Flags: Differences between Hinomaru and flag with rays

[jskirwin@yahoo.com]

Hello
On an experts forum I subscribe to I have been asked about the differences between the Hinomaru - red dot on white field - vs. what I've seen referred to as the Admiralty flag - red dot with rays.

What is the difference between the two flags?

I think that the admiralty flag is used by the military and the hinomaru is used by both the military and the gov't. Am I on the right track here?

Thanks
JK

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The Buddha is a gyoza. If you find the Buddha, eat him.

[ishikawa2]

"Flags of the World" states that the flag with rays is the "Naval Ensign". See http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/jp^.html

(As curiosity thing, take a look at the odd-looking thing used by the Army.)

cheers

[Anssi Hakkinen]

There was another thread on a related subject (http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000184.html) just a while ago.

Anyway, the Admiralty flag (or the Naval Ensign, or Hinomaru with rays) is today used by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (=Navy), exclusively. It differs from the "proper" Hinomaru in that it has sixteen rays, and the red sun itself is positioned slightly toward the hoist (ie. the flagpole). The Army uses a variation of the theme, which can be found through [b]ishikawa2[/url]-san's link below.

The "proper" Hinomaru is the only official national flag nowadays, and is used by the civilian government as well as as the general symbol of Japan. However, the government also uses the Imperial Crysanthemum Flag (http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/jp-r-emp.gif) at times.

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"It is the absolute right of the State to supervise the formation of public opinion."
- Joseph Goebbels

[This message has been edited by Anssi Hakkinen (edited 07-25-2001).]

[jskirwin@yahoo.com]

Anssi
Thanks for the link to the thread. I checked for existing ones before posting (I swear!) and was surprised that I didn't find anything.

It was a pretty interesting thread - though I didn't get the Finn references.

JK

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The Buddha is a gyoza. If you find the Buddha, eat him.