Last modified: 2023-06-03 by 
zachary harden
Keywords: japan | marine self defense forces | rising sun | chrysanthemum |
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![[Naval Ensign]](../images/j/jp~.gif)
Naval Ensign image by Željko Heimer
2:3
![[FIS Code]](../misc/fissumry.gif){kind=small}
These flags were adopted Jan 28 1956 and still in use.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 February 2000
The flags were based on "Rules Regarding the flags
of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces" (December 27, 1954, Maritime
Self-Defense Force Instruction No. 44) and this regulation is still in
force today. This regulation was passed before Defence Agency Notice
No. 2 of 28 January 1956. This regulation covers the use of the
following flags in the realm of the MSDF:
(1) National flag
(2) Ensign of the MSDF
(3) Prime Minister's flag
(4) Defense Minister flag
(5) Defense Deputy Minister's flag
(6) Joint Chiefs of Staff flag
(7) MSDF Chief of Staff flag
(8) Vice Admiral flag
(9) Rear Admiral flag
(10) Commodore flag
(11) Commander flag (A)
(12) Commander flag (B)
(13) Masthead/Captain Pennant
(14) Senior Officer Present Afloat
Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Prime Minister flag]](../images/j/jp~pm.gif)
2:3
by Zachary Harden, 13 March 2018
Prime Minister as Supreme Commander of Joint Staff Defense Forces five gold
cherry blossoms on purple field.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 12 September 2009
![[Minister of Defense]](../images/j/jp~mod.gif)
2:3
by Zachary Harden, 13 March 2018
Minister of Defense uses the same pattern as the Prime Minister flag, with the exception of the background and cherry blossom stems being a deep red instead of purple.
Zachary Harden, 13 March 2018
![[Minister of Defense]](../images/j/jp~vmod.gif)
2:3
by Zachary Harden, 13 March 2018
The Vice Minister of Defense uses the same pattern as the Minister of Defense, except there are four cherry blossoms instead of five. Also the cherry blossoms are arranged in two rows of two.
Zachary Harden, 13 March 2018
![[Chief of Staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces]](../images/j/jp~msdfc.gif)
2:3, by Zachary Harden and Kazutaka Nishiura, 3 March 2018
White flag with four cherry blossoms above a blue fouled anchor.
Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Senior Officer Present Afloat]](../images/j/jp~'vadm.gif)
by Zachary Harden, 3 March 2018
![[Chief of Staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces (former)]](../images/j/jp~mcosf.gif)
2:3, by Zachary Harden and Kazutaka Nishiura, 3 March 2018
The flag of vice admiral charged with a red border around the flag. The border size is 1/20th the length of the flag. It was in use from January 10th, 1955 to December 26th, 1962. This was replaced by the current flag.
Zachary Harden, 3 March 2018
![[Chief of Staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces (former)]](../images/j/jp~'mcosf.gif)
2:3, by Zachary Harden and Kazutaka Nishiura, 3 March 2018
![[Vice Admiral]](../images/j/jp~vadm.gif)
2:3, by Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
White flag with three red cherry blossoms, 1 over 2.
Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
by Zachary Harden, 2 March 2018
![[Rear Admiral]](../images/j/jp~radm.gif)
2:3, by Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
White flag with two red cherry blossoms.
Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Senior Officer Present Afloat]](../images/j/jp~'radm.gif)
by Zachary Harden, 2 March 2018
![[Commodore]](../images/j/jp~com.gif)
2:3, by Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
In the terms of the MSDF, the rank of Commodore is below rear admiral but just above captain. This flag is assigned to commodores of the Minesweeper Group Commander, Escort Group Commander or Practice Fleet Commander, and Maritime Training Team Leader Command, Air Group Command, Submarine Group Command, Information service group command, development team command, educational aviation group command, communication group command, marine operation group command or base unit command is the first sea command.
Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Senior Officer Present Afloat]](../images/j/jp~'com.gif)
by Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Commander, class A]](../images/j/jp~coa.gif)
2:3, by Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
The Commander (Class A) flag is flown by the commander of escort ship groups, submarine groups, transport ships and training groups. White swallowtail with a red cherry blossom near the hoist.
Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Senior Officer Present Afloat]](../images/j/jp~'coa.gif)
by Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Commander, class B]](../images/j/jp~cob.gif)
2:3, by Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
The Commander (Class B) flag is flown by the commander of minesweeper groups and missile boat groups. Red and white swallowtail with a red cherry blossom near the hoist.
Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Senior Officer Present Afloat]](../images/j/jp~'cob.gif)
by Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Masthead Pennant]](../images/j/jp~wp.gif)
1:40,
by Zachary Harden, 25 August 2018
The triangular pennant is in ratio between 1:40 and 1:90, with the hoist
part in ratio 2:3, containing a simplified variant of the naval ensign - the
sun disk being in its center, with diameter half the hoist size. The eight rays
are such to cover at edges about 1/5 of the hoist size, the diagonal rays border
only with the top and bottom sides.
Željko Heimer, 2 May 2004
This is a commanding officer's pennant used Jan. 30, 1914-1945. The commanding officer's pennant was re-adopted on Jan. 28, 1956 for the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 30 April 2000
This pennant also doubles as the commissioning pennant for the MSDF and is flown at all times, even if a flag officer is on board.
Zachary Harden, 28 February 2018
![[Senior Officer Present Afloat]](../images/j/jp~'wp.gif)
by Zachary Harden, 2 March 2018
![[Senior Officer Present Afloat]](../images/j/jp~sopa.gif)
5:6, by Zachary Harden, 25 February 2018
The SOPA flag is flown by the most senior officer when two or more warships anchored in the same port and the commander was absent. The flag is red and white with a broad pennant pattern.
Zachary Harden, 26 February 2018
![[Senior Officer Present Afloat]](../images/j/jp~'sopa.gif)
by Zachary Harden, 25 February 2018