A ワ katakana in the shape of a navy blue fan on white: Wakayama opens its flag towards the future, like a fan unfolding.
Every fact about the flag, each with what it means.
Normal flagFIAV symbol: the form of the flag.
CivilFIAV symbol: who may fly the flag.YesIt carries the coat of arms on the cloth.The flag in the words of vexillology and heraldry.
It is a rectangular field with a 2:3 ratio, white, with a navy blue emblem centred: the letter “ワ” (wa) written in the shape of a fan opening upwards.
Each element and how many of the 1,390 flags in the catalogue carry it. In yellow, the rarest.
How it was born, how it has changed and what it means.
The flag of Wakayama is white, with a navy blue emblem in the centre: a katakana 「ワ」 (wa) —the initial syllable of the name— drawn as a Japanese fan opening upwards. It is an auspicious shape: according to the prefecture’s own reading, that endless widening represents the future opening up.
The prefecture commissioned a new symbol in the late sixties, with ideas from the public, and the design was made official on 26 April 1969. On 7 August of the same year the flag was born: the navy blue 「ワ」 centred on a white field with a 2:3 ratio. The official reading holds that the opening fan expresses the southern land of Kishū developing endlessly towards tomorrow and the enterprising character of its inhabitants.
It has not changed: the flag of 1969 is the current one, with no earlier versions.
Katakana ワ
the initial syllable of the name of Wakayama, the basis of the drawing.
The widening fan
endless development towards the future and the enterprising character (official explanation).
Navy blue on white
the rule fixes the colours without declaring any meaning for them.
On the same 7 August 1969 Wakayama created a flag for events: identical design, but with a sky blue ground and an orange emblem, for use at sporting and cultural occasions.
Emblem and flag were born three months apart, in spring and summer 1969: Wakayama went from having no symbols to having both in one quarter.
Test what you have read about the flag of Wakayama.
Sources consulted:
Flag image: PRiMENON, Zscout370, Mike Rohsopht, Wikimedia Commons · Public domain.
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