The rising sun flag, a symbol of Japanese militarism, appeared at the Asian Games, an event that promotes harmony and solidarity across Asia.
Some Japanese spectators unfurled the flag to cheer on Japan's national team during the mixed team judo final between Japan and Kazakhstan on the 3rd at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan. A judo official said organizers were asked to take action but showed little response.
The rising sun flag depicts rays extending outward from the sun emblem of Japan's national flag. Used as a war flag by militarist Japan, it remains a symbol that left deep wounds in Asian countries such as South Korea and China that suffered under imperial aggression. Japan first adopted it as an army banner in 1870 and continued to use it during its invasions across Asia, including the Pacific War. In South Korea and some other Asian countries, it is seen as representing Japanese militarism and imperialism.
Major international sporting events such as the Olympics, the World Cup and the Asian Games restrict and control items bearing political messages or symbols to prevent political interference. Yet controversy over the use of the rising sun flag has recurred specifically at international sporting events held in Japan.
The flag had already stirred controversy once at this year's Games. Ahead of a baseball game between Japan and Taiwan on the 26th of last month at the Okazaki Central General Park baseball stadium in Aichi Prefecture, organizers posted a notice at the entrance banning both the rising sun flag and Taiwan's national flag, then removed it a day later. After protests from Japanese right-wing groups and others, organizers apologized for having banned the rising sun flag, deepening the controversy. The organizing committee said at the time that the rising sun flag was not subject to the ban and that the notice had been posted due to a misunderstanding by on-site staff.
