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Customs flags (Japan)

Last modified: 2014-10-04 by zoltán horváth
Keywords: japan | customs flag |
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Customs Flag 1871-1873

[Customs flag]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 06 May 2014

Source: Japanese flag plates from 1872 and 1876
Jaume Ollé 12 November 1999

This is a Hinomaru flag with a blue saltire used from 27 October 1871 to 3 August 1892.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 23 February 2000

The first customs flag was adopted Oct 27th 1871 which is white background and blue saltire and red disc. The flag was abolished in June 1873.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 06 May 2014

Customs Flag 1873-1874

[Customs flag]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 06 May 2014

The second customs flag was simple red flag. The flag was used during June 1873 -July 1874.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 06 May 2014

Customs Flag 1874-1881

[Customs flag]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 06 May 2014

The third customs flag was white background with black Chinese character 税関 = customs in the center. The flag was used between July 1874-Feb 1881.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 06 May 2014

Customs Flags 1881-1892

[Customs flag]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 06 May 2014

The 4th customs flag was Hinomaru on steamship under weather. The flag proportion was 2:3. It was used between Feb 1881-Aug 3rd 1892.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 06 May 2014

[Customs flag]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 06 May 2014

The 5th customs flag was also Hinomaru on steamboat under non-weather.The flag proportion was 3.7:6.1. It was used between Feb 1881-Aug 3rd 1892.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 06 May 2014

[Customs flag]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 06 May 2014

The 6th customes flag was white background with black Chinese character 税関= customs in the center on Japanese small boat. It was used between Feb 1881-Aug 3rd 1892.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 06 May 2014

Customs Flag since 1892

[1905 Customs flag] 2:3 [FIS Code]
image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 06 May 2014

Flaggenbuch image
 [Customs flag, Flaggenbuch image]
by Jaume Ollé
Source: Flaggenbuch 1925 and Flaggenbuch 1939 [neu39]

The red disc of the flag image from Flaggenbuch 1925 is too large. My source are Japanese flag books from 1910 and 1995 which show the disc size is 3/5 of length and the Customs Flag is still in use now in Japan.The white stands for sky, blue for sea and the red disc symbolizes the sun rising from the horizon.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 24 October 1999

The flag was adopted 3 August 1892 and is still in use
Nozomi Kariyasu, 22 February 2000

The 7th customs flag was adopted on 3 August 1892 which is diagonally divided white over blue with red disc in the center. Originally designed for ensign but now hoisted at customs office buildings as well. The official gazette says the flag proportion is 2 by 3 and the disc diameter is 2/3 of the width. The white stands for sky, blue for sea and red for rising sun from the sea. The flag is still in use.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 06 May 2014