Hida [Gifu prefecture Japan]

Hida city in Yamanashi adopted its flag on 1 February 2004 by Notice No 1; adoption date of flag: 1 February 2004 by Notice No 2.

Flag proportion: 2:3
colour of field: dull blue green
colour of emblem: white; length of emblem: 0.618 of flag length.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 22 January 2006

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Hida was formed on 1 Feb 2004 as a merger of 4 towns and villages. The emblem consists of four not quite concentric semicircular crescents.

According to the regulation, the emblem expresses "water and tree culture smelling sweet, the four original towns and villages joined as an echo/sound, townspeople and other regions, and transmitting to the world (vitality)". Water ties together the four regions, in the morning fog of the Furukawa region, snow of the Kawai region, abundant streams of the Miyakawa region and the pure water supporting the leading edge observation facility of the Kamioka region. The motif, like ripples in water and rings in a tree trunk, becomes a modernistic symbol in (3D) carving-style.

It shows a typically Japanese appearance, combining in harmony the expression appropriate for the modern lifestyle and the appearance of an old street. This shows the people making future progress/development and guarding the culture of historical Hida.

The use of the emblem and flag are governed by Notice No 2. To use the emblem, application must be made to the mayor, who will make a decision based on criteria such as not disgracing the emblem, no commercial use or confusing use, etc. The flag, like the national flag may be flown by all, but it must be flown so as not to disgrace it. The flag should be flown on the anniversary of the forming of the city, at city-sponsored public events and on any other occaisions that the maoyr decides. Where the national flag and city flag are flown together, the national flag is to the left as one faces the building or from the audience. If there are three flags, the order of precedence is centre, then left, then right. If flown with the national flag, the city flag must have the same dimensions, or if necessary be smaller. The flag must otherwise be used according to convention.

Notice 2 gives the colour of the flag and of the emblem as DIC 2583, CMYK 80-15-25-10. Notice 1, concerning the emblem, speaks of a calmed light blue ("water colour") representing water and sky, Hida's abundant nature and the peace of the people.
Jonathan Dixon, 4 May 2006