<Tr> <Th> Adopted </Th> <Td> February 27, 1870 (as the civil ensign by Proclamation No. 57); August 13, 1999 (as the national flag and slight modifications to the design of the flag) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Design </Th> <Td> A red sun - disc centered on a white rectangular field </Td> </Tr> <P> The national flag of Japan is a rectangular white banner bearing a crimson - red disc at its center . This flag is officially called Nisshōki (日章旗, the "sun - mark flag"), but is more commonly known in Japan as Hi no maru (日の丸, the "circle of the sun"). It embodies the country's sobriquet: Land of the Rising Sun . </P> <P> The Nisshōki flag is designated as the national flag in the Law Regarding the National Flag and National Anthem, which was promulgated and became effective on August 13, 1999 . Although no earlier legislation had specified a national flag, the sun - disc flag had already become the de facto national flag of Japan . Two proclamations issued in 1870 by the Daijō - kan, the governmental body of the early Meiji period, each had a provision for a design of the national flag . A sun - disc flag was adopted as the national flag for merchant ships under Proclamation No. 57 of Meiji 3 (issued on February 27, 1870), and as the national flag used by the Navy under Proclamation No. 651 of Meiji 3 (issued on October 27, 1870). Use of the Hi no maru was severely restricted during the early years of the Allied occupation of Japan after World War II; these restrictions were later relaxed . </P>

What does the red circle on the japanese flag mean