Last modified: 2004-10-23 by phil nelson
Keywords: independent state of okinawa | japan | stripes | star |
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This blue-white-red arrangement, by the way, must have been the motive for the "flag war" reported on the Okinawa page, with
pro-Okinawa independentists supporting these three colors for the prefecture flag and the pro-Japanese insisting in the current red and white flag.
Antonio Martins, 11 June 2000
The tricolor flag was proposed 22 years before the flag war but I agree with his opinion that the flag must have been the motive for the flag war.
In fact in 1800's Ryukyu kingdom had used the tricolor plus yellow (total of four colors) for their flag which is nothing to do with Japanese national/traditionally favourite color.
As long as the 1950 tricolor flag is concerned, I think the design was inspired by the U.S. stars and stripes because with U.S. government's support, Okinawa tried to become either an independent state or U.S. state prior to Hawaii at that time.
Both ideas were seriously considered in Okinawa before Korean civil war occurred.
Vexillologically the tricolor flag is quite different from traditional Japanese flag design concepts. There is no emblem in the center in a single color background.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 12 June 2000