Korean Media: Imperialist Flag Appears at Venue, Japanese Authorities Remain Silent

According to a report by South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo (Japanese edition) on October 4, the Rising Sun Flag—symbolic of Japan’s militarism—appeared at a stadium during the Asian Games, an event meant to promote peace and regional harmony in Asia.

On the third, during the mixed team final of judo between Japan and Kazakhstan at the Aichi International Stadium, several Japanese spectators raised the Rising Sun Flag in the stands.

When the flag appeared, organizers urged the event committee to take action. A judo insider stated: “We had requested intervention from the organizing committee, but received no response—silence from afar.”

The Rising Sun Flag is widely regarded as a symbol of Japanese imperialism and militarism. In countries that suffered under Japanese occupation, such as China and North Korea, it evokes painful memories and stirs deep-seated national resentment.

Major international sporting events—including the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and Asian Games—prohibit the presence of political symbols or items to prevent political expressions and imagery from interfering with competition.

Under specific event regulations and venue management policies, the entry and display of political symbols and related materials are restricted.

Yet, whenever Japan hosts an international sports event, the appearance of the Rising Sun Flag becomes particularly frequent. Prior to the mixed team judo final at this year’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, concerns over the flag had already emerged.

On October 26, prior to a match between Japan and Chinese Taipei at the Okazaki Central Baseball Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, the organizing committee posted a notice at stadium entrances prohibiting the carrying of the Rising Sun Flag and the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag.

However, the notice was removed the following day. Subsequently, right-wing groups launched protests against the ban on the Rising Sun Flag. The organizing committee eventually apologized for having enforced the restriction.

Under these circumstances, the Rising Sun Flag reappeared in the stands during the judo final. Some Japanese spectators raised the flag during the match, and no one intervened.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878085702123520/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.