Japanese Naval Ensign and War Flag

By Crusader1307

Related to "The Rising Sun" Flag, and also called The Hinomaru, The Naval Ensign was also created in 1870 to identify Ship of The Imperial Japanese Navy. Based on The National Flag, it too featured a White Field in it's entirety. However, The Red Circular symbol was smaller. Several versions show this symbol either centered of slightly off set to the left of the Field. The Circle is encircled with 16 Red lines radiating outwards (giving the appearance of Sun Rays). Although used by The Navy, in 1889 Japan's Army adopted it as their "War Flag". The Naval Ensign became even more widely symbolic of Japan militaristic WW II "spirit", than it's National Flag (even today).