Controversy continues to escalate over the Japanese Rising Sun flag, which symbolizes the country’s past imperialism, as Tokyo’s defense ministry pushes back against South Korean military’s request that Japanese warships not fly the flag at an upcoming international naval festival.



According to an Asahi Shimbun report on Friday, an anonymous Japanese defense official said Japan might boycott the naval fleet review scheduled for Oct. 10-14 on Jeju Island, in light of South Korea’s “absurd” request that it refrain from flying the Rising Sun flag.



South Korea’s Navy on Wednesday requested that all participating countries use their national flags at the event, instead of military flags such as the Rising Sun Flag, which many South Koreans view as a symbol of colonialist repression.



“If removing the Rising Sun flag is a condition for participation, we will even consider not attending the event,” said the official, stressing its status as the official flag of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.



The official said raising a military flag is a country’s right enshrined in international law, as it is a way to distinguish warships from commercial vessels. “I don’t think there will be any countries accepting (South Korea’s) request,” the official added.







Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pays respect to Rising Sun Flag during a military ceremony. Yonhap