Rising Sun Flag and Kamikaze Sold in Tokyo Without Understanding Their Meaning... Sung Kyungduk Calls It a Serious Issue

"Visited Harajuku in Tokyo... The Situation Is Quite Serious"
Shopkeepers Respond, "What's the Problem?... It's a Japanese Symbol"

There is controversy over the sale of products featuring the Rising Sun Flag and Kamikaze, both symbols of Japanese imperialism and militarism, in Tokyo, Japan.

On May 27, Sung Kyungduk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, wrote on Facebook, "Many netizens who have traveled to Japan have consistently reported this issue," adding, "I recently visited the Harajuku area in Tokyo to check for myself, and the situation was quite serious."

Rising Sun Flag T-shirt sold in Tokyo, Japan. Sung Kyungduk, professor at Sungshin Women’s University

According to Professor Sung, numerous stores in Tokyo are selling a variety of items related to the Rising Sun Flag, including T-shirts, headbands, decorative patches, and stickers. Even large Rising Sun Flags are being sold. He explained, "T-shirts and headbands related to Kamikaze were also being sold," and added, "The headbands were clearly inscribed with both the Rising Sun Flag and the words 'Kami' (God) and 'Kaze' (Wind)."

The Rising Sun Flag is a symbol of Japanese militarism. Kamikaze refers to the Japanese suicide attack units that crashed bomb-laden aircraft into enemy warships toward the end of World War II.

Products related to Kamikaze sold in Tokyo, Japan. Seokyoungdeok, Professor at Sungshin Women’s University

Professor Sung expressed concern, saying, "When I asked the shopkeepers if they knew the meaning of the Rising Sun Flag and Kamikaze, they replied, 'What's the problem? It's a Japanese symbol,' which revealed the seriousness of their distorted understanding of history." He added that it was also troubling to see foreigners wearing headbands with these symbols and taking photos without knowing their meaning.

He emphasized, "Since we cannot directly stop Japanese shopkeepers from selling these products, we must widely inform the world about the history of the Rising Sun Flag and Kamikaze so that people around the globe can have a correct understanding."