Today we don’t talk about a national symbol of Japan but the symbol FOR Japan: the Japanese flag. The flag can be seen on lot of public buildings and places and is fairly omnipresent in most Japanese cities. Due to its simplicity it’s easy to spot and if you keep your eyes open you’ll be surprised how often you see the flag in everyday life. Let’s check the facts:

The national flag of Japan is a white rectangular flag with a red disc in the center. This flag is known as Hinomaru (日の丸) which translates to “circle of the sun”. The flag embodies Japan’s nickname as the Land of the rising sun. 

The sun plays an important role in Japanese tradition and religion as the Emperor is said to be the descendant the of the sun goddess Amaterasu and the legitimacy of the emperor rested on this appointment and descent from the most important goddess of the Shintō religion. The name of the country as well as the design of the flag reflect this central importance of the sun.
The exact origin of the Japanese flag is unknown, but the rising sun seems to have had some symbolic meaning since the early 7th century (the Japanese archipelago is east of the Asian mainland, and therefore where the sun “rises”).

Even though there has been pressure and debates about using the flag , regarding the strength it shows in relation to Japanese military history, it manifested as the national flag that you can see everyday. 
Take a walk and see how many you can spot!