National flag of Japan (after 1870)<br><p>The national flag of Japan of the design introduced in 1868. The flag is made of wool bunting with a cotton hoist and the ends and the sun disc are machine sewn. The sides are the selvadges of the fabric. A rope is attached for hoisting. The flag has a white field with a red circle in the centre. The proportions are inaccurate being 1:2 instead of 2:3, therefore it is likely the flag was made for a British flag display around the 1920's. The initials 'MP' are marked in ink on the hoist.
</p><p>The sun disc flag was used by Japanese ships from the 17th century. It was officially adopted for use by naval and merchant ships in 1870 and came to be used as a national flag.<br></p>
unavailable
<div class="fn value">
Unknown author<span style="display: none;">Unknown author</span></div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/541">http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/541</a>