IOC committee allows Japan to display Rising Sun flag at Tokyo Summer Olympics

[soryang]

This has been a headline issue in South Korean broadcast media yesterday and today. The South Korean Foreign Ministry regards the IOC judgement as a violation of political neutrality rules in the Olympic Charter. It remains to be seen how other Asian states who experienced Japanese imperialism during the Pacific War in the 20th Century will react to the decision. Most likely, China's position will have great impact. The Chinese have not objected to the use of the Rising Sun Flag at international naval reviews. However, an Asian soccer league does not permit the use of the Rising Sun Flag. The IOC ruling was based upon the fact that the Rising Sun flag motif is common throughout Japan and has "no political meaning." The South Korean Foreign Ministry regards the flag as symbolic of Japanese militarism and imperialism in the 20th Century and equivalent to displaying the Swastika at an international event.


(Source- YTN news 9.3)


(Source- JTBC News 9.4)


(Source- JTBC News 9.4)

[The Polack MSgt]

1. My wife is furious that Abe is pushing to use that flag

Her opinion is that it should never be flown - She doesn't even like that the JMSDF flies it on their ships at sea

[soryang]

2. I agree

it's outrageous. I think maybe the Chinese won't take a position so the US alliance with the two states can slide further downhill.

[PJMcK]

3. Why would they want to do this?

Sorry for my ignorance, but why in the world would Japan want to fly that flag?

Oh, wait. There are American citizens who fly the traitorous Confederate flag, aren't there?

[The Polack MSgt]

4. Abe is a right winger. Smarter than Trump, as if that was an accomplishment, but a wingnut

There is a loud regressive Japanese minority that deny Japanese atrocities and want to destroy the "Peace Constitution" - these people also fetishize the Meiji-Showa Imperial Era.

This group of douche knuckles LOVE that flag and are a solid base of support for Abe.

[PJMcK]

5. Thanks

I wasn't aware of the rightwing in Japan. Good to know as it explains a lot.

Enjoy your afternoon, sir!

[soryang]

6. The Guardian has a report today on this Rising Sun Flag at the Olympics issue

Japan refuse to ban colonial rising sun flag at Olympics as spat with Korea deepens
Julian Ryall, tokyo
5 SEPTEMBER 2019 • 10:35AM

South Korea has condemned Japan’s refusal to ban images of the former imperial flag of the rising sun from the Tokyo Olympic Games next summer, as relations between Seoul and Tokyo continue to sour.

South Korea’s foreign ministry on Tuesday called on the organisers of the 2020 Games and the International Olympic Committee to forbid depictions of a flag that is widely associated with Imperial Japan’s conquest and occupation of large parts of the Pacific and mainland Asia in the 1930s and 1940s.

The committee rejected the request, the Sankei Shimbun reported, on the grounds that it does not believe the flag serves as political propaganda.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/05/japan-refuse-ban-colonial-rising-sun-flag-olympics-spat-korea/