Japan

Japan’s national flag is known as the Hinomaru, meaning “circle of the sun.” The red sun symbolizes the nation’s association with the rising sun and is linked in tradition to Amaterasu, while the white field is associated with purity, honesty, and peace. Sun motifs in Japanese symbolism date back many centuries, with recorded use on a flag in 701 AD and early physical evidence from 1184. The design became the naval ensign in 1870, was used as the de facto national flag during the Meiji era, and was formally codified as the national flag on 13 August 1999. Japan is in East Asia and has been a member of the United Nations since 1956.