The national flag of Japan

The national flag of Japan is a white background with a crimson circle in the center. The crimson circle represents the sun.

Formal name of the flag is Nisshoki, but we Japanese usually call it Hinomaru. The Act on National Flag and Anthem provides that the height of the flag is two-thirds of the width. And the diameter of the circle is three-fifth of the height.

Before Hinomaru was used as the national flag, Japanese people used the combination of red crimson and white background. The combination was confirmed in old pictures not only in flags but in folding fans.

In 1854 the Tokugawa shogunate, then government, decided that Japanese vessels should fly Hinomaru flags as a mark of Japan to distinguish them from other countries' vessels. This is the first time Hinomaru has been used as the national flag.

In 1868 a new government was established. When it comes to Hinomaru, it followed the previous government. The Grand Council of State, the highest government office of the new government, also proclaimed that vessels should fly Hinomaru as the national flag of Japan in 1870.

There was no legal basis for the national flag. But Japanese people regarded Hinomaru as their national flag by custom.

Some Japanese people have negative feeling about Hinomaru. Some of them make an objection to regard Hinomaru as the national flag. They connect Hinomaru with Japanese militarism and wars of aggression in World War II. Left-wing people tend to think so. On the other hand, right-wing people tend to respect Hinomaru.

In 1999 Act on National Flag and Anthem was put in effect. Since then Hinomaru has had legal basis.

Miscellaneous writings about disaster in Japan

Most Japanese people don't read English written newspapers. But the Japanese media sometimes report what the Western media cover. It also report how the Western media cover Japan. That has influence on Japanese people. A recent case that gain Japanese people's much attention is a Washington Post's column. A WP's columnist Al Kamen wrote "increasingly loopy Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama" on April 14, 2010. The word "loopy" became well-know among most Japanese people.

Today the Western media affect Japanese people significantly. It has been admiring Japanese people's resilience, stoicism, gaman, etc. Many Japanese media reported that. And a lot of Japanese people read the coverage and gain their confidence. But unfortunately, I heard that recent coverage by the Western media turn to criticism of Japanese government handling of nuclear plants.


I've sometimes read and heard a phrase "Ganbaro Nippon" (Try hard, Japan) in Japan. For example, popular TV personalities say to viewers, "Ganbaro Nippon." That is a catchline Japanese people make to encourage themselves. Japanese people try to unit together to overcome the national crisis.

On the other hand, "jishuku" is becoming prevalent. Jishuku means self-restraint. Most Japanese people think it's indiscreet to enjoy oneself when fellow country men face severe difficulties. I guess peer pressure, which is a characteristic of Japanese people, also involve jishuku atmosphere. But there's also a growing consensus that excessive jishuku weaken Japanese economy.

Devastating earthquake in Japan

A devastating earthquake hit Japan on March 11. The earthquake caused a destructive tsunami and that swept through northeast Japan. It also damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and radioactivity leaked into the air and sea. Major affected areas are Tohoku and north Kanto region, such as Miyagi, Iwate, Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures.

Disaster also affected Kanto region, including Tokyo. Infrastructure was partially paralyzed and aftershocks has been occurring again and again.

Western Japan doesn't suffer from the disaster. Although the media repetitively emphasizes catastrophe in northeast Japan, many areas are peaceful.

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But most Japanese people, including those who live in western Japan, don't think the disaster as somebody else's problem. Many of them felt great sympathy for victims and evacuees. Many of them do what they can to help victims and evacuees. A lot of organizations launch fund raising campaign. Large numbers of people cooperate to save electricity. But unfortunately, some people who live in safe regions hoard essential goods.

I live in western Japan. So, I didn't face the disaster. Most people around me live their lives as usual. But some people seem to hoard mineral waters and dry-cell batteries. Some essential goods and emergency supplies are sold out in most shops. Economic activities contract because supply chain partially based on northeast Japan is damaged. On the other hand, many organizations, including local governments, local broadcasting stations, etc. conduct fund raising campaign.

Japan in Japanese is Nihon or Nippon

Japan is an exonym. In Japanese Nihon or Nippon.

[History]

In earlier times, my country's name was Yamato or Oyamato, because the government was located in Yamato region, western Japan.

About the sixth century, the name Nihon and Nippon began to be used. Nihon or Nippon originally means the far eastern country where the sun rises first.

In 1299 Marco Polo first introduced Japan to Europe as Zipangu in his book Books of the Marvels of the World. It is said that Marco Polo heard the pronunciation of Nihon Koku or Nippon Koku (Koku means nation) in language of Beijing as Zipangu. That's the origin of an exonym Japan.

[Which is correct: Nihon or Nippon?]

So, which is correct, Nihon or Nippon? The answer is both are correct. There are no legal bases for name of the country in Japan. Both are commonly used. But externally, Nippon was usually used. In compound word, Nihon is likely to be used (e.g. Nihon go).

[Usage of Nihon]

Nihon go (Japanese)
Nihon Kai (the Sea of Japan)
Nihon shu (Sake)

[Usage of Nippon]

Nippon ichi (number one in Japan)
Gabmare Nippon! (Go, Japan!)
Dai Nippon Teikoku (Empire of Japan)

[Cases both Nihon and Nippon are OK]

Nihon jin or Nippon jin (Japanese people)
Nihon Koku Kenpou or Nippon Koku Kepou (The Japanese Constitution)
Nihon Rettou or Nippon Rettou (the Japanese Archipelago)
Nihon Ginko or Nippon Ginko (Bank of Japan) *

* A phrase "Nippon Ginko" is printed on Banknotes of the Japanese yen. So, clerks of the BOJ tend to say Nippon Ginko. But many Japanese people also commonly say "Nihon Ginko." Bank of Japan Act doesn't state which is correct.