Both Rising Sun Flag and Taiwanese Flag Banned Together... Another Flag Controversy at Japan Asian Games

Scuffle Breaks Out in Stands During Game Against China;
Japanese Police Dispatched Over Cheering Slogan

Controversy Grows Over Standards for Political Neutrality

South Korean Team Also Blocked from Displaying Taegeukgi Upon Entry

At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, controversy surrounding the event's management has intensified after not only South Korea’s national team was prevented from bringing in the Taegeukgi but also amid disputes over Taiwan’s national flag and cheering slogans. At a baseball stadium, a Taiwanese fan was stopped by officials for displaying a cheering towel marked "Taiwan," and the following day, a notice board appeared at the stadium entrance prohibiting both the Taiwanese Blue Sky White Sun flag and Japan's Rising Sun flag from being brought into the venue. The notice board was removed within a day as controversy grew.

On the 26th, at the entrance for spectators of the baseball game between Taiwan and Japan, a notice board was installed stating that Taiwan's Blue Sky with a White Sun flag and Japan's Rising Sun flag were not allowed to be brought into the stadium. The notice board included illustrations of the two flags and was reported to have the prohibition text written in Chinese, Japanese, and English. Facebook post by Seogyeongdeok

On September 28, Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) and local media reported that there was a commotion in the stands during the Asian Games baseball super round between Taiwan and China on September 25 in Aichi Prefecture. The incident began when a Taiwanese fan waved a towel with "Taiwan" emblazoned on it, only to be stopped by an event official. The official reportedly demanded the towel be put away on the grounds that the term "Taiwan" constituted a political message.

The fan and surrounding spectators protested, arguing that it was merely a cheering towel labeled "Taiwan," not even a national flag, and questioned why it was being prohibited. Japanese police were also reportedly dispatched to the scene. In the end, items such as the towel were not confiscated, nor was the fan expelled from the stadium, but the officials requested that fans refrain from displaying items with Taiwanese-related phrases. In response, surrounding Taiwanese fans responded with chants of "Team Taiwan" in protest.

The controversy escalated the following day. On the 26th, at the entrance to the stadium where the baseball game between Taiwan and Japan was held, a notice board was installed stating that Taiwan's Blue Sky White Sun flag and Japan's Rising Sun flag could not be brought into the stadium. The notice board reportedly showed images of both flags along with prohibition messages written in Chinese, Japanese, and English. The sign was removed within a day as debate intensified.

At international sporting events such as the Asian Games and Olympics, items with political or ideological messages or those that could be used for demonstrations or protest actions, aside from the official flags used by participating delegations, are restricted from being brought in. For international competitions organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Taiwan competes under the name "Chinese Taipei" rather than "Taiwan" or "Republic of China," and uses the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee flag instead of the Blue Sky White Sun flag.

Reuters Yonhap News

However, local media noted that there are no clear rules explaining whether something as simple as a towel labeled "Taiwan" is actually banned. In particular, the decision to list both the Blue Sky White Sun flag and the Rising Sun flag as prohibited items prompted backlash not just in Taiwan, but also online in Japan. Ultimately, ahead of the bronze medal match between Taiwan and China on September 27, the notice board at the stadium entrance was taken down. It remains unclear whether this removal was due to a change in the rules or for other reasons, as the organizing committee did not provide an official explanation.

Seokyoungdeok, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, also reported on this through his social media, stating, "It is significant that the Asian Games organizing committee officially installed a sign prohibiting the Rising Sun flag." The Rising Sun flag, which was used as a military flag during Japan's imperialist era, has been criticized in countries that suffered from Japanese aggression, such as South Korea and China, as a symbol of militarism and imperialism.

Meanwhile, this controversy involving Taiwan has drawn even more attention as it coincides with the earlier incident involving the South Korean national team's restriction from displaying the Taegeukgi. On September 17, the main South Korean delegation of 122 people entered Japan via Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture. Table tennis player Shin Yubin and badminton player Seo Seungjae, who were carrying the Taegeukgi as flag bearers, were stopped from bringing it in by local police and airport officials for security reasons.

A proposal to carry just the Taegeukgi, without the flagpole, was also reportedly rejected. As a result, the South Korean delegation proceeded through immigration without displaying the Taegeukgi, prompting the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee to lodge a protest with the Japanese side. At the official opening ceremony held on September 19, Shin Yubin and rowing athlete Kim Dongyong, as co-flag bearers, were able to enter carrying the Taegeukgi as usual.

In Taiwan, there is criticism that "using political neutrality as an excuse excessively restricts Taiwan's identity" amid a series of incidents. Especially since these events continued at an international competition held in Japan, where public opinion is relatively favorable toward Taiwan, many voices have expressed disappointment. Photo by AFP Yonhap News Agency

Amid this, criticism has emerged in Taiwan over the series of incidents, questioning whether "Taiwan's identity is being excessively restricted under the pretext of political neutrality." The fact that such issues have occurred at an international event hosted in Japan, where public opinion is generally favorable toward Taiwan, has led to considerable disappointment. Especially as confusion has repeatedly arisen over restrictions on the Taegeukgi upon entry, the controversy over the "Taiwan" cheering towel, and the installation and subsequent removal of the sign banning the Taiwanese and Rising Sun flags, the organizing committee is facing criticism for inconsistency in its standards and on-site responses.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.