The Rising Sun Flag Debate: Militarist Symbol or Traditional Design?

The Rising Sun Flag depicts sun rays and was used as the war flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army. It is still used by Japan's Maritime and Ground Self-Defense Forces today.

Asian countries including Korea and China view it as a symbol of aggression comparable to Nazi Germany's Hakenkreuz. Japan counters that the rising sun design has been a traditional design since the Edo period.

Controversies over banning the flag at international sporting events recur, and it was also an issue at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.