Japan has approved legislation that makes defacing the country’s national flag a criminal offense. The measure was passed during the closing plenary session of the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of Japan’s Diet, according to the report.
Under the new law, damaging or otherwise dishonoring the Japanese flag can bring criminal penalties, including a possible prison term of up to two years. The change marks a significant shift in how the government treats acts involving the national symbol.
The report frames the law as part of an effort to prevent acts seen as offensive or disruptive, including conduct that causes public unpleasantness. By turning flag defacement into a punishable offense, lawmakers have moved the issue from social controversy into the criminal code.
The decision is likely to draw attention both inside and outside Japan, as debates over national symbols often raise broader questions about free expression, public order, and the role of the state in protecting national identity.
