This Japan Flag was used by the Japonese Navy, the circle of the sun of which is moved and accompanied by sixteen beams. This last one was used officially from October 7th, 1889. He was seen a lot, obviously, during the Second World War.

Nowadays, he is also used a lot by the nationalist, in particular extreme-right groups (with sometimes the centered sun), as well as by certain clans of yakuza.

To note that he was forbidden by the treaty of San Francisco at the end of the war, then reused officially by the Naval forces of Self-defence from June 30th, 1954.

It is thus erroneous to think that it is the former flag of Japan, because both coexist for quite a while.