The current Japanese flag was accepted as the civil flag on 27th January, 1870. But was not accepted as the national flag untill 13th August, 1999.

The flag is known as either Nisshōki which means "sun flag" or Hinomaru which means "sun disc" this is because the flag consists of a large red disc in the centre which is is said to represent the sun on a plain white background.

The idea of the flag is said to have come from the the 13th century during time of the Mongol invasions over Japan when Nichiren, a Buddhist Priest offered the flag to the Emperor of Japan who was seen as a descentdant of Amaterasu, the Goddess of the sun.