The law punishes publicly damaging or defacing the national flag, known as "hinomaru". Opponents say the ambiguous law only ...

The new law is part of a campaign by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, to build a more patriotic and ...

Critics claim latest element of PM Takaichi’s conservative drive threatens free speech, invites political abuse.

The government argues that the law was needed because Japan already criminalised damaging foreign flags but had no equivalent rules covering its own.

Japan's red circle on white, called the Hinomaru, had long served as the country's flag. It flew over schools, ships, and international gatherings, yet it was never officially recognized by law. That ...

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, said on March 17 that they would present a law forbidding the ...