They used the flag throughout World War II, but after the war, during the occupation of Japan, they needed permission to fly the Hinoramu from the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces. For the Japanese, the flag was supposed to light the entire world’s darkness.rnrn They did allow local flags in areas like Indonesia, Philippines, and Manchukuo, but in Korea, the flag and other symbols declared Koreans, Japanese subjects. Those conquered by the Japanese had to use the flag, and school children sang the Kimigayo when raising the flag. The flag was also used as a tool during Japanese Imperialism.
It became the symbol of solidarity among soldiers and for war mobilization until the 1940s.rnrnĪdditionally, the flag was also used for celebrations when Japan won wars and children displayed it as a sign of patriotism. They used the flag during the war between Japan and China (Sino-Japanese war), between Russia and Japan (Russo-Japanese War) and in all other war efforts in the country. It is also during this period that Japan established the imperial seal and the national anthem- the Kimigayo.rnrn
During the Meiji government, one that restored imperial rule to the Japanese empire, they used the flag to communicate to the outside world. From 1870 to 1885, it became the legal national flag, making it the first flag to be adopted in Japan. In 1870, they declared the Hinomaru as the official merchant flag. The period before 1854 saw different Hinomaru flags used on trading vessels between Russia and the US. Japan was ordered to hoist the Hinomaru to ease identification from foreign ships. The members of the families would have different flags they carried to battle and which served as identification, while the generals had flags which differed from those of the soldiers. rnrn The flags had the family crest of the daimyo lords. The daimyu014d, or Japanese feudal lords, used flags during battle. The unification period during the late 16th century has the earliest recordings of the Japanese flag. This flag was given to Minamoto no Yoshimitsu by Emperor Go-Reizei and has remained a family treasure for the Takeda clan, for the past 1000 years.rnrn The Unpo-Ji temple also houses the oldest Japanese flag, which is said to be older than the 16th century. History books detail usage of the first sun-themed flag in 701 AD by Emperor Monmu.