they'd have nothing to advance on with. It's sicken beyond a doubt that both those nations have a massive hate on for Japan but yet copy just about everything Japanese EXCEPT honour, respect, loyalty, all of which are very important in business whether you are selling or buying. Don't even get me started on either of those two honouring their warranties.

The flag issue is just another way of picking at Japan all the while ignoring their own problems and failings as nations with no honour. South Korea and China are really just sad states always looking to blame others for their current shortcomings.

Do not get them on our nerves or we need a Japanese Trump to deal with them.

The Japanese Navy has used the flag since 1889. Japan annexed Korea in 1910 with no military force exercise. Korean fought against the United Nations as Japanese under the banner during World War II.

In Korea.... you don't even need a flame or a spark to start a fire.

This isn't new, the Japanese Navy have been using it forever and since the war. Get over it Korea.

The problem is also that even if Japan concedes anything to Korea, I don’t think it will end there.

Lets say Japan gives them 100 mill, let’s them put up statues, and re apologizes for everything...would that be the end of it?

Re: "The rising sun flag was used by the Imperial Japanese Army..."

Uh, yes, but no, not actually the navy flag being argued over. Similar, it is true, but the army sun used to be right in the middle of the flag. The old navy and now SDF flag in question has always had the sun about one third from the flagpole.

Childish disagreement.

Time for the Japanese to design a new flag and move on.

I have to disagree with the very first post. This flag is the equivalent of the nazi flag. It is not the country’s national flag. It is a military emblem only used in war to insight fear. Japan is fully aware of how other countries feel about this military emblem, but continue to use just to ‘P’ people off.

The Nazi Swastika was an emblem of the Nazi political party it did not represent Germany as a whole.

The black Eagle which is still used today is the official German war emblem. It was also used during WW1.

By the way no mention of the aftermath of the SK Naval Review event in which 7 out of the 10 Navies flew their Naval Ensign instead of their national flag at the stern. The other three nations; USA, Indonesia and Vietnam uses their national flag as their Naval Ensign. On top the SK Navy flew a replica of the Naval Ensign used by Admiral Yi Sun-sin defying their own request.

Completely pathetic attitude by the host.

Korean soldiers in the IJA committed atrocities under that flag, so they need to really do some fact finding.

@Wipeout - The Nazi swastika has a history that is inseparable from Nazism itself. Hitler takes credit for its design in Mein Kampf, going into some detail on the process of including the swastika and choosing the colours used in the Nazi flag. Under the Nazi dictatorship this was ultimately adopted, with minimal variation, as the German flag in 1935.

Yeah, so, explain the difference between the nazi use of their military emblem and that of the Japanese military emblem. It is the same thing, just in a different part of the world.

The nazi emblem is actually a Buddhist emblem that means peace, which the third right stole to promote their own version of peace.

I think the problem here is South Korean hypocrisy. First they insisted that all ships could only fly their national flags, then South Korean ships flew the flag of some old warlord who once fought against Japan. It's quite difficult to deal with a country like that.

They should just fly their national flag. That's all. It's what most countries do on their naval and maritime vessels.

garypenToday 02:44 pm JST

They should just fly their national flag. That's all. It's what most countries do on their naval and maritime vessels.

Very untrue.

Take a look.

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

It's sicken beyond a doubt that both those nations have a massive hate on for Japan but yet copy just about everything Japanese EXCEPT honour, respect, loyalty, all of which are very important 

I agree except Japanese honor isn’t the same anymore. Look at all these guys bowing and apologizing.

Japan will continue to fly the Naval flag, SK and their master Communist PRC need to accept it. Japan has been peace-loving for 73 years, not involved in any wars. Unlike SK and communist China, involved in several wars.

A flag is as with the anthem or a logo, a symbol that unites men and women to work together for a cause. It is what keeps unity and common goal and objective that is essential for any military organization. For that.., "tradition" and "honor" and all else that go along with courage and sacrifice is essential. History and continuity of that sacrifice representing the "heart" of a nation and the unit (not just country) is that power, the motivation and encouragement to be steadfast toward the defense objective for family, friends and heirs to the nation.

Every nation and all military unit use it. (Even ISIS did.) To demand to remove such a symbol has never been in history, done. Instead it was an objective to take the enemy's flag. This demand will never be recognized or accepted.

"Japan withdrew because of that request, saying its vessels are required by domestic law to fly the rising sun flag. "

An international event is not "domestic", so... so very sorry it's regrettable that it is regrettable domestic laws of Japan don't spread around the world to the former colonies of people it oppressed under the same flag.

It's almost laughable how moronic these imbeciles are. So, while Japan laments Abe refuses to accept what Russia has to offer, this moron ensures Japan misses out on yet another event it's desperate to participate in. Well done, Japan. TIJ.

Ganbare Japan: "Japan will continue to fly the Naval flag"

And complain about their inferior military being left out of drills, yes. Good point!

"SK and their master Communist PRC need to accept it."

Japan is more a peon of China than SK, who stands up to it. Japan just asks Trump to for them. Something you are probably pretty proud of.

"Japan has been peace-loving for 73 years, not involved in any wars."

'Kioku arimasen!' Not even close, amigo. Japan was involved in the Vietnam war by supplying food to US troops via instant noodles, and also with weapons. You guys sure do love your white-washed history. NIsshin noodle museum won't tell you that, though.

"Unlike SK and communist China, involved in several wars."

And you probably support Abe's push to change article 9, no?

K#PO: "Korean soldiers in the IJA committed atrocities under that flag, so they need to really do some fact finding."

Yeah, except you're blaming Koreans for something they did at the barrel of a gun while denying the gun existed. If you can't see the problem with that then, well, you'll just go on blaming the victim anyway.

smithinjapanToday 01:57 am JST

"Japan withdrew because of that request, saying its vessels are required by domestic law to fly the rising sun flag. "

An international event is not "domestic", so... so very sorry it's regrettable that it is regrettable domestic laws of Japan don't spread around the world to the former colonies of people it oppressed under the same flag.

It's almost laughable how moronic these imbeciles are. So, while Japan laments Abe refuses to accept what Russia has to offer, this moron ensures Japan misses out on yet another event it's desperate to participate in. Well done, Japan. TIJ.

Talk about ignorance, whether on ship or plane, on the vessel domestic law of the flag is instituted since it is sovereign territory of the flag.

The spokesperson was totally correct in what he stated.

If SK doesn't like Japan's naval flag, then they might as well forget joint exercises. Personally, I do not see the point in which Japan should hold military joint exercises with SK, an ally of communist PRC.