The Japanese flag, known as the Hinomaru, means “circle of the sun.” It is one of the simplest national flags in the world but has strong cultural and historical meaning.

• The flag shows a red circle in the centre on a white background.
• The red circle represents the sun, reflecting Japan’s nickname “the Land of the Rising Sun.”
• The white background symbolises purity, honesty, and simplicity.

The design has been used for hundreds of years and was commonly seen on ships and used by samurai. In 1999, it was officially recognised as Japan’s national flag.