FG-037 - Japanese National Flag (Postwar British Usage)
Flag ID: FG-037
Material and Construction
This is a multi-piece Japanese national flag, constructed from five vertical panels and a sewn red central disc (sun) applied with machine stitching. The fabric appears to be a wool blend — possibly mixed with cotton or rayon — with a plain weave texture and no signs of twill structure commonly found in both German and British military flags. The overall finish suggests a semi-industrial production, though with hand-rigged rope and clip mounting.
The hoist is reinforced with canvas tape and fitted with two different metal clips: one brass-style "D-ring" and one flat double-eyelet metal plate, both commonly seen in British or Commonwealth rigging. The rope is made of thick cotton and appears hand-spliced into the flag.
The current dimensions are 120 × 169 cm, but evidence of a clean vertical cut at the fly end indicates it was originally 120 × 180 cm before fraying. The flag shows visible signs of extended outdoor exposure and wear, especially along the fly end and seams.
Flag Ratio and Original Dimensions
The original size of this flag was 120 × 180 cm, which corresponds exactly to the 2:3 ratio prescribed for official Japanese national flags (Nisshōki). This standard was used both before and after World War II for civil and governmental use. The fact that this flag matches the 2:3 proportion strongly suggests it was produced according to formal specifications and not improvised by Allied forces. The current length of 169 cm reflects natural fraying over time but does not affect the original format.
Markings and Identification
The hoist edge is marked with “JAPAN” written in ballpoint pen, accompanied by the Japanese characters 日本 (Nihon, “Japan”). No official stamps, production dates, or military unit identifiers are present, suggesting this was not a standardized Japanese-issued flag.
Given the mixed fittings and English-language labelling, it is highly likely that this flag was either produced by or for British/Commonwealth forces, most likely in a post-surrender context (1945–1950), to mark Japanese facilities or captured positions.
Historical Context and Possible Use
Following Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, Allied forces began occupying the Japanese home islands under the leadership of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) – primarily American General Douglas MacArthur. While the U.S. led the occupation, British and Commonwealth forces were assigned to specific zones, including parts of Hiroshima, Kure, and western Honshu, as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF).
The BCOF became active from early 1946 and included troops from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and India. Their duties involved disarmament, demilitarisation, and symbolic control of Japanese infrastructure. Though Japan was clearly under full military occupation, symbolic flags still played a key role: captured Japanese flags were often collected as trophies, re-used, re-labeled, or repurposed in zones of occupation – sometimes as reverse markers. In some instances, Japanese buildings or military units were required to display their own national flag under Allied supervision, especially in controlled environments or surrender contexts.
This flag may have been mounted by British or Commonwealth troops on a controlled Japanese site, or used for formalized identification of repurposed installations. The handwritten “JAPAN” and Japanese script markings suggest post-surrender inventory or controlled reuse. The likely time of use was between 1946 and 1950, within the BCOF framework.
Additional Images
Sources and References
- FlagGeek visual comparison with British and German flag materials (collection archive)
- BCOF history: British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan (1946–1952)
- Translation of markings: 日本 = “Nihon” = Japan
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