The Act on National Flag and Anthem was adopted, formally establishing the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" as the Japanese national flag and anthem, respectively.

Act on National Flag and Anthem

Japanese law ratified in 1999

The Act on National Flag and Anthem , abbreviated as 国旗国歌法, is a law that formally established Japan's national flag and anthem. Before its ratification on August 13, 1999, there was no official flag or anthem for Japan. The nisshōki (日章旗) flag, commonly referred to as the…

Flag of Japan

The national flag of Japan is a rectangular white banner with a red circle at its center. The flag is officially called the Nisshōki but is more commonly known in Japan as the Hinomaru . It embodies the country's sobriquet: the Land of the Rising Sun.

Kimigayo

National anthem of Japan

"Kimigayo" (君が代) is the national anthem of Japan. The lyrics are from a waka poem written by an unnamed author in the Heian period (794–1185), making the lyrics of Kimigayo the oldest lyrics out of any national anthem, and the current melody was chosen in 1880, replacing an…