Changes

The Japanese flag is composed of a solid red circle against a white background. Known colloquially as the ''Hinomaru'' ("circle of the sun"), the design is meant to reference the Sun Goddess [[Amaterasu]], and the sun itself, a symbol used by the Imperial Court and various samurai clans for many centuries.

The Japanese flag is composed of a solid red circle against a white background. Known colloquially as the ''Hinomaru'' ("circle of the sun"), the design is meant to reference the Sun Goddess [[Amaterasu]], and the sun itself, a symbol used by the Imperial Court and various samurai clans for many centuries.

[[Shimazu Nariakira]] is credited with being the first to suggest such a design for a national flag, having initially proposed in [[1853]]/12 using such a design on Japanese ships, so as to display the ship's nationality and to distinguish it from the vessels of foreign countries.<ref>Gallery labels, [[Reimeikan Museum]] of History and Culture, Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref> Discussion of the issue initially encountered some difficulties, but with the support of lord of [[Mito han|Mito]] [[Tokugawa Nariaki]], the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] eventually agreed to this proposal, ordering the ''Hinomaru'' the standard jack for Japanese ships on [[1854]]/7/11.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 622.</ref> The following year, [[Satsuma han|Satsuma domain's]] ''[[Shoheimaru|Shôheimaru]]'', the first Western-style ship built in Japan, became the first ship to fly the ''Hinomaru''.

[[Shimazu Nariakira]] is credited with being the first to suggest such a design for a national flag, having initially proposed in [[1853]]/12 using such a design on Japanese ships, so as to display the ship's nationality and to distinguish it from the vessels of foreign countries.<ref>Gallery labels, [[Reimeikan Museum]] of History and Culture, Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref> Discussion of the issue initially encountered some difficulties, but with the support of lord of [[Mito han|Mito]] [[Tokugawa Nariaki]], the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] eventually agreed to this proposal, ordering the ''Hinomaru'' the standard jack for Japanese ships on [[1854]]/7/11.<ref>This edict stated that all Japanese ships, or all ships of Japan, should fly this flag, but that [[Tokugawa shogunate]] vessels would additionally fly white and navy blue pennants and feature a black mark on their sails; [[han|domain]] vessels would continue to use the [[kamon|house crests]] of their respective houses, along with newly determined sail markings. ''[[Ishin Shiryo|Ishin Shiryô Kôyô]]'' 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 622.</ref> The following year, [[Satsuma han|Satsuma domain's]] ''[[Shoheimaru|Shôheimaru]]'', the first Western-style ship built in Japan, became the first ship to fly the ''Hinomaru''.

The [[Meiji government]] then continued the practice, flying the ''Hinomaru'' from all postal ships beginning in [[1870]], and officially declaring the ''hinomaru'' design the official national flag later that same year. However, historian [[Takashi Fujitani]] suggests that it took some time for the association of the design with the nation, and with the Emperor, to become widely and firmly fixed among the Japanese people. For some time in the early Meiji period, rather, many people likely associated the "rising sun" iconography simply with auspiciousness or auspicious occasions. Though it was displayed prominently during Imperial tours and visits to the various [[provinces]] of the realm, this represented only the beginning of the establishment of the ''hinomaru'' as a national and Imperial symbol in the minds of the people.<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', UC Press (1998), 51-52.</ref>

The [[Meiji government]] then continued the practice, flying the ''Hinomaru'' from all postal ships beginning in [[1870]], and officially declaring the ''hinomaru'' design the official national flag later that same year. However, historian [[Takashi Fujitani]] suggests that it took some time for the association of the design with the nation, and with the Emperor, to become widely and firmly fixed among the Japanese people. For some time in the early Meiji period, rather, many people likely associated the "rising sun" iconography simply with auspiciousness or auspicious occasions. Though it was displayed prominently during Imperial tours and visits to the various [[provinces]] of the realm, this represented only the beginning of the establishment of the ''hinomaru'' as a national and Imperial symbol in the minds of the people.<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', UC Press (1998), 51-52.</ref>