A white field with a crimson-red disc in the centre — the Hinomaru, literally 'circle of the sun'. The red disc represents the sun, reflecting Japan's name in Japanese — Nippon, 'origin of the sun' — and the long-standing imperial connection to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Used informally for centuries by samurai and merchants, the Hinomaru became the national flag in 1870 and was legally codified in 1999. The minimal design is one of the most recognised in the world. Practise the Japan flag in the Flagzio Asia flag quiz across all eight game modes.