Overview
- Japan’s parliament passed the measure on July 17, 2026, and the law is set to take effect in early August with penalties up to two years in prison or a ¥200,000 fine.
- The statute makes publicly damaging, removing or defacing the hinomaru punishable when the act is judged likely to cause strong discomfort or disgust to others and lists examples such as stomping, soiling, tearing or burning a flag.
- Lawmakers who backed the bill said it fixes a discrepancy between protections for foreign flags and Japan’s own flag, and negotiators removed a proposed offense for sharing footage while keeping some limits on livestreaming or uploading certain acts.
- A coalition of 148 legal experts and opposition lawmakers warn the law’s subjective, feelings‑based standard risks arbitrary enforcement and could chill protest, art, and other political expression.
- The law requires a statutory review roughly three years after implementation to reassess online dissemination and enforcement, and observers say court challenges and enforcement guidelines will determine how broadly the new rule is applied.