Quarantine Flags

Last modified: 2004-10-23 by phil nelson
Keywords: japan | quarantine flag |
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• Cultural, Political, Economic flags (Japan)
• Japan

by Jaume Ollé

(1) The current flag of Japanese quarantine is a yellow over blue bi-color flag and blue "Q" on upper hoist. The flag was adopted June 16, 1954. The yellow is an international color for quarantine and blue stands for sea and sky. "Q" is, of course, the initial for quarantine.

by Jaume Ollé

(2) From April 1948 to June 16, 1954 and April 8, 1948: The white flag with yellow large "Q" was used but the white flag was hard to distinguish on the sea.

by Jaume Ollé

(3) Between August 1, 1921 and April 8, 1948: The blue over yellow (not yellow over blue) bi-color flag was used. The flag did not have a "Q".

by Jaume Ollé

(4) From April 1902 to August 1, 1921: As quarantine vessel flag, the Harbor master flag was used. The flag was a red "H", for harbor master on white background.

by Jaume Ollé

(5) Between July 1879 and April 1902: The plain yellow flag was used as the first quarantine flag in Japan.

Source: "History of quarantine system in Japan" issued by Ministry of public welfare.
Jaume Ollé, 17 June 2000