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Royal Standards (Japan)

Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
Keywords: japan | royalty | chrysanthemum | royal flag |
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Introduction

The flags of Japanese royalty incorporate the Imperial arms, namely the sixteen-petal chrysanthemum mon. Aside from its golden color, the flags utilize the national colors of red and white.

Sources: Flaggenbuch (1939) [neu39]; Barraclough & Crampton, Flags of the World (1981) [c2b81]

Calvin Paige Herring, 31 May 1995

Flaggenbuch shows a wrong specification. The images below by Kazutaka Nishiura are based on a Japanese legal document.

Nozomi Kariyasu, 27 Jan 2010


Emperor

[Emperor (Japan)] 2:3
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 27 Jan 2010


Empress

[Empress (Japan)]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 27 Jan 2010


Crown Prince

[Crown Prince (Japan)] 2:3
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 27 Jan 2010


Crown Princess

[Crown Princess (Japan)]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 27 Jan 2010


Other Imperial House Members

[Other Imperial House Members (Japan)] 2:3
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 27 Jan 2010


Regent

[Regent (Japan)] 2:3
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 27 Jan 2010

The Emperor Showa (Hirohito) was made regent in 1921 when his father the Emperor Taisho (the real name of the father of Hirohito was Yoshihito, but as you know each Emperor chooses a reign-name, which applies to the reign of the Emperor and then to the Emperor himself after his death) went mad; Hirohito then succeeded to the throne on December 25, 1926. This was the last instance of a regency in Japan.

Manuel L. Quezon III, 04 Mar 2002


Emperor Emeritus

[Regent (Japan)] 2:3
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 10 June 2019

The Emperor Heisei, after he abdicated the throne in 2019, was granted a new title of "Emperor Emeritus" and in early June, he was granted a flag he can used for personal vehicles. The flag is the same as the current emperor with the only change being the background of the flag being a darker shade of red.
Zachary Harden, 10 June 2019


Crown Prince Successor

[Regent (Japan)] 2:3
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 7 November 2020

The flag was hinted to be displayed at the "Rikkoshi no Rei" ceremony on November 8th, 2020. Based on the design of the other Imperial house member's flag, a white border is added to Crown Prince standard to denote the successor to the throne. It was used at an evening reception on his personal car instead of the enthronement ceremony.
Kazutaka Nishiura, 7 November 2020