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Flags of Japanese prefectures

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Each modern Japanese prefecture has a unique flag, most often a bicolour geometric highly stylised design, often incorporating the characters of the Japanese writing system and resembling minimalistic company logos.[1] The heraldic badges worn by warriors in medieval Japan (mon) were forerunners of the modern emblems used in the prefectural flags.[2]

A distinct feature of these flags is that they use a palette of colours not usually found in flags, including orange, purple, aquamarine and brown.

Some prefectures also have alternative official flags called "symbol flags" (シンボル旗). They may be used on less formal occasions. Famous symbol flags include the one used in Tokyo.

Flags by prefecture

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Flag Prefecture Geocode Date of adoption Description
Aichi JP-23 August 15, 1950 Stylised hiragana of あいち (Aichi). The emblem also expresses sunrise and wave to indicate Aichi's location facing the Pacific Ocean.
Akita JP-05 November 3, 1959
Aomori JP-02 January 1, 1961
Chiba JP-12 July 29, 1963
Ehime JP-38 May 5, 1952
Fukui JP-18 March 28, 1952
Fukuoka JP-40 May 10, 1966
Fukushima JP-07 October 23, 1968
Gifu JP-21 August 10, 1932
Gunma JP-10 October 25, 1968
Hiroshima JP-34 July 23, 1966
Hokkaidō JP-01 May 1, 1967
Hyōgo JP-28 June 10, 1964
Ibaraki JP-08 November 13, 1991
Ishikawa JP-17 October 1, 1972
Iwate JP-03 March 6, 1965
Kagawa JP-37 October 1, 1977
Kagoshima JP-46 March 10, 1967
Kanagawa JP-14 November 4, 1948
Karafuto N/A
Kōchi JP-39 April 15, 1953
Kumamoto JP-43 March 31, 1966
Kyoto JP-26 November 2, 1976
Mie JP-24 April 20, 1964
Miyagi JP-04 July 15, 1966
Miyazaki JP-45 December 22, 1964
Nagano JP-20 March 20, 1967
Nagasaki JP-42 August 30, 1991
Nara JP-29 March 1, 1968
Niigata JP-15 August 23, 1968


ŌitaŌita JP-44 July 24, 1966
Okayama JP-33 November 22, 1967
Okinawa JP-47 October 13, 1972
Ōsaka JP-27 June 21, 1968
Saga JP-41 December 11, 1968
Saitama JP-11 September 1, 1964
Shiga JP-25 September 16, 1968
Shimane JP-32 November 8, 1968
Shizuoka JP-22 August 26, 1968
Tochigi JP-09 March 1, 1964


Tokushima JP-36 March 18, 1966
Tokyo JP-13 October 1, 1964
September 30, 1989
Tottori JP-31 October 23, 1968
Toyama JP-16 December 27, 1988
Wakayama JP-30 August 7, 1969
Yamagata JP-06 March 26, 1963
Yamaguchi JP-35 September 3, 1962
Yamanashi JP-19 December 1, 1966

Symbol mark flag

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Historical flags

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "DESIGN IN FLAGS: THE BEAUTY FOUND IN JAPAN'S FLAGS". DESIGN MADE IN JAPAN. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Inglefield, Eric (1984). Flags. Arco Pub. p. 18. ISBN 0-668-06262-2.