A Japanese newspaper (Tokyo Shimbun) has criticized the Japanese government for permitting the use of the Rising Sun Flag in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

This past September, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Committee allowed the use of the Japanese Rising Sun Flag during the Olympic competitions and ceremonies. However, a Tokyo newspaper (Tokyo Shimbun) stated that permitting the use of the flag can bring up historical and political conflicts between Japan and the countries colonized by Japan in World War II. The article states, “The Olympics is a peaceful gathering of countries where the host country creates an environment for the athletes to focus,” and requests the Tokyo 2020 Committee to reconsider the decision for a successful competition.

The Rising Sun Flag is a flag Japan used during World War II and it was printed on military goods and used as a symbol of Japanese imperialism. Currently, it is a widely known as a symbol of Japanese imperialism and brings back issues such as comfort women and forced labor. Thus, countries, especially Korea, are against the use of the flag during a peaceful ceremony like the Olympics. Korea and Japan’s relationship is very sensitive now, with the trade war and termination of GSOMIA agreement. Along with Asia, the USA also can also develop harsh feelings. During WWII, Japan bombed the USA in hopes of sparring their participation in the war. Due to that, many American soldiers lost their lives and Japanese-Americans were stripped of their belongings, taken to camps, and torn apart from their family. The Rising Sun Flag not only symbolizes the imperialist Japan, but also carries a heavy load of dark history behind it.

The Tokyo Shimbun also stated that the Japanese government is contradicting themselves. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Japanese embassy told Japanese living in China not to bring the Rising Sun Flag to competitions. However, now that Japan is permitting the flag in the Olympics, its contradicting to their past opinion.

Going forth, the Tokyo Shimbun continues to emphasize Olympics is meant to be a peaceful gather of countries where the host country must create an environment for the athlete to focus and sincerely request the Tokyo 2020 Committee to reconsider permitting the imperialist flag.

In response to this, VANK has made a petition requesting the International Olympic Committee to ban the use of the imperial flag of Japan during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and plans to. The petition mentions a section of the Olympic Charter that states, “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues, or other areas.” (Section 2, Article 50). It also mentions how Germany also used their Hakenkreuz during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, making that Olympics the most shameful Olympic ceremony yet.

If you are interested in supporting the movement to ban the use of the Rising Sun Flag in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, you can sign the petition at: http://chng.it/vSXKkPyQ

Written by: Erica Vinluan

Originally from Los Angeles, California, Current 4th year university student, Candidate for a Bachelor of Arts in the Korean Language and minor in Business Administration at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Exchange student at Korea University and Intern at VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea)