Japan (1870–1999) vs. Japan: Flag Comparison
Japan's 1999 Act on National Flag and Anthem modernized the 1870 Meiji Proclamation No. 57 specification by changing the aspect ratio from 7:10 to 2:3, centering the sun disc (which was previously shifted 1% toward the hoist), and brightening the crimson shade.
How to tell Japan (1870–1999) and Japan apart at a glance
- Compare the aspect ratio: the 1870–1999 Meiji specification is a slightly squarer 7:10 rectangle, whereas the 1999 statutory flag is a 2:3 rectangle.
- Check the horizontal position of the sun disc: on the 1870 flag, the disc is shifted 1% of the flag's width toward the hoist (flagpole); on the 1999 flag, the disc is placed at the exact geometric center.
- Compare the red shade: pre-1999 flags traditionally used a darker, deeper crimson (#B0313F), whereas the 1999 Cabinet rules specify a brighter vivid crimson (Munsell 5R 4/12, ~#BC002D).
Side-by-side structural comparison
| Attribute | Japan (1870–1999) | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 7:10 (7:10) | 2:3 (2:3) |
| Layout & orientation | centered centered emblem | centered centered emblem |
| Band / color sequence | white · red | white · red |
| Official color specs | White (statute-named); Deep Crimson (Beni-iro) (statute-named) | White (N 9.4 (cloth standard)); Crimson (Beni-iro) (5.7R 3.7/15.5) |
| Official adoption | 1870-02-27 | 1870-02-27 |
| Region | Eastern Asia | Eastern Asia |
| Visual similarity score | 87/100 (Layout 35/35 · Colors 25/25 · Symbols 12/20 · Ratio 8.7/10 · Geometry 6/10) | |
Why these two flags look alike
When Japan's Meiji government issued Daijō-kan Proclamation No. 57 on 27 February 1870 to regulate merchant shipping ensigns, naval engineers specified a 7:10 height-to-width ratio and shifted the crimson sun disc 1/100 of the fly length toward the flagpole so that when the fly edge flutters in a stiff sea breeze, the disc would appear visually centered.
Over the twentieth century, especially beginning with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, flag makers and government agencies increasingly produced 2:3 flags with a geometrically centered disc to match international display ratios. When the National Diet passed the Act on National Flag and Anthem (Law No. 127) on 13 August 1999, it formally retired the 1870 7:10 off-center rule in favor of the 2:3 centered construction.
Across both specifications, the vertical diameter of the crimson sun disc remained invariant at exactly three-fifths (60%) of the vertical hoist height.
Explore each flag in detail
Read the complete statutory specification, color table, and historical timeline on the Flag of Japan (1870–1999 Proclamation No. 57) page or the Flag of Japan page, or return to all flag comparisons.