Japan: Flag and Facts
Japan's flag is plain white with a large red disk in the center, a sun shown without any rays.
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Region
- Eastern Asia
- Population
- 123 million (2024)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese yen
- Area
- 377,930 km² (145,920 sq mi)
- People
- Japanese
- Calling code
- +81
- Highest point
- Mount Fuji 3,776 m
- Independence
- 3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment…)
- National symbols
- red sun disc, chrysanthemum
- Borders
- No land borders
About Japan
The current version dates to 1854, but sun flags have flown in Japan since at least 1184. According to legend, the sun goddess Amaterasu founded the nation, which is why the sun runs so deep in Japanese symbolism. The chrysanthemum is the other national symbol.
For more than two centuries after 1603, the Tokugawa shogunate kept the country stable and mostly closed to outsiders, and local culture flourished. That changed in 1854, when a treaty with the US opened Japan's ports and set off rapid industrial growth. Japan later defeated both China and Russia and expanded across East Asia before losing World War II. It rebuilt into an economic power, with the emperor serving as a symbol while elected leaders govern. In 2011, the strongest earthquake in its history and a tsunami struck northeastern Honshu. Most of the land is rugged and mountainous.
Did you know?
- Mount Fuji is Japan's tallest peak at 3,776 m.
- Greater Tokyo held about 37.2 million people in 2023, while Osaka had about 19 million.
- Japan's median age is 50.2 years.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Japan
What is Japan's national anthem?
The anthem is Kimigayo, which translates to His Majesty's Reign.
How many people live in Japan?
Japan had about 123.2 million people in 2024.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.