Japan enacts law banning desecration of national flag

Jul 17, 2026

Japan enacted a controversial law criminalizing desecration of its national flag, a key part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's nationalist agenda. The law imposes up to two years in prison for damaging the "hinomaru" flag in a way that causes "extreme discomfort." Opponents, including legal experts, argue the vague law threatens free speech and could be used to silence government critics.

Imperial House Law revision

▪Japan's parliament enacted a law on July 17, 2026, prohibiting the desecration of the national flag, the "hinomaru."
▪The legislation was a key agenda item for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's right-wing government as part of a push to bolster patriotism.

Male-only succession rule

▪Penalties for violating the law include up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 200,000 yen (about $1,230).
▪Prohibited acts include tearing, burning, or stepping on the flag in public, as well as livestreaming such acts from a private space.
▪The law criminalizes publicly damaging, removing, or defacing the flag in a way that causes "extreme discomfort or sense of disgust to others."

Princess Aiko succession debate

▪Opponents argue the vaguely worded law threatens freedom of speech and could be used arbitrarily to silence criticism of the government.
▪Constitutional law professor Motohiro Hashimoto stated that punishing flag vandals amounts to a prohibition of criticism against the government.

Adoption of distant relatives

▪The stated purpose of the law is to protect the people's respect for the flag.
▪Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi justified the law by pointing out that Japan already penalized the desecration of foreign flags but not its own.

Princesses retaining royal status

▪The "hinomaru" flag only gained legal status as the national flag in 1999 due to controversies surrounding its use during World War II.
▪The "kyokujitsuki" or Rising Sun flag, used by Japan's imperial navy, has caused protests from neighboring countries it formerly occupied.

Public criticism of reforms

▪The law exempts non-tangible flag images in anime, manga, and AI-generated content, as well as miniature flags used to decorate food.
▪An LDP lawmaker stated it is difficult to make a hypothetical judgment on whether crossing out a flag at a protest would be punished.