Size: 33.5 x 29 inches

This Japanese war flag of the Imperial Japanese Army is a bring back of a U.S. veteran who served in the Pacific Theater. It was historically used by the daimyō (大名) and Japan's military, particularly the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy. The ensign, known in Japanese as the Jyūrokujō-Kyokujitsu-ki (十六条旭日旗), was first adopted as the war flag on May 15, 1870, and was used until the end of World War II in 1945. he design is similar to the flag of Japan, which has a red circle in the center signifying the Sun. The difference compared to the flag of Japan is that the Rising Sun Flag has extra sun rays (16 for the ensign) exemplifying the name of Japan as "The Land of the Rising Sun". The Imperial Japanese Army first adopted the Rising Sun Flag in 1870. The Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy both had a version of the flag; the naval ensign was off-set, with the red sun closer to the lanyard side, while the army's version (which was part of the regimental colors) was centered. The flags were used until Japan's surrender in World War II during August 1945.

Japanese war flags such as this are one of the rarest of WWII Japanese flag from World War II. The flag was a bring back from a WWII soldier and was found with a collections of three Japanese water canteens (named with straps) and a fully intact Japanese helmet. It is unknown what island this flag was captured on. Many of these flags were taken by U.S. soldier off KIA or wounded Japanese soldiers.