Official name: 日本国 (shinjitai), 日本國 (kyujotai), Nippon-koku or Nihon-koku. The name means “origin of the sun” and so it is often called the “Land of the Rising Sun”. Capital: Tokio Location: East Asia Date of adoption: August 13, 1999 |
Japan’s flag is officially called Nisshōki (日 章 旗 “sun flag”) in Japanese, although it is more commonly known as Hinomaru (日 の 丸 “solar disc”). The large red disc in the center represents the sun. The white represents honesty, purity of the Japanese people and integrity.